INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS MIDTERM REVIEW

MULTIPLE CHOICE (25 QUESTIONS WORTH 5 POINTS EACH = 125)

SHORT ANSWER (5 QUESTIONS WORTH 5 POINTS EACH = 25)

PLATO: Knowledge and Virtue

NOTION OF JUSTICE- a big, special, mystical form. Harmony and happiness when a
person or society is a just one
VIEWS ON RELATIVISM AND HEDONISM- that what each individual or society believes
may be true only for that individual or society; disagreed with hedonism because just
because something is pleasurable doesnt mean it is good
THE FORMS AS A BASIS FOR HIS ETHICS ULTIMATE KNOWLEDGE UPON WHICH MORAL VIRTUE IS BASED- the idea of the Good;
distinguished from both knowledge and pleasure; extremely difficult to grasp
ARISTOTLE: Moral Character
GOLDEN MEAN- the mean is determined by identifying excessive and deficient states
with respect to a given emotional state; determined relative to a given individual
DEFINITION OF MORAL VIRTUE & HOW IT COMES ABOUT- refers to the excellence of a
thing; comes about through habits
WHY HAPPINESS IS CHOSEN- the end for which humans strive to meet; meets all of the
mentioned criteria for identifying the chief good of a human being; activity of soul in
accordance with virtue
FUNCTION OF MAN- wrapped up in realizing the full potential of your rationality; live
according to reason and rationality
DIFFERENCES WITH PLATO REGARDING RELATIVISM AND THE FORMS- insists that moral
principle is immanent in the activities of our daily lives and can be discovered only
through a study of them
no form without matter, no matter without form
EPICURUS: The Pleasant Life
WHAT HAPPINESS INVOLVES- choosing the right pleasures- humans seek what they
assume will give them pleasure and avoid what will give them pain and that pleasure is
the only intrinsic good and pain is the only intrinsic evil

Passive pleasures are more fundamental than the active ones

Satisfaction of the natural desires and freedom from the pain that accompanies
such satisfaction leads to happness
Duration matters; truly goods last longer
o Ex: taking care of natural needs leads to less pain associated with not
meeting those needs

JUSTICE IN COMMUNITY LIFE- required to assure mutual help among people and to
prevent them from injuring one another; manifests variations when applied to specific
situations
NOTIONS OF THE SOUL-is gone when we die
TWO OVERWHELMING FEARS & HOW ATOMISM SOLVES THEM

Fear of death- we do not exist after death

Fear of divine retribution- God is not concerned with humans

EPICTETUS- self- discipline

DEFINITION OF MORAL PEOPLE ACCORDING TO STOICISM- in control of desires;
ONES ESSENTIAL NATURE- human virtue and happiness depend on the formation of
character; rationality
PANTHEISM- fragment of God; should recognize their place in the grand scheme of things
DIVINE PROVIDENCE- cosmic reason, rather than chance, is the governing principle of all
things
ULTIMATE SOURCE OF ETHICAL BEHAVIOR- the will
DIFFERENCES WITH EPICURUS- dont have to worry about death because it is not a
consequence; it is logically necessary; seek what is within our control
AUGUSTINE- The Love of God
predestination, but allows us to choose between good and evil: the love of
God
DEFINITION OF/PROBLEM OF EVIL

Things that are evil lack goodness

EVIL WILL- a defective will- it fails to choose the good

MYSTICAL VISION OF GOD/TRUTH- follow God and his teachings with love
RESOLUTION OF PARADOX OF GODS FOREKNOWLEDGE- God knows what we will do but
that doesnt mean he caused it

LOVE OF GOD/NEIGHBOR
AQUINAS- Morality and Natural Law
WHAT HE ADDS TO ARISTOTLES THEORY- we must contemplate the divine; God as
humanitys final goal
MANS ULTIMATE HAPPINESS- contemplation of the divine
TWO SOURCES OF TRUTH- reason and faith
WHETHER AN ACT IS GOOD/EVIL- intention; whether or not the outcomes of an action
were foreseeable
AGENTS INTENTIONS- done for a rationally ascertained end
HOBBES: Social Contract
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MECHANISTIC MATERIALISM AND MORAL PHILOSOPHY- the two
work hand in hand
ENDEAVORS- animal motions ; predispositions to act in a certain way
HUMAN NATURE AS EGOISTIC (I.E. NO ALTRUISM)

entirely selfish
devoid of any genuine feelings of sympathy, benevolence, or sociability

WHAT A SOCIAL CONTRACT IS AND WHY WE CREATE THEM

Giving up a few liberties so everyone can live without fear and maintain better
order
Form civil society for self-interest and the elimination of fear

SPINOZA: Nature and Reason

HIS KEY TO ETHICS- All Things are in God, and all things that come to pass, come to pass
solely through the laws of the infinite nature of God with nature, or reality, or the
universe,
PANTHEISM & HOW IT DIFFERS FROM JUDEO-CHRISTIAN VIEW OF THE DIVINE
WHETHER GOOD/EVIL EXIST AS OBJECTIVE REALITIES- no,
HUMAN NATURE ESSENTIALLY RATIONAL- freeing the mind from its bondage to the
emotions that becloud it

Intellects are imperfect and limited

Natural tendencies to view events in relation to themselves and therefore can form
only confused and inadequate ideas of reality

Mind projects upon the external world what is good or evil to us

HIS VIEW ON THE DOCTRINE OF FREE WILL & ITS EFFECT ON EMOTIONS

Source of error for human beings

We get frustrated by thinking we can control our lives and thus leads us to
disappointment

BUTLER: Conscience in Morality

GENERAL GOAL OF HIS PHILOSOPHICAL INQUIRY- conscience in morality; how the
conscience is the final decider in the battle between self-love and benevolence
THREE THINGS THAT REGULATE OUR PASSIONS/IMPULSES

self-love
benevolence
conscience

THE AUTHORITY OF CONSCIENCE- ultimate decider in what we do

HUME: Morality and Sentiment
EMPIRICAL APPROACH- proves that nothing is present to the mind except for its
perceptions; factual knowledge all from the senses
WHY/HOW HE DISAGREES WITH THE TRADITIONALIST VIEW OF CAUSALITY & HOW THIS
TRANSLATES TO HIS MORAL PHILOSOPHY
Mistaken causality; because in the past B always follows A;
SOURCE OF MORALITY- sentiment;
VIEW THAT SOURCE OF JUSTICE IS UTILITY
KANT: Duty and ReaonSYSTEM OF THE UNIVERSE GUARANTEEING THE CERTAINTY OF NATURE AND MORALITYTHE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE- make a rule and stick to it. If it is deemed as wrong, it is
wrong in ALL situations. Example: murder
THE GOOD WILL & REASON- intention is all that matters
ONLY RESPECT FOR DUTY GIVING ACTIONS MORAL WORTH- much more moral worth in
doing something for the sake of keeping a promise despite its negative effects on you
HUMANS AS ENDS IN THEMSELVES you should never use people for ends
MILL

DIFFERENCES WITH KANT (CONSEQUENTIALIST VS DEONTOLOGIST)- Doctrine of utilityactions are right if they produce happiness;
UTILITARIANISM- pleasure and gain; pleasures vary in kind and degree
ADDITION OF QUALITATIVE MEASURES OF PLEASURE/PAIN & COMPETENT JUDGES OF
THIS- determined by those who have experienced both kinds
EXTERNAL- social and supernatural
INTERNAL SANCTIONS- a fellow feeling for other people