"This Isn't An Argument!"
You need one or more of these to support a conclusion.
What is a premise?
This is the view that there are no moral truths, and moral talk is nonsense.
What is moral nihilism?
This is the view that what makes an action right or wrong are it's consequences.
This is Deontology.
What is the group of moral theories that focuses on following a set of moral laws?
This is the view that moral goodness and badness is ultimately concerned with character, dispositions, virtues and vices.
What is virtue ethics?
This means that there is nothing wrong with the logical structure of an argument.
What is validity?
This is the view that there are objective, certain moral truths.
What is moral realism?
This is the view that the principle aim of our moral decisions are to maximize happiness and minimize pain
What is the principle of utility?
This is
"In C, I will do A for P, because it is G"
(Also, define all variables)
What is the structure of Kant's maxims?
C: Context
A: Action
P: Purpose
G: Grounds
This is the Greek word for flourishing, or a human life that is going well.
What is eudaimonia?
There are the two questions we have to ask for any deductive argument.
Is the argument valid?
Are the premises true?
This is the central question of meta-ethics (at least, for the purposes of our class).
Are there moral truths?
This is the distinction between act- and rule-utilitarianism.
What is using the utilitarianian principle to decide how to act vs. using it to decide what rules we should have.
This is the deontological system which suggests that moral laws come from the very structure of nature.
What is natural law theory?
These are a group of virtues that lie in a Golden Mean between vices of excess and vices of deficiency.
What are virtues of character?
Any argument with the following form:
"If X, then Y. X, therefore, Y"
What is Modus Ponens?
This is the distinction between pseudorelativism and cultural relativism.
What is whether or not there is at least one moral truth?
This is Mill's response to the claim that Utilitarianism is the "doctrine of swine", and just focuses on base pleasures.
What is the distinction between higher and lower pleasures?
The Second Formulation of Kant's Categorical Imperative
What is the rule that we cannot treat others as mere means, but always as an end in of themselves?
This is the Greek word for excellence - specifically, excellence at performing a specific function.
What is arete?
[All Groups!]
Construct a valid argument for cultural relativism.
[Correct teams get the points]
This is the distinction between Cognitivism and Non-cognitivism in meta-ethics.
Whether or not moral truths take the shape of propositions?
[All Groups]
Using Bentham's six criteria - intensity, duration, certainty, distance, fruitfulness, and purity - work out the utility of deciding to stay home vs. cliff diving.
[Best Answer Wins]
[Group Activity!]
Apply Kant's Categorical Imperative to the maxim, "When I am taking a midterm, I am going to cheat on the exam for the purposes of getting an A, because that is what I ought to do."
[Best applications win!]
This is a virtue of intellect - specifically practical wisdom.
What is phronesis?