Blog

Which of the following words is derived from the Greek word meaning “having reached one’s end [or goal]” and places the locus of value on the outcomes or consequences of the action?

One problem with relativism is that every event in history has to be described by either cultures or individuals to know if they were good or evil.  So, 9/11 will be moral, if Conventionalism is true, if 51% of your culture thinks it was a moral action.  If subjectivism is true, the Nazi Holocaust was a moral event if you think it was a good thing. 

The following is the ____________________________________: “We ought to do that which produces the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.”   See Mill’s Utilitarianism (pp. 125 – 127)

Criticisms of Act Utilitarianism: The case of the American spy who betrayed his country and sold information to the Soviet Union, Robert Hanssen, as seen in the movie Breach (2006).   He is used to illustrate which objection to Act Utilitarianism?

Utilitarianism is a form of __________________ along with universal ethical egoism (e.g. Ayn Rand’s philosophy). 

According to Bentham, some pleasures may be more valuable than others but only in so far as they are of a greater intensity or duration.  See Mill’s Utilitarianism (pp. 123-124)

Criticisms of Act Utilitarianism: It claims that every decision should maximize pleasure in the world. How can my choice to go see the new Sylvester Stallone movie, John Rambo  [a.k.a. Rambo XX], be ethical when I could give that $9.00 to tsunami relief? .   This question is in line with what critique of Act Utilitarianism?  

Jeremy Bentham’s concept of utilitarianism is simply to maximize pleasure and: See John Stuart Mill’s discussion in chapters I and II of Utilitarianism (pp. 115 – 145)

Which of the following words is derived from the Greek words meaning “duty” and “logic,” and means that the locus of value is in the action or kind of action?

Worldviews:  Naturalism (scientific atheism) . Philosophical Naturalism – the worldview that claims only nature exists. So, nothing supernatural exists.  Gods, angels, souls, love, beauty are all eliminated or reduced to only physical entities/processes. Philosophical Naturalists are usually physicalists and believe that only matter and energy exists.   Another name for philosophical naturalism is scientific naturalism or scientific materialism. ALL OF THE STATEMENTS ABOVE ARE TRUE.  True or False?