PHI-240 Final Exam STUDY GUIDE
Deontology - Answers - The category of normative theories that all agree that we have
certain moral duties that must be followed even if they do not lead to the best outcome
Perfect Duty - Answers - A duty in which one must absolutely not ignore
Imperfect Duty - Answers - A duty which one must not ignore but admits of multiple
means of fulfillment
Act Utilitarianism - Answers - It is morally permissible for you to do something if and
only if your actions produces the best net total of pleasure over pain (or the least pain
possible if no possible action will produce more pleasure than pain) for as many people
as you can
Rule Utilitarianism - Answers - Act only on rules that bring out the best total of pleasure
over pain
Optimific - Answers - The best net total of pleasure over pain
Hedonism - Answers - The ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction
of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life
Prima facie duty - Answers - Something that I would be obligated to do under ordinary
circumstances
Actual duty - Answers - Our obligation considering all the relevant prima facie duties
Ethical pluralism - Answers - The category of normative moral theories that agree that
there are at least two fundamental moral rules and that, in some cases, it is morally
permissible to break them
Premise - Answers - The statement(s) in an argument that are doing the supporting
Conclusion - Answers - The statement in an argument that is supported by others
Hard determinism - Answers - The belief that because we are never the cause of any of
our actions, we cannot be held morally responsible for them
Compatibilism - Answers - The belief that we are free, and, therefore, should be held
morally responsible for our actions that are uncompelled and uncoerced, even though
every event is caused by prior events
Deontology - Answers - The category of normative theories that all agree that we have
certain moral duties that must be followed even if they do not lead to the best outcome
Perfect Duty - Answers - A duty in which one must absolutely not ignore
Imperfect Duty - Answers - A duty which one must not ignore but admits of multiple
means of fulfillment
Act Utilitarianism - Answers - It is morally permissible for you to do something if and
only if your actions produces the best net total of pleasure over pain (or the least pain
possible if no possible action will produce more pleasure than pain) for as many people
as you can
Rule Utilitarianism - Answers - Act only on rules that bring out the best total of pleasure
over pain
Optimific - Answers - The best net total of pleasure over pain
Hedonism - Answers - The ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction
of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life
Prima facie duty - Answers - Something that I would be obligated to do under ordinary
circumstances
Actual duty - Answers - Our obligation considering all the relevant prima facie duties
Ethical pluralism - Answers - The category of normative moral theories that agree that
there are at least two fundamental moral rules and that, in some cases, it is morally
permissible to break them
Premise - Answers - The statement(s) in an argument that are doing the supporting
Conclusion - Answers - The statement in an argument that is supported by others
Hard determinism - Answers - The belief that because we are never the cause of any of
our actions, we cannot be held morally responsible for them
Compatibilism - Answers - The belief that we are free, and, therefore, should be held
morally responsible for our actions that are uncompelled and uncoerced, even though
every event is caused by prior events
