Ethics Flashcards
What are values?
Values are basic and fundamental beliefs that guide or motivate attitudes or actions.
The personal qualities we choose to embody to guide our actions.
What is utilitarianism?
An ethical theory in which you act in a certain way that creates the greatest good for the most people.
What is deontology?
An ethical theory in which there are definite right and wrongs.
What is virtue ethics?
A philosophy designed by Aristotle. To be good, you have to continually practice doing good things. Making the right decision for the situation.
What is virtue theory?
An ethical theory that emphasises an individual’s character rather than following a set of rules. A person’s character is their actions and values.
What is proper functioning?
Everything has a function, and a thing is good to the extent that it fulfills its function, and bad to the extent that it doesn’t.
What are vices?
Vices are things bad for you and bad for others.
What is virtue/The Golden Mean?
Doing the right thing. The right spot between extreme excess and deficiency. Just the right amount of a particular value is The Golden Mean. “Courage is basically the right way to act.”
Who are moral exemplars?
People who already know how to be good.
What is eudaimonia?
A life well-lived: human flourishing. Alife of eudaimonia is a life of success.
What are the pros of utilitarianism?
It gives the most good to the most people.
Can be used in big picture ideas.
Good for capitalism.
What are the cons of utilitarianism?
Difficult to know whether the consequences will be good or bad.
Has trouble accounting for values such as justice and individual rights.
