Chapter 1: What is Ethics? Flashcards
Autonomy
(1) Self-legislation; people determine their own laws and rules.
(2) Must respect the particular decisions of adults with decision-making capacity.
(3) The right of individuals to make their own decisions and to live their lives as they choose without interference from others
(4) For Kant, autonomy is the universal law of morality, which appears to us as the categorical imperative. Unlike the notions of autonomy in (2) and (3), Kant’s notion of autonomy restricts individual choices because only those decisions that can be considered as moral maxims, which everyone must obey, are morally acceptable. Kant considered autonomy objective and universal, not subjective and particular.
Beneficence
(1) Doing good for others; actions done for the benefit of others. (2) An action-guiding moral principle proposed by many contemporary ethicists that obliges us to help others and to promote their welfare.
Casuistry
A moral theory making cases rather than principles the guides for behavior. As particular moral questions (the “cases”) are resolved, the resolutions gradually fall into typical patterns or categories, which then serve as paradigms for resolving similar cases as they arise. This approach is similar to the appeal to prior cases by lawyers and judges in legal proceedings. Casuistry is more sensitive to circumstances than the moral theories making principles and rules the guides for behavior.
Categorical imperative
The ultimate principle of morality. The absolute, incontestable, and universal imperative was the source of all action-guiding moral principles and rules (Kant). He called this the categorical imperative and formulated it three ways.
The first and best-known formulation is “I ought never to act except in such a way that I can also will that my maxim should become a universal law.”
Deduction
In moral philosophy, deduction is the reasoning process that applies a general moral principle or rule, or a right considered to be possessed by everyone, to a particular situation in order to determine what ought to be done. It is best understood in contrast with induction (q.v.).
Deontology
Any moral philosophy (logos) based on duty (deon).
divine law, natural law, or the moral law we give ourselves), but rights-based theories*
absolute duties or prohibitions; that is, actions immoral regardless of good intentions, extenuating circumstances, or favorable consequences.
Deontology is best understood when contrasted with teleology (q.v.)
Eudaimonia
A Greek word, literally “good fate.” Eudaimonia is living a happy and fulfilled life. Eudaimonism is a general term for any ethics whose founding intuition is that ethics is ultimately about the happiness and flourishing of the moral agent. It stands in contrast to the modern theories whose founding intuition is that ethics is about the obligation and duties of the moral agent. When the word eudaimonia is expressed verbally, the accent falls on the second syllable from the end.
Induction
In moral philosophy, induction is the reasoning process that uses the prevailing particular moral judgments in a society to generate the general principles and rules that serve as obligatory action guides. It is best understood in contrast with deduction (q.v.).
Justice
Fairness; benefits and burdens should be distributed fairly among members of groups, and similar cases should be treated in similar ways. (2) Entitlement; people should receive what is due to them by reason of explicit or implicit agreements. (3) An action-guiding moral principle proposed by many contemporary ethicists that obliges us to behave fairly with others and accord them what is due. (4) A moral virtue; that is, the habit, feeling, and behavior whereby we achieve our happiness by behaving fairly toward others and according them what is due when it is reasonable (prudent) to do so.
Natural law
Cicero: “the logos (rational structure) of nature” as “the lex (law) of nature” or natural law. It serves as an ultimate moral ground for both ethics and legislation for many moral and political philosophers including Christians who could relate it to divine law promulgated by God, the creator of the natural order.
Naturalistic decision making
A decision-making tactic that recognizes in a particular situation, thanks to experience, a likely good decision without comparing all alternatives. See rational choice strategy.
Nonmaleficence
An action-guiding moral principle proposed by some contemporary health care ethicists obliging us not to inflict harm on other people.
Principle (2 meanings)
(1) In classical moral philosophies, the very first point of departure for the moral theory; everything else in the theory is derived from the originating principle. “Principle” in this sense means “beginning” (principium in Latin and arche in Greek). (2) In most modern moral philosophies, a principle is an action guide derived from a deontological or a utilitarian theory, or from experience, or from a common morality. Principle taken in this sense means “authority” (in Latin princeps means “prince” or “ruler”). Moral principles understood as action guides imply moral behavior that is best understood as behavior governed by authoritative principles and rules.
Prudence
The intellectual decision-making virtue of practical reasoning managing our natural inclinations so they enhance our life and flourishing as praiseworthy human beings. See phronesis. Natural inclinations that we repeatedly manage well become authentic moral virtues.
Rights (natural)
Natural or human rights are proposed by many as moral claims enjoyed by all human beings by virtue of being human. Theories of natural rights were first developed as political theories in the seventeenth century by Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. They served as powerful notions supporting the American Revolution in 1776 and the French Revolution in 1789. Three major natural rights are the rights to life, liberty, and property. Advocates of natural or human rights differ on the source of these rights; some say they come from the Creator, others say they simply inhere in human nature. (2) Political, civil, or contractual rights are claims enjoyed by human beings in virtue of their membership in a political or civil society, or in virtue of being parties to a contract. (3) In everyday usage, the word “right” is often used to justify whatever a person wants or needs. Although often abused, the language of rights has been a powerful influence in elevating moral consciousness and securing respect for human beings.
