phi 2604 test #2, topics for review (chapters 4 & 5)

1. Difference between consequentialist theories and Formalist theories.

Consequentialism is the theory that judges the rightness or wrongness of an action in terms of its consequences. Formalism is the theory that judges the rightness or wrongness of an action in terms of the action's form (i.e., "killing is wrong": the formalist believes that moral actions are objective).

 2. Intrinsic value (value for its own sake; personhood is an essential value: a-reason, b-autonomy, c-sentience, d-freedom) and instrumental values (value for the sake of something else).

3. Psychological egoism: everyone always acts solely out of self-interest. This is an interesting claim because it entails that altruistic behavior (behavior done solely for the sake of the other person) does not exist. Even when someone like Mother Teresa appears to be acting for the sake of other people, in actuality she is doing what she does because—according to the psychological egoist—it makes her feel better. 

4. Ethical egoism: What makes an action right is that it promotes one's best interest. This is equivalent to a calculus of prudence. C/A Moral agents are mot mere instruments for one's interest. (b) some claim that ethical egoism is not really an ethical theory. Whatever disagreements may exist among ethicists, one thing that most of them agree on is that morality is about overcoming our immediate calculations and caring for the well-being of other people for their own sake.

Click here for my notes on ethical egoism,

5. Act Utilitarianism (or Traditional utilitarianism): What makes an action right is that it maximizes happiness everyone considered (remember this is only a particular milieu: family, class, Miami, Florida, the USA).

Click here for my notes to utilitarianism, 

Rule utilitarianism: what makes an action right is that it falls under a rule which if followed would maximize happiness, everyone considered.

Rule utilitarianism seems to solve some of the problems presented by traditional utilitarianism. 

TAKE A LOOK AT THE GLOSSARY ON PAGES 363- 366