AoK: Ethics Flashcards
What does ethics study?
Human thoughts & actions, to give an understanding of goodness & moral choice and how people should act; examines morality
What is morality?
The sense of right or wrong
Who develops ethics?
Philosophers & religious scholars through their informed opinions
What do moral choices reflect?
Our values of good & bad, right & wrong
Which are the three levels of generality within ethics?
- Meta-ethics
- Normative ethics
- Applied ethics
What are meta-ethics?
That which deals with the nature of ethical knowledge
What are normative ethics?
Those that deal with how we know whether we are doing the right or wrong thing
What are applied ethics?
How we apply ethical thinking to particular topics
What is ethical absolutism?
Right / wrong is applied universally
What is ethical relativism?
There is no such thing as right and wrong outside the values of individual / society (based on context)
Which are the four theories within normative ethics?
- Deontology
- Utilitarianism
- Virtue ethics
- Caring ethics
What does deontology (absolutism) consist on?
Focuses on the duties and obligations, formulated as rules to follow
What does utilitarianism (relativism) consist on?
Based on observation, imagining consequences & reasoning to make predictions, giving the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people
What does virtue ethics (absolutism) consist on?
Evaluating if the person is of good or bad character
What does caring ethics (relativism) consist on?
Evaluating if the persona acts out of concern for the welfare of others within networks of relationships
Which are the four perspectives within applied ethics?
- Moral agent
- Moral choice
- Effects on others
- Social context
What does the “moral agent” perspective focus on?
Did the person intend good or harm to others?
What does the “moral choice” perspective focus on?
Was the person following rules?
What does the “effects on others” perspective focus on?
The consequences for the greater good
What does the “social context” perspective focus on?
Personal and emotional context within reason
