Answer: John Stuart Mill's utilitarianism stands as a prominent form of consequentialist ethical theory. Consequentialism asserts that the moral rightness or wrongness of an action is determined solely by its outcomes or consequences. For Mill, the ultimate consequence to be maximized is happiness, or 'utility', and minimized is pain. At the heart of Mill's philosophy is the 'Greatest Happiness Principle', which states that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, and wrong as...

Answer: Virtue Ethics is a normative ethical theory that primarily focuses on the character of the moral agent rather than the rightness or wrongness of specific actions or rules. It shifts the ethical inquiry from "What should I do?" to "What kind of person should I be?" This approach emphasizes the cultivation of inner dispositions and character traits that enable individuals to live a morally excellent and fulfilling life. It posits that good actions flow from a good character. A foundational conc...

Answer: Moral philosophy delves into the fundamental questions of right and wrong, good and bad, exploring the nature of moral judgments and the principles guiding human conduct. Within this vast field, meta-ethical theories like Prescriptivism, Ethical Naturalism, and Ethical Non-naturalism seek to understand the meaning and status of moral claims. Prescriptivism, championed by R.M. Hare, asserts that moral judgments are universalizable imperatives, functioning as action-guiding commands rather than de...

Answer: Plato's philosophy, particularly in *The Republic*, identified four cardinal virtues crucial for both individual well-being and a just society. These virtues are Wisdom, Courage, Temperance, and Justice. Wisdom, associated with the rational part of the soul, involves discerning truth and making sound judgments. Courage, belonging to the spirited part, is the ability to face fear and adversity for noble causes. Temperance signifies self-control, bringing harmony between desires and reason. Justic...

Answer: Here are short notes on the requested ethical concepts, extracted from typical BPYC-132 Ethics course material. Each note aims to be concise while covering the core idea, adhering to the overall word limit by distributing it across all eight sub-questions. (a) Eudaimonia refers to Aristotle's concept of human flourishing or living well, often translated as 'happiness' or 'well-being'. It is not merely a subjective feeling but an objective state achieved through virtuous activity throughout a co...