5 Flashcards
______ is the process of analyzing situations to determine right from wrong using logic. It is an essential aspect of human decision-making and is studied in both psychology and moral philosophy.
Moral reasoning
Moral reasoning
Influencing Factors:
• Logic and ethical theories ( deontology & utilitirianism)
• Emotions, biases, and societal pressures
______ is a strong moral conclusions without logical defense.
Moral dumbfounding
People begin making moral judgments from a young age, making morality fundamental to the human condition. ______ occurs both within individuals and in their interactions with others. Key contributors to this field include ______ and ______.
Moral reasoning, Lawrence Kohlberg, Elliot Turiel
The term “______” can also refer to reasoning under uncertainty, such as in legal contexts, where it gave rise to the phrase “______,” though this usage is now rare outside jury instructions.
moral reasoning, to a moral certainty
______ is a core subject in descriptive ethics, which examines how ordinary people perceive moral issues. Every day, individuals face ethical dilemmas—such as whether to lie or tell the truth—by weighing potential actions against their consequences. Moral choices can be personal, economic, or ethical and are often shaped by societal norms and relationships.
Moral reasoning
______ plays a significant role in moral reasoning. Research shows that cultural differences influence high-level cognitive functions related to morality, as seen in variations in brain activity across societies. These findings highlight the neural basis of cultural influences on moral decision-making, showing that morality is both universal and culturally specific.
Culture
Theories of Moral Development:
Moral Sensitivity
Moral Judgment
Moral Motivation
Moral Character
Theories of Moral Development
______
• Recognizing ethical dilemmas and understanding their impact on others.
Moral Sensitivity
Theories of Moral Development
______
• Using reasoning to determine the correct course of action.
Moral Judgment
Theories of Moral Development
______
• Committing to moral actions and accepting responsibility for the outcome
Moral Motivation
Theories of Moral Development
______
• Persisting in moral actions despite challenges or temptations to take the easy way out.
Moral Character
DIFFERENT VIEWS OF MORAL REASONING
______ argued that morality is driven by emotions rather than logic, linking it to passion, love, and happiness.
David Hume
DIFFERENT VIEWS OF MORAL REASONING
______ supported this idea, suggesting that moral intuitions (including moral emotions) come first, followed by reasoning to justify pre-existing judgments.
Jonathan Haidt
DIFFERENT VIEWS OF MORAL REASONING
______, in contrast, proposed that morality is based on universal laws that must be followed regardless of emotions.
• Formulating a maxim that justifies the action.
• Universalizing it as a principle for all rational beings.
• Assessing whether such a world is conceivable.
• Deciding if one would will this principle to exist universally.
Immanuel Kant
Forms of Moral Reasoning:
Analogical Reasoning
Consequentialism
Forms of Moral Reasoning
______
• Applying moral principles from one case to another based on relevant similarities, as seen in legal precedent.
Analogical Reasoning
Forms of Moral Reasoning
______
• Evaluating actions based on their outcomes rather than intrinsic moral properties, differing from deontology, which emphasizes duty and universal principles.
Consequentialism
REASONING FROM ______: ______
• Moral decisions should be based on rules or duties.
RULE, Deontological REASONING
REASONING FROM ______: ______
• Asserts that actions can be right or wrong in themselves, independent of the outcomes they produce.
RULE, Deontological REASONING
REASONING FROM ______: ______
• An action is considered right if it aligns with these moral rules and wrong if it violates them.
RULE, Deontological REASONING
REASONING FROM ______: ______
• Moral decisions should be based on their outcomes
CONSEQUENCES, TEOLOGICAL REASONING
REASONING FROM ______: ______
• GREATEST HAPPINESS PRINCIPLE
The right action is the one that brings the most good to the most people based on their outcomes
CONSEQUENCES, TEOLOGICAL REASONING
REASONING FROM ______: ______
• COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Choose the action that maximizes benefit and minimizes harm
CONSEQUENCES, TEOLOGICAL REASONING
