Chapter 1 Moral Reasoning in Bioethics Flashcards
Morality
Beliefs regarding morally right and wrong actions and morally good and bad persons or character
Ethics
the study of morality using tools and methods of philosophy
Descriptive Ethics
The study of morality using the methodology of science.
Normative Ethics
The search for, and justification of, moral standards, or norms.
Metaethics
The study of the meaning and justification of basic moral beliefs.
Applied Ethics
The use of moral norms and concepts to resolve practical moral issues.
Bioethics
Applied ethics focused on health care, medical science, and medical technology.
Autonomy
a person’s rational capacity for self-governance or self-determination - the ability to direct one’s own lief and choose for oneself.
Paternalism
The overriding of a person’s action or decision-making for his own good.
Non-maleficence
The moral principle that says we should not cause unnecessary injury or harm to others.
Beneficence
we should actively promote the well-being of others and prevent or remove harm to them
Utility
we should produce the most favorable balance of good over bad (or benefit over harm) for all concerned
Justice
refers to people getting what is fair or what is their due
Retributive justice
concerns the fair meting out of punishment for wrongdoing
Distributive justice
concerns the fair distribution of society’s advantage and disadvantage
Moral objectivisim
the view that there are moral norms or principles that are valid or true for everyone
Moral absolutism
The belief that objective moral principles allow no exceptions or must be applied the same way in all cases and cultures
Ethical relativism
the view that moral standards are not objective but are relative to what individuals or cultures believe
Subjective relativism
the view that right actions are those sanctioned by a person
Cultural relativism
The view that right actions are those sanctioned by one’s culture
Divine Command Theory
The view that right actions are those commanded by God and wrong actions are those forbidden by God
Deductive Arguments
An argument intended to give logically conclusive support to its conclusion
Inductive Arguments
An argument intended to give probable support to its conclusion
Moral Argument
An argument whose conclusion is a moral statement
Evidence
Something that makes a statement more likely to be true
Confirmation Bias
The tendency to look for and recognize only information that conforms our existing view
Motivated Reasoning
Reasoning for the purpose of supporting a predetermined conclusion, not to uncover the truth
Availability Error
Relying on evidence not because it’s trustworthy bu because it’s memorable or striking
Dunning-Kruger effect
The phenomenon of being ignorant of how ignorant we are
