Chapter 12 Flashcards
Value Judgment
Assesses merit, desirability, praiseworthiness of someone/something
Consistency Principle
If separate cases aren’t different in any relevant way, should be treated same (vice versa)
Moral Reasoning Principle 2
If someone appears to be violating consistency principle, burden of proof on that person to prove not violating
Consequentialism
Consequence of decision, deed, policy determines moral value
Utilitarianism
If act produces more happiness that alternatives, right
Duty Theory (Deontologism)
Should perform action because moral duty, not consequence
Hypothetical Imperative
Command that is binding only if one interested in certain result (Kant)
Categorical Imperative
Absolute moral rule-holds unconditionally (Kant)
Ethical Egoism
If act produces more happiness for self, right
Ethical Altruism
Discounts own happiness for that of others
Moral Relativism
Right/wrong determined by group/culture
Moral Subjectivism
Right/wrong matter of opinion
Religious Relativism
Right/wrong depends on religious beliefs
Religious Absolutism
Correct moral principles accepted by “correct” religion
Virtue Ethics
How to be (not what to do)
Appeal to Precedent
Using previously decided case to decide new similar case (Stare Decisis)
Legal Moralism
Law should make anything immoral illegal
Harm Principle
Only legitimate basis for forbidding X is that it causes harm to others
Legal Paternalism
Laws can be justified if prevent person from doing harm to self
Offensive Principle
Law forbidding X justifiable if causes great offense to others
