Chapter 1: Moral Reasoning In Bioethics

Question 1

Morality

Answer 1

Concerns/beliefs about morally right/wrong actions, people, character

Question 2

Ethics

Answer 2

Study of morality using tools/methods of philosophy (e.g. critical reasoning, logical argument, conceptual analysis)

Question 3

Descriptive Ethics

Answer 3

Study of ethics using tools/methods of science

Question 4

Normative Ethics

Answer 4

1 of 3 branches of ethics: Search for and justification of moral standards/norms to (rationally) establish the norms as guides for every day actions and judgements.

Question 5

Meta-ethics

Answer 5

1 of 3 branches of ethics; Study of the justification/meaning of basic moral beliefs

Question 6

Applied Ethics

Answer 6

1 of 3 branches of ethics: Use of moral norms/concepts to resolve practical moral issues.

Question 7

Bioethics

Answer 7

Part of the Applied Ethics branch of ethics. Focused on healthcare, medical science, and medical technology.

Question 8

Normative Dominance

Answer 8

When morality norms override practical norms

Question 9

Universality

Answer 9

When moral norms apply (fairly uniformly) across similar scenarios

Question 10

Impartiality

Answer 10

When morals protect/guide all people equally; All people are regarded as equal

Question 11

Reasonableness

Answer 11

When morals are based on reason (not emotions or biased judgements)

Question 12

Legal Moralism

Answer 12

When something is made illegal simply because it’s immoral

Question 13

Absolute Principles

Answer 13

Ground rules that apply without exception

Question 14

Prima Facie Principles

Answer 14

Ground rules that apply except for when there are exceptions to the rules (usually when one moral principle conflicts with another one)

Question 15

Autonomy

Answer 15

Moral principle: A person’s rational capacity for self-governance/self-determination

Question 16

Paternalism

Answer 16

Overriding of a person’s autonomy ‘for their own good’

Question 17

Beneficence

Answer 17

Moral principle; To do good AND do no harm

Question 18

Utility

Answer 18

Moral principle; To balance good & bad/benefit & harm

Question 19

Justice: Retributive

Answer 19

Moral principle; To give people their fair due (i.e. punishment)

Question 20

Justice: Distributive

Answer 20

Moral principle; To give people their fair due (i.e. healthcare, jobs, aid, rights, taxes, etc)

Question 21

Moral Objectivism

Answer 21

The idea that there are some moral principles that apply to everyone

Question 22

Moral Absolutism

Answer 22

The idea that moral principles apply to everyone absolutely/uniformly, regardless of the circumstances; More stringent than moral objectivism

Question 23

Ethical Relativism

Answer 23

The idea that moral standards are relative to individual or cultural beiefs; Textbook claims this undermines ethics

Question 24

Devine Command Theory

Answer 24

The view that morality is fundamentally dependent on religion/the will of God

Question 25

Deductive Arguments

Answer 25

One of two types of arguments: works by giving logical conclusive support (premises) for a conclusion. If premise is true, conclusion MUST be true:
All dogs are mammals. Rex is a dog. Rex must be a mammal.

Question 26

Valid Argument

Answer 26

Valid because premises AND conclusion are both true

An argument can be false and valid at the same time

Question 27

Invalid Argument

Answer 27

When the premise or the conclusion is false

Question 28

Inductive Argument

Answer 28

One of two types of argument

When conclusion is true because premise is probably true
When premise is true, conclusion is probably true

Premise can be true while conclusion is false

Question 29

Moral Argument

Answer 29

An argument whose conclusion is a moral statement

An assertion that an action is right or wrong or good or bad