Ethical Perspectives / Frameworks Flashcards
What is ethics?
The philosophical study of moral choices
Ethics examines the critical factors that affect the well-being of human and other sentient life forms.
What determines whether an act is right or wrong in Consequentialism?
The consequences of the act
Consequentialism evaluates actions based on their outcomes.
What is the most important example of a Consequentialist approach?
Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism was founded by John Stuart Mill.
According to utilitarianism, an action is morally right if its consequences lead to _______.
happiness for the greatest number
What do Deontological ethics focus on?
The act itself
Deontological ethics emphasize intrinsic good or bad qualities of acts regardless of their consequences.
What is duty-based ethics?
The belief that some acts are intrinsically good or bad and must be performed or avoided accordingly
This perspective is prevalent in Christian ethics.
What does Emmanuel Kant’s categorical imperative require?
Humans to carry out duties that are thoroughly rational
Kant argues that we should act on maxims that could apply to everyone.
In virtue theory, the focus shifts from the act to the _______.
person
What is the central ethical question according to Aristotle in virtue theory?
How to live flourishing, fulfilled lives
Virtue ethics emphasizes the cultivation of virtue for achieving eudaimonia.
What is eudaimonia?
Happiness
In virtue ethics, only those who cultivate virtue will experience eudaimonia.
What does virtue ethics argue about moral rules and principles?
That morality should be downplayed in favor of cultivating virtue
This approach contrasts with other ethical frameworks that emphasize rules.
What treatise contains the ideas about virtues and strengths?
The Nicomachean Ethics
This treatise is attributed to Aristotle.
What does virtue theory presuppose about human nature?
A single, unvarying human nature.
According to virtue theorists, how are ethics characterized?
Universal.
What theory equates morality with natural law?
Natural law theory.
What does existentialism argue about human nature?
There is no such thing as a fixed set of characteristics called human nature.
Who is the French philosopher associated with existentialism?
Jean Paul Sartre.
What concept does Sartre emphasize regarding existence?
Existence precedes essence.
According to Sartre, what are vegetarianism and carnivorism considered?
Life choices.
What does moral relativism acknowledge?
The diversity of ethics.
What does moral relativism argue about moral perspectives?
No single perspective should be regarded as privileged or normative.
How does moral relativism define morality?
A description of the mores and values that apply in a particular society at a particular time.
What is a central criticism of moral relativism?
It contains a performative self-contradiction.
Fill in the blank: For moral relativism, moral judgments can only apply to _______.
[particular contexts].
True or False: Moral relativism asserts that there are universal values that apply across cultures.
False.
