Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Philosophy and ethics

A Virtuous Individual

An individual who I considered to be virtuous is my best friend, Reid Bartholomew. Reid would always look out for everyone around him, friends, and family. The Golden Mean is the midpoint between two extremes, which are known as deficiency and excess. Where the golden mean lies between the vices depends on the situation. For example, courage could be considered the golden mean while cowardice is a deficiency and recklessness is an excess.

In Aristotle’s virtue ethics, he provided three conditions for authentic moral actions.

1. The subject knows well what he is doing. For instance, Reid had planned on completing all his homework for one day so he would have more time to study for his midterms the next day.
2. The subject does

Contra Descartes and Kant, the cogito cannot be aware of anything let alone itself without the recognition of its own existence in the gaze of the other. “I cannot obtain any truth

TEMA 6: Vocabulary

1. Identifying, Listing, and Defining Artistic Proofs

• a. Ethos: Character (past observable behavior, testimony, and credentials)
• b. Pathos: Emotion (we try to hide emotions to make a decision, but it is the most compelling factor)
• c. Logos: Reasoning/logic/coherence (check against pathos and logos)

2. Differentiating Between Mood, Mind, and Action in an Argument

Understanding the distinctions between mood, mind, and action is crucial in crafting persuasive arguments.

3. Identifying the Parts of a Syllogism

• Major premise
• Minor premise
• Conclusion

4. Finding the Major Premise of an Argument Based on the Minor Premise

This involves deductive reasoning to uncover the underlying assumptions of an argument.

5. Defining Key Debate Terms

• Burden of proof: The person

What Concept Does Plato Try to Clarify in The Republic and Why?

The Republic is a work whose object of discussion is to determine what justice consists of.

Plato wants to clarify justice, because for Plato it is easier to perceive justice in a complex existence than in a simple one.

He said that it’s easier to understand how justice operates in a city than in a single individual. Justice is a virtue common to man and the city; we could look for it, therefore, in one and another; as the city is very big, justice must be inscribed in it more clearly.

Which Three Classes Do the Ideal Society of Plato Need? Why Are They Necessary?

• Producers/workers/artisans: to gather the social body with all the necessary goods for its survival.
• Auxiliaries/defenders/

Aristotle's Virtue: Finding the Balance

The main theme is that virtues such as temperance and courage can be destroyed by both defect and excess, and that finding a balance or proportion in their exercise is essential to their preservation and growth. The text uses the examples of strength and health, as well as cowardice and rashness, to illustrate this point.

Aristotle's Concept of Virtue

Aristotle's concept of virtue is central to his ethical philosophy. He believed that virtue was a habit or disposition that allowed a person to act in accordance with reason and to achieve their goals in life. Virtue, according to Aristotle, is a mean between two extremes: deficiency and excess.

Examples of the Golden Mean

For example, the virtue of courage is... Continue reading "Aristotle's Virtue: The Golden Mean" »

Deductive Method

This method consists in going from general statements to particular statements. From some general judgments or definitions, individual conclusions, that are the necessary consequence of the first, are deduced.

The consistency and validity of this method is unquestionable: if the premises are true, the conclusion will be true as well.

This method is characteristic of formal sciences, although in empirical sciences it is also used in the first part of the investigation, when it is necessary to formulate hypotheses. This method is only feasible and sufficient in the formal sciences. For that reason, it is considered an inadequate method because, although it is useful to construct valid arguments,

Inductive Method

This method starts... Continue reading "Deductive, Inductive & Hypothetical-Deductive Reasoning in Science" »

Understanding Business Ethics

Business ethics refer to the moral foundations that characterize the relationships companies maintain with stakeholders or interest groups. Ethics influences ordinary management and can also lead to modifying a company's strategy.

Impact on Decisions and Strategy

Business ethics affects different areas when making business decisions, especially economic and legal issues (Weiss, 2006). For example, companies involved in scams often see their reputation and share prices plummet due to a loss of confidence.

Consequences of Unethical Behavior

A recent example involves Volkswagen, following the scandal concerning the manipulation of polluting diesel engines. The collapse of companies involved in unethical practices is often... Continue reading "Business Ethics: Core Principles and Corporate Impact" »

The Ultimate Vocabulary Builder

From Pontificate to Preposterous

Pontificate - to speak pompously or dogmatically

Porous - filled with many tiny holes; permeable; absorbent

Posterity - future generations; descendants; heirs

Posthumous - occurring after one's death; published after the death of the author

Posture - to act or speak artificially or affectedly

Prattle - to chatter on and on; to babble childishly

Precarious - dangerously insecure or unsteady

Precocious - unusually mature; uncommonly gifted

Predecessor - someone or something that precedes in time

Predicament - a dangerous or unpleasant situation; a dilemma

Predispose - to make susceptible; to put in a frame of mind for; to incline toward

Predominant - most important; dominant; having power over... Continue reading "The Ultimate Vocabulary Builder: From Pontificate to Preposterous" »