Ethics exam Revision Flashcards
What is the definition of ethics?
Key:
- Sustained analyzation
- ought to live
- Dialogue
Ethics is a sustained analysis of how we are ought to act. Dialogue of right action. Its primary aim is to determine how one ought to live and what actions one ought to do in the conduct of one’s life.
Give some examples of ethical issues that you have researched
- Unethical Leadership
- Discrimination and Harassment.
- Abortion.
- Climate change.
- Gender inequality.
- Police brutaliaty.
- Racism.
- Islamphobia.
- Marrige laws.
- freedom of speech.
- euthinasia.
What makes an issue an ethical issue?
Key:
- Values or ethical principles
- Moral or immoral.
- Opposes the question ‘What are we ought to do?’.
An ethical issue usually involves a conflict between values or ethical principles. An issue becomes an ethical issue when it requires stakeholders of a certain ethical principle to evaluate whether the actions arousing the issuse was moral or immoral. An ethical issue is analyzed via multiple reasonable viewpoints and opposes the question ‘What are we ought to do?’.
What are utalitarian appraoch to ethical decision making?
Key
- best outcome.
Decisions are made on the basis of choosing the best outcome to achieve the greatest happiness for the greatest amount of people.
What are deontological approach to ethical decision making?
Key;
- Similar situations to be regarded as good or bad to a different degree.
- Disregard it once, disregard it at all times!
The deontological view is that an act is right or wrong in itself and does not depend upon any other considerations. A person who views life with a deontological mindset believes that it is not ethically right for similar situations to be regarded as good or bad to a different degree. A deontological approch will view the means as more important than the ends. Disregard it once, disregard it at all times!
What are the differences between ethics and morals
Key
- Guiding principles
- ought to do
- Specific rules
- Promotes life
While they’re closely related concepts, ethics refer mainly to guiding principles that help a moral agent form an opinon about what we are ought to do. On the contrary, morals refer to specific rules and actions, or behaviors that promotes life and denounces inhuman decisions.
What is virtue ethics?
Key
- individuals character
- ancient assumption.
- an essence
- nature
- Eudaimonia
- Honouring your strengths
Virtue ethics Its an ethical principle that emphasizes the role of character and virtue in moral philosophy rather than either doing one’s duty or acting in order to bring about good consequences. The therory reflects the ancient assumption that humans have a fixed nature – an essence – and that the way we flourish is by adhering to that nature. A virtious person strives for a life of eudaimonia. A eudemonistic life is being the best you can personally be, honing your strengths while working on your weakness.
What are social norms?
Key
- created by what everyone does
- folkways, mores, taboos and laws
- moral
Social norms are rules that are created by what everyone does, whether it follows or go against the law. There are four types of social norms, folkways, mores, taboos and laws. Although, the fact that the act is a norm does not make it moral.
Give an example of social norms?
- Don’t tell someone they stink in public
- Don’t eat with your mouth open
- lying to your parents when you brake something in the house
- Lying to an intruder
Discuss Catholic Beliefs (Church Views) modern responses to climate change
Pope Francis declared that the science of climate change is clear and that the Catholic Church views climate change as a moral issue that must be addressed in order to protect the Earth and everyone on it.
Why is gender inequality an ethical issue?
Gender inequality is an issue because woman continue to face discrimination and other types of harm because of their gender. It takes the form of an ethical issue when moral agents discuss wherther a paticular gender is ought to be subordinated.
What is the Catholic church’s view on gender equality?
Key.
- Made equal in the eyes of God,
- Complement” one another.
- God’s Spirit
The Catholicsim of the Catholic Church states clearly that men and women were made equal in the eyes of God, and that men and women “complement” one another. Man and woman are equally redeemed by Christ, and equally gifted by God’s Spirit for service and held responsible for using their God-given gifts.
What is a consequentialist approach?
Key
- Consequences.
The ethical theory that judges whether or not something is right by what its consequences
Provide an example of an consequentialist approach?
For instance, most people would agree that lying is wrong. But if telling a lie would help save a person’s life, consequentialism says it’s the right thing to do.
What is climate change?
Key
- long term change.
- Biosphere
Climate change is a long-term change in the average weather patterns and the factors attributing to a change in our biosphere.
What is global warming?
Key
- Global warming
- Atmosphere
Global warming is a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere.
What is the Catholic creation story?
Day 1 - Light and dark Day 2 - Sky Day 3 - Dryland and plants Day 4 - Star, moon and sun Day 5 - Flying animals and sea life Day 6 - Land animals and people Day 7 - Rested
How does the catholic creation story relate to the climate change?
In the creation story, humnas were bestowed the great power of dominionship over the earth. Thus, like many other inherited responsibilities associated with dominionship, humans must also be eviormental stewards. Therfore, In reagrds to climate change, humans must restric their consumption of the earth’s resources.
What does it mean to have dominion over the earth?
Having dominion over it means that we use and manage the plants, animals, minerals, air, water, efficiently. We might think of God as CEO of the earth, and of ourselves as managers of it, although, all too often we’ve exploited it rather than managing it.
What does the book of genisis say about human dominion?
- Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
What does Pope Francis say in Laudato Si’ say about Global Inequality
- Overconsumption are not the problems
- Atmosphere
Pollution and overconsumption are not the problems in themselves, they are symptoms of a far more serious disconnect in the values of society. The enhanced greenhouse gasses are excessively being pumped into the atmosphere of these disadvantaged countries, causing global warming to increase at a dangerous rate. Hence the poor are forced to live where pollution is high and environmental disasters are frequent. This is a far cry from what Pope Francis called the “Gospel of Creation ‘’ in his letter titled ‘Laudato Si’.
What does Pope Francis say in Laudato Si’ say about o Loss of Biodiversity
The earth’s resources are also being plundered because of short-sighted approaches to the economy, commerce and production.” Very directly, he blames human disruption for the loss of species and expresses concerns that the loss might cause us harm in the future as we destroy resources that might be needed to find cures for diseases and other un-yet discovered scientific breakthroughs for humans and the environment.
What are the Catholic Ethical Principles?
The catholic approach to ethical behaviour is based on the objective truths that the ten principles highlights.
- God exists
- Human beings have been created in the image of God
- People naturally know what is right through the use of their intelligence
- Human beings are capable of sin
- In Christ, god has restored the fullness of life to all people (redemption)
- Jesus Christ showed people what it is to be fully human
- Christ gave an example of how to live
- The Christian life is one of faith, hope and love.
- Christians taught the law of love
- The church teaches about moral and ethical issues
How does the catholic ethical principles relate to climate change?
Eventhough the catholic ethical principles does not explicitly state what humans should do in terms of tackling climate change, an moral agent can use them as starting assumptions to guide their approch to climate change. For example, by understanding that humans are created in the image of God, it can be implied that humans have a moral imparative to treat the earth in a manner that pleases God. Hence, humans must work together to reduce the impact of climate change.
Who are stakeholders in the Australian climate change debate?
- including Origin Energy
- the Australian Council of Social Service
- the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering
- The greens party
- Australian gass companies
- petrol companies
- Red energy
Define Gender Inequality?
Key:
- Social process
- Not treated equally
- biology
Gender inequality is the social process by which men and women are not treated as equals. The treatment may arise from distinctions regarding biology, psychology, or cultural norms
How do you make a decision about what is the “Ethical or right thing to do”?
The Five codes of intellectual conduct
- The structural principle - the relevance principle - the acceptability principle - the rebuttal principle - the sufficiency principle.
- Accept the fact that he or she is fallible, which means that one must acknowledge that one’s own initial view may not be the most defensible position on the question.
- Keep in mind that your conclusion has a high possibility of being wrong
- Make it clear that you are willing to change your mind.
- Committed to the task of earnestly searching for the truth or at least the most defensible position on the issue at stake.
What is an example of a Religious authority?
Pope
Name the document that Pope Francis wrote on Climate change?
Key
- (Praise Be to You)
Laudato si’ (Praise Be to You)
What is the divine command theory?
Key
- What’s moral, and what’s immoral
The belief that what’s moral, and what’s immoral is commanded by the divine.
How have people used the devine command throey to influence how they make decisions?
Many people feel that in order for morality to be really binding, for it to be something that we all must adhere to, it can only originate with God. Thus, for billions of people, the source of these edicts – the bible – is the answer to the question of where morality comes from.
What does Islam say perspective of climate change?
Key
- Everyone has Akhlaq
- Distribution of morality.
- God gave humans dominion
- Must be alarmed
- Save the earth from its suffering.
Islamic theology teaches that everyone has Akhlaq although one can possess more Akhlaq than another. Thus, since exploitation is usually accompanied by another system hurting, it is considered as a very low distribution of morality. The Islamic theologies driven from Allah expects Muslims to treat the earth with the most Akhlaq by making sure that everything that God gave humans dominion over is preserved and treated with respect. Therefore, Muslims must be alarmed by the threats that are coming from climate change and willing to change their living standards to save the earth from its suffering.
Explain why humans are considered ‘Khalifas’?
Key.
- Guardianship
- Accountable for their guardianship
Many Muslims believe human beings have guardianship or khilafah of the planet, which means that each individual should act as a guardian or khalifah. They will be held accountable for their guardianship on the Day of Judgement.
What was your oral topic?
Key
- Reform the teachings of the bible?
- Ought to preserve and obey by
Is it right for some Christian dominations to reform the teachings of the bible? Or, are we ought to preserve and obey by the original teachings of the bible regardless of the circumstances we may face today?
Who are the stakeholders from your issue? Who is involved?
- Christians
- The secular community
How can you apply Divine Command Theory to your issue?
According to the devine command theory, belivers are ought to to preserve and obey by the original teachings of the bible becaus they are commands from God.
What does the Pope say about your issue?
Key.
- Called for a translation of a phrase
- Pope Francis has called for a translation of a phrase about temptation in the Lord’s Prayer to be changed.
- The current wording that says “lead us not into temptation” is not a good translation because God does not lead humans to sin, he says.
- His suggestion is to use “do not let us fall into temptation” instead
Wat does one other group/organisation say about your issue?
No one can be a freethinker who demands conformity to a bible, creed, or messiah. This narcistic group belives that truth is the degree to which a statement corresponds with reality. Hence, scriptures like Leviticus 20:13 are concidered as wrong because it dosn’t correspond with contemporary laws.
What do you think about your ethical issue? Give your opinion.
My opinion is
Why is that topic considered an Ethical issue?
Reading the Bible is a way Christians receive communication from God. The Bible contains God’s thoughts, recorded by men under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Reforming specific scriptires in the bible is regarded as an ethical issue beacuse it contradicts the notion carried by the devine command theory, that everything command by God is concidered moral.
What is morality?
Key:
- good and bad.
Morality is concerned with human behavior and to define what is right and wrong about our actions.
What is human conscience and how does it impact our ethical thinking?
Conscience is formed by the many influences encountered in life and its formation goes through stages of development as people gain knowledge and wisdom)
Key:
- Developed the ability
- right and wrong.
- intuition and strong emotions
Conscience is a developed ability of a human being to know right and wrong. Because conscience is encompassing intuition and strong emotions, it is considered as an essential attributor of one’s action. Conscience impacts our ethical thinking because it allows us to be aware of the moral values that are intuitively embedded in us.
What role do moral values have in ethical decision making?
Key
- intutitive filter
- Agent analyse
- Society
Moral values act as an intuitive filter that searches for an ethical principle that would help the agent analyze and determine the behavior of an individual and society.
Why should a person be moral?
Key
- Permission
- Function
- Rational animals
Being moral gives you permission to take better care of yourself and your loved ones. 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. Because we are rational animals and social animals, our function involves using reason and getting along with our pack, which can only be achieved by living on the frequency of morality.
Define the term ‘ethical authority’.
Key
- Ethical view point
- Have the right to.
- Not all ethical
Ethical authority Is any person or thing that is used to support an ethical viewpoint. An ethical authority may have the right to determine, command advice, or judge an ethical issue. They have been confirmed as dependable, learned, righteous, factual, authentic, proven and authenticated. Although, not all ethical authorities are authoritative and reliable.
What are the differences between normative standards and social norms?
Key:
- Not make them moral
- Is immoral but not illegal.
Social norms are rules that are created by what everyone does, whether it follows or goes against the law. The fact that they are norms does not make them moral. For example, lying to not hurt another person’s feelings. In contrast, normative standards are actions and inactions of which a culture approves and disapproves. For example, having sexual intercourse with another woman instead of your wife is immoral but not illegal.
What are religious ethics based on?
Key:
- Insights about life and its true meaning.
- Core belifes
Religious ethics is based on the idea that God (or some deity) reveals insights about life and its true meaning. Similar to one religion to the next, these fundamental principles flow from the core beliefs and ancient wisdom of religion, as well as its teachers and traditions.
Stakeholder
Key:
- interest in
Someone who has an interest in or will be affected by a decision.
Absolutist
Key:
- One set of moral rules.
- Rules common to everyone.
- Rules unlikely to change over time.
- Dogmatic
Moral absolutism is an ethical view that all actions are intrinsically right or wrong.
Moral absolutism asserts that there are certain universal moral principles by which all peoples’ actions may be judged. It is a form of deontology.
Absolutists make an effort to apply complete or universal standards across all situations.
Moral values
Key:
- desirable or undesirable
Key:
- Keep your promises
- Do not cheat
- Treat others as you want to be treated
- Do not judge
- Be dependable
- Be forgiving
- Have integrity
- Take responsibility for your actions
- Have patience
- Seek justice
- Have humility
- Be generous
Moral values are things held to be right or wrong or desirable or undesirable. Moral values work together with ethical principles to determine the behavior of an individual and society.
Mores
Key:
- Set by a group
The term “mores” refers to the norms set by a group, largely for behavior and appearance.
Define the term ‘ethical principles’.
Key:
- theoretical Framework
- Justify ethical situations
Ethical principles are considered by many as the standard theoretical framework from which to analyze and justify ethical situations.
What is intuition?
Key:
- Emotional intelligence
Intuition is a feeling based on emotional intelligence, natural law, and life experiences. Intuition is the way the subconscious mind communicates with the conscious mind.
What is the role of reasoning in ethical decision making?
Key:
- An objective analysis of an ethical issue.
- Person’s conscience, intuition, personal or religious moral values, and assumptions.
- Five codes of intellectual conduct
- Capacity to form a conclusion
- Ambiguous conclusions and would
For an objective analysis of an ethical issue, a person needs to consider these factors person’s conscience, intuition, personal or religious moral values, and assumptions when applying ethical principles to determine what we are ought to do. The role of reasoning an ethical decision to move beyond mere disagreement and gives the discussion the capacity to form a conclusion that states what is ethically right and wrong, provided it follow the five codes of intellectual conduct. Without considering these factors, ethical discussions would have more ambiguous conclusions and would not serve the purpose of guiding society to a moral state.
What is the difference between idealised and practiced values?
Key
- Like to think
- Intrinsically grounded
- more practical
Idealized values are merely the ethical principles that members of society like to think goverens their moral compass, but not intrinsically grounded in reality. Hence, practiced values are more practical and are grounded in reality.
‘World View’ in ethics
Key
- Equally inhabitants of the earth
- As a whole
‘World View’ in ethics is the consciousness that we are all equally inhabitants of the Earth. An individual who supports the ‘World view’ will make decisions based on its benefits to the world as a whole.
What things can form the basis of morality?
Key
- Secular
- laws
Secular and religious laws are the basis of morality.
Explain this catholic principle: Humans are capable of sin
Ultimately, the principle that states ‘humans are capable of sin’ explains how free will can sometimes lead humans to breach the covenants between them and God, thereupon the breaches are labelled as sin. Hence, because of their spiritual birthright of free will, they must always seek for divine guidance and mercy from God.
Explain this catholic principle: Christ gave an example of how to live
The basis of Catholic ethics is Christ’s sinlessness, as Christians believe that the life of Christ is the model for all human choices and decisions. Christ is an ethical authority who constantly expressed that we shall not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of our mind, that by testing we may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Explain this catholic principle: Christ taught the law of love
Jesus Christ stated that the exercise of love is central to the Catholic tradition. Therefore, all the parables, actions, and truths that Christ taught and acted, symbolized the feeling of love. This is evident when Jesus said ‘’Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.’(John 13:34).
Explain this catholic principle: The Church teaches about moral and ethical issues
We know that the church teaches about moral and ethical issues because of scriptures like ‘1 Corinthians 6:9 – 11’ which states ‘do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?’, unrighteousness has the same negative connotation as immorality.
What is the golden rule?
The Golden Rules are similar ethical principles expressed by most of the world’s religions, they stem from the understanding that all people by their very nature are equal and precious.
Explain the Islamic golden rule.
None of you has faith until he loves for his brother, what he loves for himself.
This golden rule is precious as it encourages one to be intrinsically aware of the way they treat others. Adhering to this rule shall prompt their instinct to carefully guard and preserve the things that they encounter.
Expalin the Hinduism golden rule.
One should never do that to another which one regards as injurious to one’s own self.
This Golden rule encourages one to always treat others with the same respect and dignity that they yearn for from others.
What are two indicators of climate change?
Indicators of climate change
- Air temperatures over land are increasing
- Arctic sea ice is decreasing cause wildlife in the poles to be in danger.
Why is climate change an ethical issue?
Climate change asks hard questions about responsibility, accountability, and the differences between actions, political influence, economic pressures, and social norms. Allowing global warming to continue may well be immoral, in the sense of indecent, especially with regard to future generations.
