Ethical Theories Exam Review Flashcards
The theory that the center of value is the outcome or consequences of the act; if the consequences are on balance positive, then the action is right; if negative, then wrong
Teleological Ethics (Consequentialism)
This states that the rightness or wrongness of an act is determined by the goodness or badness of the results that follow from it
Consequentialist Principle
This states that the only thing that is good in itself is some specific type of state (Ex. pleasure, happiness, warfare)
Utility Principle
This views pleasure as the sole good and pain as the only evil
Hedonistic Utilitarianism
The utilitarian view that we should tell the consequences of actions according to seven aspects of a pleasurable or painful experience
Hedonic Calculus
A type of utilitarian view maintaining that happiness consists of higher order pleasures (Ex. intellectual, aesthetic, social enjoyments)
Eudaimonistic Utilitarianism
Happiness
Eudaimonia
The utilitarian view that an act is right if and only if it results in as much good as any available alternative
Act-Utilitarianism
The utilitarian view that an act is right if and only if it is required by a rule that is itself a member of a set of rules whose acceptance would lead to greater utility for society than any available alternative
Rule-Utilitarianism
The theory that reason can tell us how the world is, independent of experience
Rationalism
The theory that we have no innate ideas and that all knowledge comes from experience
Empiricism
The theory that humans have a natural faculty that gives us an intuitive awareness of morality
Intuitionism
The theory that we must consult our moral intuition or conscience in every situation to discover the morally right thing to do
Act-Intuitionism
The intuitionist view that we must decide what is right or wrong in each situation by consulting moral rules that we receive through intuition
Rule-Intuitionism
The non-moral principle that takes the form “If you want A, then do B”
Hypothetical Imperative
A moral imperative that is unqualified and does not depend on one’s desires, the general statement of which is “Act only according to the maxim by which you can at the same time will that it would become a universal law”
Categorical Imperative
Act as though the maxim of your action were by your will to become a universal law of nature
Principle of the Law of Nature
So act as to treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of any other, in every case as an end and never as merely a means
Principle of Ends
So act that your will can regard itself at the same time as making universal law through its maxims
Principle of Autonomy
The view that moral principles must apply to all people who are in a relevantly similar situation
Universalizability 
A duty that is tentatively binding on us until one duty conflicts with another
Prima Facie Duty
The stronger of two conflicting duties that overrides a weaker one
Actual Duty
In this person‘s classic work on the virtues, Nicomachean Ethics, he argues that our aim in life is to achieve a state of well-being or the good life
“ We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act but a habit”
Aristotle
A trained behavioral disposition that results in a habitual act of moral goodness
Virtue
A trained behavioral disposition that results in a habitual act of moral wrongness
Vice
Honesty, benevolence, non-malevolence, fairness, kindness, consciousness, gratitude
Moral Virtues
Courage, optimism, rationality, self-control, patience, endurance, industry, musical talent, cleanliness, wit
Non-moral Virtues
According to this, the morally virtuous life consists in living in moderation. By this, Aristotle means that the virtues are at a middleground between excess and deficiency
Golden Mean
The view that we should acquire good character traits, not simply act according to moral rules, and morality involves being a virtuous person
Virtue-based Theories
This view assigns the strongest moral weight to virtues; the moral rules that we have are just extracted from and reflect our virtues
The practical problem with this is it provides no guidance on how to resolve an ethical dilemma
Pure Virtue-based Ethics
This concerns how we know which habits and emotions constitute genuine virtues. Who is the virtuous person?
Epistemological Problem 
Pure virtue based ethics provides no guidance on how to resolve an ethical dilemma
Practical Problem
The view that we should act properly by following moral rules, and we judge people based on how they act, not on whether they are virtuous people
Action-based Theory
The theory that both action-based and virtue-based models are necessary for an adequate or complete system
Pluralistic Ethics
Men and women are psychologically different, only men are capable, patriarchal society, women should be faithful obedient and subservient, in capable of reaching full extent of reasoning
Criticisms of Traditional Ethics
Involves particular relationships with particular people in particular contexts
Moral Particularism
Women see their personal identities as deeply interconnected with other people. They focus on specific circumstances surrounding moral situations women see morality within the context of close personal relationships and the development of intimate emotional connections they see morality as a function of vulnerability and dependency
Ethics of Care
Focus too much on self interest, focus too much on the need of others, focusing on both as a relational unit
Carol Gilligan
all relationships involve two parties; the cared-for and one -caring
For one-caring; caring about and caring for
Nel Noddings
