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universal ethical truths exist
objectivism
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there is no universal ethical truths
relativism
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good is based on the individual
subjectivism - implies relativism
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good is based on society/culture
conventionalism ( implies relativism)
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there is one fundamental good
absolutism (implies objectivisim)
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we cannot know ethical truths
skepticism
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we cannot know ANY ethical truth
strong skeptic
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we cannot konw absolute or objectivism ethical truths
weak skeptic
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there are no ethical truths
nihilism
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there are not any ethical truths
strong nihilist
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there are no absolute objective or subjective ethical truths
weak nihilist
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emotions in some way determine ethics
emotivist
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we should pursue our own power
egoist
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utility plays some role
protoutilitarian
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we should pursue our own pleasure
hedonist
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truth is what is useful
pragmatic theory of truth
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describing how some part of the world is or was (how the word good is used)
descriptive theory
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proscribing telling you what should be done (how we ought to act)
proscriptive/normative theory
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think about the consequences of the action before acting. act in the way that will have the greatest outcome
utilitarianism
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relativist, weak moral skeptic, emotivist, protoutilitarian, conventionalist, theory is descriptive, and proscriptive, virtue ethics
hume
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Humes argument for moral skepticism HAMS
- 1. all knowledge is relation of ideas or matter of fact
- 2.objective moral knowledge is not realtion of ideas
- 3. objective moral knowledge is not matter of fact
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- math, logic
-world independent (before experiencing world)
- analytic_true by definition
-denial leads to a contradiction
-denial is inconceivable
relation of ideas
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- not logic, but everything else
- world dependent (after experiencing world)
- synthetic- beyond meaning of the terms involved
- denial does not lead to a contradiction
- denial is conceivable
matter of fact
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what is humes fork
premise 1 : all knowledge is relation of ideas, or matter of fact: (you cannot really fight this, it is true)
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humes support for premise 2
- R o I is universal (math 2+2=4 worldwide)
- circumstances matter or morality but not RoI
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humes support for premise 3
- morality excites passions, passions are distinct from reasons
- -morality guides action
- -we are not punished for mistakes in reason, but in morality
- -we do not see morality in action (pushing man)
- -we consult our feelings and judge based on how we feel.
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humes old theory of action
- reasons determine the action
- role of reason: reasons direct judgement (determines true/false)
- reason relates idea to idea
- -tells you how
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humes new theory of action
- passion determines action
- - relates idea to ME
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humes conventionalist account (positive)
- good = useful to society
- bad = detrimental to society
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options for dealing with humes HAMS
- 1. reject P2- you say morality is like math RoI (kant)
- 2. reject P3- you say morality is like MoF (utilitarianism good = happiness)
- 3. accept it (relativist- ther is no objective moral knowledge)
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- Conventionalist
- relativist
-weak nihilist
-descriptive theory
benedict
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why isolated cultures
-b/c they have not been tainted by the rest of the universe, they are pure
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Benedicts conventionalist account
- good = what is normal to a society
- bad= what is abnormal to a society
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process by which norms arise
- - they do not arise by human nature, survival, or rational
- -like analogy to phonetics
- -a dominant bias is pushed further and further until it is accepted and part of the culture's bias
-
-weak nihilst
- universal subjectivist
-relativist
- egoist
-descriptive theory,
-proscriptive theory
thoery is inductive, strong with good form and bad content
Nietzsche
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Master Morality (noble morality)
- -power is good
- -creative
- -natural
- -honest to self-good comes from an internal affirmation
- -egoist progress society
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slave morality (herd morality)
- -power is bad
- - uncreative
- -unnatural- denying instincts
- -dishonest to self
- -good comes from external negation
- -altruists stagnates society
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-
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god is dead
- the death of absolutes/objectivism
- theres is no truth, only interpretation
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role of will to power
- -natural - life is essentially the will to power, you are affirming life, not only surviving, but flourishing
- -unnatural- you are denying instincts and therefore life
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