Dan argues that the most fundamental decision a person faces is
{{c1::the choice between 3 paths}}
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Acronyms of Dan's 3 paths:
{{c1::ILC
ELC
RLC}}
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Dan's 3 paths
ILC stands for
{{c1::Implicitly Leaving to Chance}}
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Dan's 3 paths
ELC stands for
{{c1::Explicitly Leaving to Chance}}
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Dan's 3 paths
RLC stands for
{{c1::Rejecting Leaving to Chance}}
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Dan's 3 paths, full names:
{{c1::ILC (Implicitly Leaving to Chance)
ELC (Explicitly Leaving to Chance)
RLC (Rejecting Leaving to Chance)}}
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What is the defining characteristic of Path ILC?
{{c1::Continuing to make decisions
in the way one's
upbringing, genes, and experiences
have chanced to condition them}}
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How does Lucy's initial behaviour in the 'Twins' example illustrate Path ILC
{{c1::She uncritically accepts the beliefs and methods of her community}}
such as
{{c1::using the wrong maths formula and maximising her own pleasure}}
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In what 3 realms is it particularly common
for people to remain on Path ILC?
{{c1::Religion, politics, and ethics}}
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What is the primary aim of someone on Path ELC?
{{c1::To strive to increase as much as possible
the role of chance in their decision-making}}
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What is the ideal or purest form of Path {{c2::ELC}}
{{c1::To choose at random between all available options at every moment}}
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What is the core principle of Path RLC?
{{c1::To strive to reduce as far as possible
the role of chance in one's decision-making}}
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What are the two key activities
that define the process
of being on Path RLC?
{{c1::Striving to learn at the deepest level}}
{{c2::Striving to base decisions upon everything learned so far}}
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What are the two key activities
that define the process
of being on Path RLC?
{{c1::Striving to learn at the deepest level}}
{{c1::Striving to base decisions upon everything learned so far}}
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How would someone on Path RLC respond
when confronted with a mathematical or scientific belief they hold
due to their upbringing?
{{c1::They would ask 'why' this belief is held over alternatives
and seek to learn the underlying principles of the subject}}
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3 things that someone on Path RLC might do
when approaching an ethical decision,
such as how to treat others
{{c1::
1. They question their current ethical framework
2. Try to learn in ethics
3. To find a non-arbitrary way to act}}
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(Re: Dan from Superprof)
Why is the decision between the three paths
considered the most fundamental?
{{c1::Because the choice of path
underpins and determines
how all other subsequent decisions are made}}
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What does taking Path RLC provide that the other paths lack
{{c1::A foundation for a life with purpose, meaning, autonomy,
and the confidence that one is acting rightly}}
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In the 'River' example,
how does Lucy's decision-making differ
if she is on Path ILC versus Path RLC
{{c1::On Path ILC, she acts on her chanced-to-have pleasure-maximising principle}}
{{c1::On Path RLC, she acts on what she has learned is ethically right}}
4. Flashcards on key concept 2 (types of luck)
In his essay "Moral Luck",
What fundamental problem does Thomas Nagel identify
Regarding our ordinary practice of moral assessment?
{{c1::A person's moral standing
can be significantly affected by factors beyond their control,
yet we continue to judge them as if they were fully in control}}
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What is the core distinction Dan makes
between "chance events"
and the act of
"leaving to chance"
{{c1::Chance events happen to us and present our options,
whereas leaving to chance is the act of choosing amongst those options
without a firm grounding }}
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Dan's essay focuses on which types of Nagel's moral luck?
{{c1::Circumstantial}} luck
{{c1::Constitutive}} luck
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Nagel identifies {{c1::four}} types of moral luck
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What is "circumstantial luck", according to Nagel?
{{c1::The luck of
the specific problems
and situations
one happens to face}}
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What is "constitutive luck", according to Nagel?
{{c1::The luck of being the kind of person you are,
with certain inclinations, capacities, and character traits}}
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The third type of moral luck identified by Nagel:
{{c1::Luck in antecedent circumstances}}
AKA {{c1::causal luck}}
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The fourth type of moral luck identified by Nagel:
{{c1::Luck in the way one's actions turn out}}
AKA {{c1::resultant luck}}
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How does Dan's "Path RLC" offer a direct response
to the problem of constitutive luck?
{{c1::It proposes that one can actively overcome their 'chanced-to-have' character
by striving to learn
and base their decisions on that learning}}
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In the 'River' example,
Lucy happening to pass by as the child falls in
is an instance of what specific type of luck?
{{c1::Circumstantial }}
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In the 'Twins' example,
the coin toss determining the core ethical dispositions of Lucy and Felicity
is a stark illustration of what concept?
{{c1::Constitutive luck}}
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According to Dan's essay,
When does a person become morally responsible
for their character traits?
{{c1::When they have the good circumstantial luck
of being able to take Path RLC,
but choose not to }}
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How does Nagel's concept of "resultant luck"
apply to a driver who, through a momentary lapse of attention,
hits a child who runs into the road?
{{c1::The driver is judged more harshly
than another driver with the same lapse of attention
where no child was present,
even though the action was identical}}
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How does Dan's essay reframe the problem of moral luck
from a first-person perspective?
{{c1::It frames it not as a state of being,
but as a fundamental choice between
leaving things to chance (ILC/ELC)
or rejecting chance (RLC)}}
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In the 'River' example,
the rain and the child slipping into the water
are examples of what?
{{c1::Chance events
that result in Lucy being presented with a particular set of options}}
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According to Dan's essay,
being in a position where you have the option to take Path RLC
is itself an instance of what?
{{c1::Good circumstantial luck}}
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What term describes the type of luck related to
the kind of person you are,
including your {{c2::ingrained habits}}, {{c2::desires}}, and {{c2::values}}
{{c1::Constitutive luck}}
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How does Dan's essay reframe the problem of constitutive moral luck?
{{c1::As a choice:
if one has the option to take Path RLC,
one has the option to escape constitutive luck,
making one responsible for that choice}}