Ethics Flashcards
Ethics
The branch of philosophy that seeks to understand the nature, purpose, justification, and founding principles of moral rules and the systems they comprise
Morals
Ideas about what is right and wrong that guide and govern behavior
Morality
A class of rules held by society to govern the conduct of its individual members, with an implied quality of being in accord with standards of right and good conduct.
Code of conduct
Prescribed standards of conduct, states principles expresses responsibilities, and defines the rules expressing the duties of professionals to whom they apply.
Moral Value
The relative worth or usefulness placed on some virtuous behavior
Capacity for decision making
Having the mental capacity to make one’s own decision. Mental capacity refers to the ability to understand the risks, benefits, alternatives, and consequences of one’s actions.
(inferred in this interpretation is knowing the decision maker can distinguish right from wrong and good from bad)
Consequentialism
A moral theory that determines good or bad, right from wrong, based on outcomes or consequences.
Ethicist
One who specializes in ethics.
Metaethics
The study of the origin and meaning of ethical concepts.
explores the connection between values, reasons for action, and human motivation
Normative Ethics
A theory of ethics that attempts to determine what moral standards should be followed so that human behavior and conduct can be morally right.
(Typically concerns the establishment of standards of conduct that are associated with how one ought to act. This includes the study of major moral precepts such as what things are right, what things are good and what things are genuine.)
Its simplest description is the study of what is right and wrong.
Descriptive Ethics
A theory of ethics involving the study of what people believe to be right and wrong, and why they believe it.
(Whereas normative ethics prescribes how people should to act).
Applied Ethics
Philosophical search (within western philosophy) for right and wrong within controversial scenarios.
Consequential Ethics
A theory of ethics based on the principle that the morally right action is whatever action that leads to the maximum balance of good over evil.
(Rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by the effects of the action)
Utilitarian Ethics
A theory of ethics that advocates the greatest good for the greatest number
(Where the moral worth of an action is determined solely by its contribution to overall usefulness)
Deontological ethics
A theory of ethics that focuses on duty when determining the right conduct. Typically based on a moral code or set of rules.
(Differs from Consequential Ethics in that the consequences of an action does not determine what is right)
Ethical Relativism
The belief that morality is relative to each individual culture. What is right is one culture may be wrong in another culture. In ethics, it is a theory that concepts of truth and moral values are not absolute but are relative to the persons or groups holding them.
Paternalism
A doctrine that literally means “rule by the father.” In health care, it is the concept of physicians making decisions for their patients.
Virtue
A moral trait that refers to excellence and that which has beneficial quality (righteousness)
Virtue Ethics
Focused on the inherent character of a person rather than the specific actions performed
Values
Standards of conduct used for judging goodness or badness of an action
Moral Value
The relative worth placed on some virtuous behavior
Being relative, the worth can change as the need and people change
Standards
Guides to human conduct
Autonomy
An ethics principle that seeks to ensure an individual’s right to make one’s own independent decisions.
Autonomy, applied in health care
An ethics practice that requires the clinician to inform patients of the risks, benefits, and alternatives to care and treatment, and requires that the patient make the final decision as to what is best.
Beneficence
Ethics principle of doing good, showing compassion, and helping others
Nonmaleficence
Ethics principle concerned with not inflicting harm
Justice
The obligation to be fair in the distribution of benefits and risks.
