Ethical naturalism

Cards (15)

  • How good is defined
    Good is defined as something that is naturally occurring in the world, and is equated with pleasure. In this case, good refers to the feeling of pleasure, whereas bad refers to the feeling of pain
  • Bentham's Utilitarianism is an example of ethical naturalism as it is based on the idea that the only thing that matters is the greatest good for the greatest number
  • Weaknesses of Ethical Naturalism
    Happiness depends on people, so is impossible to define. Happiness is subjective
  • Weaknesses of Ethical Naturalism
    Some people derive pleasure from inflicting pain, which can hardly be called good for the majority. Happiness is subjective
  • Weaknesses of Ethical Naturalism 

    It requires people to second guess the future, but we can never be sure of the consequences of our actions, and the consequence might inflict more pain than pleasure
  • Weaknesses of Ethical Naturalism 

    It allows for evil so good may come
  • Weaknesses of Ethical Naturalism 

    Too impartial - the burning house dilemma - if your mum and a person who has the cure for cancer are trapped in a burning building, who do you save first? Ethical naturalism would save the cancer specialist
  • Strengths of ethical naturalism
    Ethical propositions are true because they are factual. Gives a factual basis for morality
  • Strengths of Ethical Naturalism 

    Right and wrong are objective, they exist in the world outside ourselves
  • Strengths of Ethical Naturalism 

    Ethical propositions can give us solid guidelines and rules to follow.
  • Strengths of Ethical Naturalism 

    We can be judged by our compliance with the rules. It gives us a way of morally judging people
  • Strengths of Ethical Naturalism 

    Most people tend to follow a naturalist theory whether they know it or not, therefore, fits in with human nature and society
  • Strengths of Ethical Naturalism 

    Overcomes the problem of deontology, we are able to consider the consequences of our actions
  • Strengths of Ethical Naturalism 

    Utilitarianism is secular, so it could therefore apply to a non-religious audience as an ethical system
  • Ethical naturalism is both cognitive and realist theory, as it uses the world to define the concept of good.