Ethics Flashcards
Define Ethics
- The study of right and wrong
- moral codes and human expectations - Rules of principles for making moral decisions
- what decision is right in the context and complies with a moral code - The process of applying a moral code (to some extent)
- Helps determine why and on what grounds our judgement of actions is justified
What is the difference between Moral Codes and Ethics?
Moral codes guide behaviour, whereas ethics is an analysis of that guide
According to Friar Fagothy, what are the three conditions required before ethics can be applied to human actions?
- The action must be based on knowledge that signifies a motive
- The action should have been performed voluntarily - not compelled or forced into doing it
- Freedom of choice to act
Define the term ‘Ethical Theory’
Ethical theories are are way of evaluating human behaviour
Name the 6 Ethical Theories mentioned in the slides
Consequentialism Deontology Human Nature Relativism Hedonism Emotivism
Define Consequentialism
The rights and wrongs of an action depend on the consequences
Name and briefly describe the three sub-types of Consequentialism
Egoism
- the individual’s interests and happiness are paramount
- an action is good if it benefits the individual
Utalitarianism
- The group wellbeing is put above an individual’s
- goal is to maximise the overall happiness in society
- an action is good if the general group well-being is increased
Altruism
- Actions benefit everyone but the perpetrator
Define Deontology
Focuses on the will, not the consequences
- action is good or bad depending on the will of it
- an action is good if there was a good reason behind it
Define Human Nature in relation to ethics
- People have general characteristics, and these lead them to live happily to each other
- Living happily together is a fundamental element of human nature
- Actions that detract from this intention are unethical
- Requires evaluating how actions are not compatible with normal human nature
Define Emotivism
Ethical statements have no intrinsic truth value
- They are simply based on how you feel
- Ethics is based on your own emotional position, not any objective criteria
- They can’t be verified
- Examines the way people use language and the attitude a person expresses for a particular issue
Define Hedonism
Human life is about having fun
- Maximising pleasure is the only thing worth having
- Actions are ethical if they help achieve that
Thomas Moore - pursue pleasures that are naturally grounded, don’t become preoccupied with artificial luxuries
Name the six steps in Ethical Reasoning
- Recognise the inherent ethical conflicts
- Know the parties involved
- Be aware of the alternatives
- Demonstrate knowledge of ethical practices
- Understand how the decision will be implemented and who will be effected
- Understand and comprehend the impact of the decision of the parties involved
What does the process of ethical reasoning reveal?
- Information that confirms whether the problem is really an ethical problem or not
- Information on whether further description of the facts can add anything
- Information to identify the key ethical theories, principles and values that fit the safe alternatives being pursued
- Information on the strength and validity of ethical theory chosen
- Whether there are possible conflicts between the ethical theories, principles and values, and the reasoning process and facts
How do you evaluate decisions?
- Weigh each alternative decision against each other
- Use the facts that you developed earlier in the process
- In some cases, it should be evaluated based on the intended/anticipated of the outcome of the decision
What should you do if a decision can’t be made about whether a decision was ethical?
- add more layers of reasoning
- add new facts
- replace ethical theories and principles in the argument
- evaluate if the decisions are based on facts, valid premises, and if the reasoning process is logical
