Ethics

Question 1

Define ethics.

Answer 1

The study of life and how to treat other people.

• what is right or wrong
• gradually we acquire the ethical behaviours of those around us and in our culture
• peoples’ ethical beliefs and the reasoning behind them may vary
• philosophers recognize ethics in everyday life and apply ethical views to issues in life, striving to find better answers to important questions
• world is always changing and values differ worldwide, causing diverse opinions and new ethical dilemmas

Ethics can help…

• determine and defend our positions and understand those of others
• make well reasoned decisions to resolve moral decisions we face everyday

Question 2

What are the 3 main categories of ethics?

Answer 2

1) Normative Theories
- theories of action
- theories of character
- theories of value
2) Metaethics
- examines terms and methods used and how ethical judgements can be justified
3) Applied Ethics
- applies character or value to ethical dilemmas

Question 3

What is the Divine Command Theory?

Answer 3

• A meta-ethical theory which proposes that an action’s status as morally good is equivalent to whether it is commanded by God
• What is moral is determined by what God commands, and that to be moral is to follow his commands IF a God does exist
• If God doesn’t then ALL is permitted

Question 4

Describe the Leviathan by Hobbes

Answer 4

• outlines how humans are equal in mind and body, we believe our own person to be more wise only because we recognize ourselves as complex beings, not others
• we destroy one another because to gain ownership or something the the other person has
• we deprive one another, and thus conserve ourselves by gaining power over others
• Humans need a greater power to overawe and keep them in check

Question 5

Describe The Golden Mean

Answer 5

• Developed by Aristotle, said moral excellence is the mean or middle path b/w two extremes of behaviour (ex.stinginess to generosity to wastefulness)

Question 6

Egoism vs. Utilitarianism

Answer 6

Egoism = maximize benefit in one's OWN life, does good to feel good
Utilitarianism = an act is right if it benefits everyone involved