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Final Ethics Study Cards

Jun 03, 2018

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Sahil Bambulkar
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    1. [Consequentialism][1C]

    I. Discuss utilitarianism. Your answer should include

    all of the followings:

    1. Explanations about what consequentialism is;

    What determines that an act is morally right:

    (1) the consequences of the act

    (2) the motive behind the act(3) the intrinsic nature of the act

    (4) a general rule requiring acts of the same kind

    ims (1) that the normative

    value of an act depends only on its consequences.

    2.Explanations about what hedonism is;

    The doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole or

    chief good in life

    What is valuable? Some philosophers like Bentham

    and Mill claim that the only thing that is good in itself

    is some specific type of state, for example, pleasure

    or happiness.

    3. Explanations about the notion of utility;

    is and what its characteristics are, especially about

    the following notions: total value, maximizing

    happiness, and universal and equal consideration;

    Note: The notion of utility is not what is useful or

    practical. The notion of utility means pleasure and

    the absence of pain here.

    4. Explanations about what classic utilitarianism is

    and what its characteristics are, especially about the

    following notions: total value, maximizing

    happiness, and universal and equal consideration;

    Classic Utilitarianism = The consequential principle +

    the utility principle (the hedonistic aspect)

    We should act so as to bring about the maximumtotal amount of happiness in the long run: The

    greatest happiness for the greatest number.

    1. Total Value

    The moral value in the consequence of an act should

    be the total net value of happiness and unhappiness

    in it.

    An act is morally right if that act has a consequence

    as follows: Total amount of happiness for all by the

    acttotal amount of unhappiness for all by the act >

    the net amount of incompatible act available to the

    agent on that occasion.

    2. Maximizing happiness

    We need to choose an act to bring about the

    maximal amount of the net value by the act.

    5. Explanations about the questionable issues of the

    following features: maximizing happiness and

    universal and equal consideration.

    Maximizing happiness

    We need to choose an act to bring about the

    maximal amount of the net value by the act.

    [3C] 3. Explanations about the feature of moral rules

    made by Smart;

    (2) Rules of Thumb

    According to Smart, the fundamental feature of our

    moral rules is that they can be changed or overridden

    at any time in order to produce the greatest

    happiness. That is, our moral rules are rules ofthumb.

    a. Rule Worship or Rational Decision

    Suppose that in most cases, it is good to act in

    accordance with a certain rule R, and that at some

    time, we have perfect faith in the impartiality/non-

    bias of our calculations, and we have worked out the

    consequences, and we know that to break R will have

    better results than to keep it. Do we need to keep R

    in this case? If so, we idolize or worship the rule. It is

    not a rational decision.

    should be overridden to produce the greatest

    happiness.

    b. Exceptions to the rules

    Suppose that I have a garden. There is a rule that no

    water must be used of watering gardens. I calculated

    that no harm will be done if (secretly) use water and

    that my neighbors can get a benefit of having lovely

    flowers. Then, isnt itbetter to break the rule?

    exceptions are justified based on the utility in the

    consequences of a particular individual action.

    4. Explanations about Smarts two criticisms against

    rule utilitarianism;(1) Concerning Rules of Thumb:

    Having some exceptions of rules is used to supportthe characterization of moral rules as rules of thumb.

    However, even a scientific rule can fail to hold in an

    abnormal or unfamiliar circumstance. For example, if

    a billiard ball hits another billiard ball, then the

    second ball will move only when the gravity force

    onto the second ball is not radically strong, etc. We

    just ignore these conditions to lead the expected

    result not to happen. What is the difference between

    Smartsrule of thumb and rules in science under

    some (normal) condition?

    (2) Concerning Sidgwicks Distinction: This distinction

    seems to separate the reward for an act from the

    value of the act. We ordinarily believe that the value

    of an act determines what rewards the agent can get

    from it. If not, what determines the praise/condemn

    of an act?

    5. Explanations about Hookers questions to act

    utilitarianism.

    (1) Impartiality -We morally allow an impartial

    treatment to a certain kind of group, such as a

    minority group or my intimate group like my family.

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    [4C] (2) Justice - Justice/fairness does not always

    come together with well-being. If a group has a large

    member, it will be better to give the members as

    much as we can to maximize the utility. But this is

    not fair to the people in other groups.

    1. Explanations about the thesis of rule

    consequentialism; Rule Consequentialism - Themoral value (rightness) of an action is determined by

    whether or not it falls under a certain rule. Whether

    the rule is accepted is to be decided by considering

    the consequences of adopting the rule.

    - A rule utilitarian calculates the utility in the

    consequence of keeping a rule by an action.

    2. Explanations about Hookers distinction between

    compliance and acceptance, and his corresponding

    distinction between compliance-based

    consequentialism and acceptance based

    consequentialism;

    Compliance or Acceptance - There are two kinds of

    attitudes to accepting rules, compliance with rules

    and acceptance of rules.

    Compliance with rules: Conforming rules even

    without believing the rule right and intending to keep

    it Acceptance of rules: Conforming rules with the

    agreement of rules

    Ex. A patient in rehab can comply with not drinking

    or drugging for a while even when she does not

    accept the need to do.

    and understanding why the rules need to be.

    Compliance-Based Consequentilaism and

    Acceptance-Based ConsequentialismAn act is permissible if and only if it is allowed by

    rules the compliance with which would result in as

    much good as would result from any other rules.

    An act is permissible if and only if it is allowed by

    rules the acceptance with which would result in as

    much good as would result from any other rules.

    3.Explanations about Hookers three reasons to take

    acceptance-based consequentialism;

    Hookers Arguments for Acceptance-Based

    Consequentialism:

    (1) Moral Consideration about taking a rule

    People are not just complying a rule but also

    considering whether taking this rule is appropriate.

    This consideration should be included in our utility

    calculation of moral rules. In order to take this

    consideration into account, we need to take the

    acceptance-based consequentialism.

    (2) The consequence of the acceptance of a rule

    Someones acceptance of a rule can have an effect

    on

    [2C] 3. Universal and Equal Consideration

    We should care about the happiness and

    unhappiness of all the people or sentient beings. And

    also their happiness and unhappiness should be

    equally considered.

    1.Explanations about what act utilitarianism is and

    what rule utilitarianism is;Act Utilitarianism (Extreme Utilitarianism by Smart)

    The moral value (rightness) of an action is

    determined by whether the actions consequences

    are at least as good as that of any alternative action.

    Rule Utilitarianism (Restricted Utilitarianism by

    Smart)The moral value (rightness) of an action is

    determined by whether or not it falls under a certain

    rule. Whether the rule is accepted is to be decided by

    considering the consequences of adopting the rule.

    An act utilitarian calculates the utility in the

    consequence of a particular action.

    A rule utilitarian calculates the utility in the

    consequence of keeping a rule by an action.

    2. Explanations about why Smart thinks that moral

    rules are useful;

    Smarts Argument 1: Rules of Thumb

    (1) Moral Rules

    Our moral rules are helpful when we have the

    following cases of utility calculation:

    a. Lack of Time

    Imagine that a man seeing a person drowning jumps

    in and rescues him. Even when there is no time to

    calculate the utility of the consequences of his action,

    he internalizes a rule rescue a person in need and

    rescues the person, which is morally good.b. Biased in Ones Favor

    Imagine a man unhappily married and deciding to get

    divorced. It is possible that he exaggerates his own

    unhappiness and underestimates the harm done to

    his children and to the general faith in marriage

    vows. If the man has a rule keep the promise in

    marriage, or consider your childrens pleasure as

    much as yours, he can avoid the miscalculation of

    utility based on his bias.

    c. Issues of Public Morality

    Recently we have many issues of public morality

    rather than private morality, such as tensions in the

    international relations. The issues of public morality

    cannot be calculated based on the consequences of a

    particular action in a particular occasion. One of the

    things we should consider in this case is the promise

    between countries, which constitute a diplomatic

    rule between the two.

    In order to avoid lack of time, bias in utility

    calculation and solve the problem of public morality,

    we need to adopt some moral rules.

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    [2K] 6.Explanations about the relation between

    maxims and universal laws;

    A duty is a moral law to describe how people ought

    to act in a certain circumstance.

    (1) Moral laws express necessity like a scientific law.

    (2) Moral laws are universal (anyone, any place, any

    time)Sometimes your maxim = a universal law (duty) and

    sometimes not.

    7. Explanations about the distinction between

    hypothetical imperatives and categorical

    imperatives;

    Hypothetical Imperatives and Categorical Imperatives

    (1) Hypothetical Imperatives: conditional (if you want

    ., do x (dont x))

    (2) Categorical Imperatives: no condition, no end (do

    x (dont x))

    l imperatives are categorical.

    The Categorical Imperative: one supreme categorical

    imperative of morality

    CI: Act as if the maxim of your action were to become

    through your will a universal a law of nature

    CI: An act is morally right if and only if the agent can

    will that the generalized form of her maxim be a law

    of nature.

    8. Explanations about what the supreme categorical

    imperative (the CI) of morality, which is called the

    categorical imperative, is;

    The Categorical Imperative: one supreme categorical

    imperative of morality

    CI: Act as if the maxim of your action were to become

    through your will a universal a law of natureCI:An act is morally right if and only if the agent can

    will that the generalized form of her maxim be a law

    of nature.

    9. Explanations about the categorical imperative

    test (the CI test) and two kinds of contraction in the

    test with example cases;

    CI test:

    (i) Check a maxim; (ii) Generalize the maxim (shared

    by everyone); (iii) Consider whether you can WILL

    that the generalized maxim be a universal law.

    Two Contradictions

    (i) Contradiction of Will: Impossible to will the

    is flourishing does not help others

    (ii) Formal Contradiction: Impossible to imagine ones

    need can make a promise even though she cannot

    make it.

    [6C] (1) Emergency Room Thought Experiment

    (2) Self-Sacrifice

    Money devotion: Suppose that it is maximally

    beneficial to contribute a considerable amount of my

    salary to aid agencies rather than use it to myself.

    Then, I should move to the better paying job so that I

    will have a bigger salary and give an even largerpercentage of my earnings to aid agencies.

    Hooker says that this requirement of sacrifice comes

    from the requirement of impartiality. But his version

    of rule consequentialism can allow that the innocent

    healthy person values his life more than the others

    and people care more of oneself than others if being

    impartial costs too high to internalize.

    4. Justice

    Consequentialism is criticized because it does not

    care about justice like redistribution. For example, if

    we can get a better result to educate people over IQ

    140, we should spend our government education

    budget only to this kind of people. But Hooker can

    answer to this. We already have some fairly general

    rules about redistribution. For example, Try to give

    everyone equal chance for education. If internalizing

    the redistribution rules requires too high cost, then it

    is not allowed. But if the cost of internalizing

    redistribution rules is not high, we can have the

    redistribution rule.

    5. Conflicts of rules

    Our moral rules sometimes conflict. For example,

    suppose that you have two rules, keep promises

    and shield others from hardships of certain

    magnitudes. What if you can save a person fromconsiderable inconvenience only by breaking a

    promise to meet another person at the same time?

    As a normative ethics theory, rule consequentialism

    should give us which action is morally right. Rule

    consequentialism has been criticized because it

    cannot resolve the conflicts and our question of how

    we should do in this case remains unanswered.

    According to Hooker, rule utilitarianism allows

    exceptions in rules if the cost of this allowance is not

    high. So we can build some exceptions into the rules

    so as to keep them from conflicting. For example, the

    rule about promise-keeping could have an exception

    such that no one is required to keep a promise made

    to anyone who obtained the promise by lying.

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    [3K] 10. Explanations about the distinction between

    the CI and the Golden Rule.

    Golden Rule (GR)

    An act is morally right if and only if in performing it,

    the agent refrains from treating others in ways in

    which he would not want the others to treat him.

    The GR has restriction of the relation with others(consideration about how the agents treat others and

    what if others treat the agents in the same way) but

    the CI does not have this restriction.

    Example 1: Suicideallowed by the GR but not by

    the CI.Example 2: Flourishing Persons not helping

    othersallowed by the GR but not by the CI.

    1. Explanations about the problems of Kantian

    Deontology discussed in class:

    Problems of Kantian Deontology

    (1) It disallows the following intuitively accepted

    behaviors: the case of helping others (any actions

    considered to be good) just for happiness; the case of

    bank run

    (2) Mill: Disguised Consequentialism

    (i) Formal contradiction is not plausible because

    there are permissible but logically impossible cases: a

    maxim to be the smartest/the first/the president in

    order to (something considered as good)

    (ii) the contradiction of willing is based on the utility

    calculus of the consequences of the action in

    question: Ex. Helping others is not better than not

    helping others because not helping others will bring

    about a bad consequence that we cannot get some

    help when we need it.

    2.two unintuitive conclusions by KantianDeontology and Mills criticism;

    Problems of Kantian Deontology

    (1) It disallows the following intuitively accepted

    behaviors: the case of helping others (any actions

    considered to be good) just for happiness; the case of

    bank run

    (2) Mill: Disguised Consequentialism

    (i) Formal contradiction is not plausible because

    there are permissible but logically impossible cases: a

    maxim to be the smartest/the first/the president in

    order to (something considered as good)

    (ii) the contradiction of willing is based on the utility

    calculus of the consequences of the action in

    question: Ex. Helping others is not better than not

    helping others because not helping others will bring

    about a bad consequence that we cannot get some

    help when we need it.

    [1A] [The Ethics of Abortion]

    1. Explanations about the personhood argument for

    anti-abortion;

    The problem of personhood argument:

    It is wrong to kill a new born baby.

    If it is wrong to kill a new born baby, then it is wrong

    to kill a 10 month1 day fetus.If it is wrong to kill a 10 month -1 day fetus, then it is

    wrong to kill a 10 month2 day fetus

    If it is wrong to kill a 2 day embryo, then it is wrong

    to kill an 1 day embryo.

    Therefore, it is wrong to kill any fetus or embryos.

    2. Explanations about the classic argument for anti-

    abortion with its problem;

    Classic Anti-Abortion Argument

    Premise 1: it is wrong to kill an innocent person

    Premise 2: Fetuses are innocent persons

    Conclusion: it is wrong to kill fetuses

    clear extension of personhood.

    3. Explanations about the modified classic argument

    for anti-abortion with its problems;

    Premise 1: it is wrong to kill a potential human being.

    Premise 2: Fetuses are potential human beings.

    Conclusion: it is wrong to kill fetuses.

    potential x always has the same value or right with x.

    (Ex. A potential king does not have the right or duty

    of a king.) Then we cannot infer that fetuses as

    potential human beings can have the right to life as

    human beings have.

    4. Explanations about Don Marquiss reason of whykilling is bad, including his application of this reason

    to the following cases: the removal of medical

    treatment for comatose patience, euthanasia and

    killing non-humans;

    Marquiss Argument based on Future-Like-Ours

    (1) Future-Like-Ours: A premature death is bad

    because it deprives future good of conscious life, the

    future like ours (FLO). Many things have the FLO:

    human beings, human children, fetuses, ova, sperms,

    some animals like pigs, dogs, cats, aliens, etc. Killing

    the things in above is bad for the deprival of their

    FLOs.

    5. Explanations about Don Marquiss argument for

    anti-abortion;

    Premise 1: it is wrong to deprive an individual of a

    FLO. Premise 2: Abortion deprives a fetus of a FLO.

    Conclusion: Abortion is morally wrong.

    Application to controversial cases

    (i) Removal of the medical treatment for a comatose

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    [2A] patient: the patient is not conscious, and then

    she does not have a FLO. It is permissible to kill this

    person.

    (ii) Euthanasia: If a patient is and will be suffering too

    much pain to have a future good, she does not have

    a FLO. It is permissible to kill this person.

    (iii) Killing animals: Some animals have FLOs. It iswrong to kill them.

    6. Explanations about the problems against Don

    Marquiss argument, including whatthe argument

    cannot explain, what kind of unintuitive cases it

    implies, and how it answers to the controversial

    problems like pregnancy from rape and the health

    problem of a pregnant woman.

    Problems

    (i) missing cases: wrongness to the dead; a backup

    assassin

    (ii) Unintuitive implications: the FLO of a sperm in an

    experiment; the FLO of a sperm naturally deprived

    (iii) Exclude well established intuitions: pregnancy

    from rape; the health problem of the pregnant

    woman

    VII. Discuss the Doctrine of Double Effect. Your

    answer should include all of the followings:

    1. Explanations about what the doctrine of double

    effect (DDE) is;

    The Doctrine of Double Effect (DDE): An act is

    permissible even when it causes a serious harm if the

    serious harm is a side effect (double effect) of

    promoting some good end.

    2. Explanations about the distinction between

    foreseeing and intending;Foreseeing and intending

    The distinction between intending to do something

    and foreseeing something to happen in the course of

    events The side effect is something not intended but

    just foreseen.

    3. Explanations about the conditions to apply the

    DDE; (i) Good aim; (ii) Good effect is intended; (iii) No

    evil means; (iv) Sufficiently good effect intended.

    4. Explanations about the application of DDE to the

    following cases:

    (1) Self-defense; (2) The terror bomber and the

    tactical bomber; (3) Hysterectomy and abortion; (4)

    the trolley case and the emergency room case;

    Applications (i) Self-defense: the saving of ones life is

    the intended effect and the slaying of the aggressor is

    just foreseen. Therefore, this is permissible by the

    DDE. (ii) The Terror Bomber and the Tactical Bomber:

    In the case of terror bomber, the harming of civilians

    is included as means in his direct intention. In the

    tactical bomber, the civilian casualties are not

    intended but

    [4K] 3. Explanations about Rosss criticism

    against Kantian Deontology and his criticism against

    Utilitarianism;

    Against Utilitarianism:

    An utilitarians limited understanding of the relation

    between people: giving or having benefits(or harm)

    with others: the relationship of spouses (duty of

    fidelity), the relationship of parents to children (duty

    to nurture), the relationship of promisor to promisee

    (duty to keep promises), etc.

    Explanations about Rosss Pluralism;

    Pluralism

    We can have more than one source of morality.

    Promoting happiness and avoiding unhappiness +

    Our actions to keep duties like keeping promises,

    justice, fairness, etc.

    = Considering and balancing the net value of all the

    duties we can keep by each action.

    4. Explanations about prima facie duties and seven

    sources of them;

    Prima facie duties and all-things-considered duties

    Prima facie duties: duties we know at first glimpse

    (Seven prima facie duties: fidelity, reparation,

    gratitude, justice/fairness, beneficence, self-

    improvement, non-malfeasance)

    All-things-considered duties: duties we know after

    balancing all the conflicting prima facie duties we

    have.

    5. Explanations about Rosss thesis in determiningwhat we ought to do.

    Duty balancing

    When we decide what we should do, we need to

    consider the followings:

    a. Consider all the prima facie duties that are

    relevant,

    b. Weigh and balance all of them.

    Rosss thesis:

    An act x performed by person P at time T is morally

    right if and only if it is the act that best balances the

    seven possible kinds of prima facie duties that may

    apply to person P at time T.

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    [1V] [The Aristotelian Virtue Ethics]

    1.Explanation about Aristotles argument with four

    premises to conclude that the human should be the

    one who live according to the golden mean;

    Aristotles argument:

    Premise 1: All the things have an end or goal.

    Premise 2: It is the virtue to achieve the goalexcellently.

    Premise 3: The goal of human life is to be rational.

    Premise 4: The Golden Mean is concluded through

    our rationality. Conclusion: The human should be the

    one who live according to the golden mean.

    2.Explanations about Aristotles metaphysics about

    four causes;

    On premise 1: Four causes

    The material cause: the stuff a thing is made of; The

    efficient cause: the force that has brought a thing

    into being; The formal cause: the shape or idea of a

    thing; The final cause: the purpose or function of a

    thing

    3.Explanations about Aristotles notion of

    happiness;

    On premise 2: Happiness

    Aristotle says that the goal of ethics is to describe the

    good life, human flourishing or happiness.

    According to Aristotle, happiness is tied to the final

    cause of a thing.

    Ex. Good hammer = it functions well at hammering

    Explanations about the purpose of human life;

    On premise 3: Rationality

    What is the purpose of the human in life? In order to

    know this, we need to find the essence or the uniquecharacter of the human. Aristotle thinks that

    rationality is the essence of human beings.

    4. Explanations about the golden mean;

    On premise 4: the Golden Mean

    Virtue is the mean between the two extremesa

    middle way. (called the Golden Mean)

    Ex. An excellent appetite is the mean between greed

    and crazed dieting.

    By rationality, we can find this middle way.

    Finding this middle way is the key to leading a moral

    life. Ex. RashCourageCowardice

    5 .Explanations about Consequentialists and

    Deontologists possibleresponse to the virtue

    ethics. The nature of the virtues can only be derived

    from right actions or good consequences.

    The character traits of truthfulness - a virtue because

    telling the truth, in general, is a moral duty (or a rule

    maximizing utility)

    1. Explanations about the distinction between

    normative laws and descriptive laws and about the

    [3A] foreseen. Therefore, the tactical bomber is

    permissible but the terror bomber is not permissible

    by the DDE.

    (iii) Hysterectomy and Abortion of pregnant women:

    In the case of hysterectomy, the intended effect is to

    save the pregnant womans life and the death of the

    fetus is just foreseen. In the case of abortion, thedeath of the fetus is included as means into her

    direct intention. The death of fetus by hysterectomy

    is permissible but abortion is not permissible by the

    DDE.

    (iv) The Trolley Case and the Emergency Room Case:

    In the trolley case, the direct intention is to save five,

    and the sacrifice of one life is just foreseen. In the

    emergency room case, the death of a healthy guy is

    just used as means to save five. The trolley case is

    permissible and the emergency room case is not

    permissible by the DDE.

    Explanations about the two problems of the DDE

    discussed in class.

    (1) It is hard to make a distinction between intended

    means and foreseen side effects? If we need to

    consider counterfactual situations to figure out the

    intention of an agent, the decision will be more

    complicated. Ex. a terror bomber does not need to

    kill the civilians if she can deceive the opponent

    government to believe that the civilians are death.

    (2) There are many descriptions about an event. The

    decision about whether an event is an intended

    effect or just a foreseen side effect is arbitrarily made

    by our choice of description about the effect.

    1.Explanations about the pair of two cases, thewicked merchants and the gravediggers discussed in

    class, and what the result is if we apply the DDE to

    the cases, and what our general intuitions about the

    pair of cases are. The cases of wicked merchants and

    gravediggersDDE: The gravediggers necessarily

    intends to kill people to achieve the goal. Therefore,

    they take the peoples death as means to achieve

    their direct intention. But the merchants do not need

    to kill people to earn money. The death is just

    foreseen. The gravedigger is not permissible but the

    merchant is permissible. Intuition: they are both bad

    (even though not equally bad).

    enough to explain our moral judgments.

    2. Explanations about Foots distinction between

    allowing and doing, with the definitions of these

    two. The distinction between doing and allowing

    - An agent does or brings about a consequence if and

    only if her behavior is part of the sequence leanding

    to the consequence. An agent allows a consequence

    if her behavior is relevant to, but not part of, the

    sequence of events

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    [4A] leading to the consequence.

    However, this distinction does not explain the

    following judgment.

    It is wrong to allow ones own child to die of

    starvation.

    It is not (that much) wrong to allow people to die of

    starvation in the world.3. Explanations about Foots example to show that

    the distinction between allowing and doing is not

    enough to analyze our moral judgments

    4. Explanations about Foots distinction between

    negative and positive duties

    Positive Duties and Negative Duties

    A negative duty is to permit or oblige inaction

    A positive duty is to permit or oblige action

    5. Explanations about why we have different

    attitudes toward the following pairs of cases, given

    Foots distinction of negative and positive duties:

    (1) The pair of the Trolley case and the

    emergency room case;

    (2) The pair of allowing ones own child to die of

    starvation and allowing people to die of starvation in

    the world.

    When we have a conflict of these duties, we need to

    weigh them.

    (1) The Trolley Case:

    Two negative duties conflict: not to harm five people

    and not to harm one person

    (2) The emergency room case:

    A negative duty (not to kill an innocent person) and a

    positive duty (to save the lives) conflict.

    is important.

    (3) Allowance of ones own child to die of starvation

    A negative duty (not to kill a person) is violated.

    (4) Allowance of people to die of starvation in the

    world

    A positive duty (to save people) is violated.

    [2V] distinction between persons who already are

    virtuous and person who wants to be virtuous;

    Normative Laws and Descriptive Laws

    Normative laws are about how one should do; the

    way of what things ought to be. (failure,

    consciousness)

    Descriptive laws are about the way of how things are.(no failure, no consciousness)

    If you are not a virtuous person, virtues will work as

    normative laws.

    If you are a virtuous person, virtues will work as

    descriptive laws.

    2. Explanations about Aristotles notion of habit;

    Habit habits are tools of turning the ought into the is.

    The basic idea is that if we repeat the same activity

    that a person who already acquired the ought would

    do, then we can naturally and automatically do the

    virtuous act, without any consciousness and without

    any failure.

    3. Explanations about the four conditions for

    appropriate habitualization;

    Four conditions of habitualization

    (1) Knowledge: We need to know what the virtue is.

    - Coward person Case:

    Suppose a coward person MISTAKENLY imitates the

    behaviors of brave ones. This person is not virtuous.

    (Being vs. Doing) The person needs to know who are

    brave one and who are not.

    (2) For the sake of virtue: We do virtuous things only

    for the sake of virtues.

    - Ultimate Self-Interest Case

    Suppose that a person does a virtuous thing and doesit knowingly, but she wants to do it for some prize.

    This person is not virtuous. (Intention vs. Action)

    (3) Consistency: We need to do virtuous acts

    regularly. Suppose that a person decides to act brave

    this time. Usually the person acts cowardly. This

    person is not brave. (States acquired by habit vs.

    Particular Actions)

    (4) Enjoyment -A virtuous act with enjoyment is a

    sign of the fact that the agent is in the virtuous state

    and naturally do the virtuous act. If a person does a

    brave act with the following pleasure or enjoyment,

    then she is brave. But if she feels pain in doing a

    brave act, she is not yet in the state of brave.

    4. Explanations about the four cases to show the

    unintuitiveness of Aristotelian virtue ethics.

    Problems

    (1) Virtuous excessively

    (2) Courageous in a unjust war

    (3) Different opportunities to establish virtues

    (4) Conflict virtues

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