Ethics Vocab

Question 1

Metaethics

Answer 1

The evaluation of ethics itself

Question 2

Normative Ethics

Answer 2

The norms and standards by which we formulate ethical judgements

Question 3

Applied Ethics

Answer 3

The direct, practical application of ethical theories

Question 4

Consequentialist Theory

Answer 4

Measures the morality of an action by how good or bad its consequences are.

The position that the morality of an action is determined by its nonmoral consequences.

Question 5

Instrumental Good

Answer 5

Good because they allow us access to other things (which may be good).

Example: Phone

Question 6

Intrinsic Good

Answer 6

Good in and of themselves

Example: Love

Question 7

Hedonism

Answer 7

The view that only pleasure or happiness is intrinsically good and that only pain or unhappiness is intrinsically evil. Therefore, other things can be measured as good to the extent to which they bring pleasure or diminish pain.

Question 8

Hedonism Objection

Answer 8

What brings one person good may bring someone else pain; how are we supposed to measure the consequences through hedonism? Only for the agent which performs an action or for everyone?

Question 9

Ethical Egoism

Answer 9

The view that in evaluating the morality of an action, we should consider the good and bad consequences of the agent performing an action, and we act morally when we act in a way that best promotes our own self interest.

• Heavily relies on that people should act out of self interest

Question 10

Ethical Egoism Objection

Answer 10

What happens if peoples interests conflict? Two people could be acting in a way that is in both their best self-interest, but if these interests conflict, can one still say they are both acting morally by preventing the other person to do what they ought to do (what their self interest is)?

Question 11

Utilitarianism

Answer 11

A morally right action is one that produces more good or fewer bad consequences for everyone than any other action that could be performed in its place; maximize pleasure, minimize pain.

Question 12

Act Utilitarianism

Answer 12

If one act promotes more happiness and minimizes pain, it is ethically permissible

jeremy bentham

Question 13

Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 13

If one rule will promote more happiness and minimize pain, it is ethically permissible

Question 14

Autonomy of the Will

Answer 14

Immanuel Kant; any ethical theory must recognize our ability to decide for ourselves.

Question 15

A Good Will

Answer 15

Something is good without justification; somebody with a good will does what is right simply because they believe it is their moral duty.

Question 16

The Categorical Imperative: First Version

Answer 16

One should only act according to maxims which they would accept as a universal law.

Question 17

Perfect Duty to Oneself

Answer 17

A perfect duty is one which we must always obey; a perfect duty to oneself means that if ones action, toward themself, results in a law which could not logically be applied universally, it cannot become a universal law of nature.

(example: it is not logical to commit suicide as a law of nature because a law of nature has a function of sustaining life, meaning it could not universally applied)

Question 18

Imperfect Duty to Oneself

Answer 18

A duty which we must not ignore, but admits multiple means of fulfillment: “How would you like it if someone did that to you?”
- Its possible to apply your maxim universally, but you might not want it to be

One would not will that a maxim be applied universally, specifically for themself (example: the man not utilising his natural talents)

Question 19

Categorical Imperative: Second Version

Answer 19

Act such that you treat people as an end themself and never a means to an end

(Context; the first version of kants cg implies that what is morally right for one person is morally right for everyone, as the maxim that one persons decides to apply must be done so universally, and therefore for everyone. Therefore the first version cg also implies that each person is of equal value, or everyone has the same absolute value, as put by kant. Because of this, nobody should be used to serve the interest of somebody else without their consent because it would not be treating them as having equal ‘absolute value’)

Question 20

Strict Duty to Oneself

Answer 20

-Under the Second Version of C.I.
One should not use themself as a means to an end but rather an end themself; they should consider whether an action is consistent with the idea that humanity is an end in itself.

(example: someone thinking of committing suicide is using himself as a means to an end, and therefore is not treating himself as an absolute end)

Question 21

Meritorious Duty to Oneself

Answer 21

We should not only refrain from violating the fact that our humanity is an end within itself, but also act in ways which work harmoniously with the fact that humanity is such an end.

(example: if we choose not to utilise our natural talents, we are not necessarily acting in ways which are damaging or harmful toward humanity, but we are also acting in ways which may dampen humanities ability to advance.)

Question 22

Categorical Imperative: Third Version

Answer 22

We are not dependent on others to tell us what is right and wrong, but that we are free and able to discover this for ourselves through reason.

Question 23

Objections (Categorical Imperative, Third Version)

Answer 23

• What if duties conflict? Kants theories don’t offer solutions to this. For example, what if you promise to lie?

Question 24

Aristotles Virtue Ethics

Answer 24

Ethics should not just focus on what we ought to do, but also who we ought to be.

• Character of the agent

Question 25

Ethical Relativism

Answer 25

The view that what is ethically right or wrong is relative to ones society/culture and that there is no single correct set of moral standards that everyone should follow everywhere and always.

Question 26

Perfect Duty to Others

Answer 26

If an action formulates a law which one could not logically apply as a universal law for the sake of others, it does not follow their moral duty and therefore is not ethically permissible.

(example: it is not logical to apply a maxim which is based around deciet/lying as a universal maxim)

Question 27

Imperfect Duty to Others

Answer 27

An imperfect duty to others is based on a law which one may be able to logically apply universally, but may not will for that to be so for the sake of others.

(example: logically, we could apply the maxim that anyone who is more fortunate than anyone else has no obligation to help those worse off than them, however we would not will that to be so)

Question 28

Strict Duty to Others

Answer 28

This is a law which uses others as a means to an end, rather than treating them with ‘absolute value’, as an end themself

(example: telling lies as a law uses others in order to achieve something, meaning they are used as a means to an end)

Question 29

Meritorious Duty to Others