Exam 1 Flashcards
action theory
the branch of normative ethics pertaining to the principles of morally right behavior
antinomianism
the position that ethical action is determined as independent of laws or rules
care theory
a type of normative theory that focuses on how care does and should shape relationship and institutional arrangements
causitry
the approach to ethics that addresses case problems by applying paradigm or settled cases in order to identify morally relevant similar and dissimilar features
contract theory
a type of metaethics that maintains that the source of moral rightness or the way of knowing what are moral stems from actual or hypothetical social agreement
extrinsic value
something valued for its ability to produce something else that is extrinsically valued. ex: money and power
feminist theory
a type of normative theory that critiques traditional moral reasoning for its masculine lens and instead emohasizes concepts, ways of knowing, and moral issues from the perspective of women and other historically marginalized groups; it can guide other normative approaches, such as principle-based and virtue-based approaches
intrinsic value
something valued for its own sake, not merely as a means to some end. ex: truth, beauty, happiness, health etc
legalism
the position that ethical action consists of strict conformity to law or rules
metaethics
the branch of ethics having to do with the meaning and justification of ethical terms and norms
moral pirnciples
general and abstract characteristics of morally right action. the main element of the part of normative ethics called action theory
moral rules
concrete statements specifying patterns of morally right conduct, sometimes believed to be derived from more abstract moral principles or created as summaries of patterns of individual case judgements
narrative theory
a type of normative theory that methodologically focuses on receiving, telling, and reconstructing stories, such as those of patients or caregivers; narrative theory is meant to reveal fine-grained and tectured detailes of unfolding stories and may emphasize the cultivation of virtue within narratives
norm
a set of rules that governs actions or activities by indication what is and is not acceptable
normative ethics
the branch of ethics having to do with the standards of right or wrong
relativism
in metaethics, the position that there are multiple sources or groundings of moral judgments such as the approval of various cultures to which any correct moral judgement must conform
rights
justified moral or legal claims to entitlements or liberties are often seen as taking precedence over considerations of consequences. Rights normally stand in a reciprocal relation with moral or legal rules; that is, if someone has a rights claim against some other party, that other party is duty-bound by a rule requiring that the right be respected
rules of practice
the position that rules govern practices such that actions are normally judged by rules
situationism
the position that ethical action must be judged in each situation guided by, but not directly determined by, rules
universalism
the position in metaethics that there is a single source or grounding of moral judgments such as the divine will or reason to which any correct moral judgment must conform
value theory
the portion of normative ethics having to do with the identifying what things are considered to be good in what sense they are good, and how good they are
virtue theory
the portion of normative ethics having to do with the virtues; that is, persistent dispositions or traits of good characters in persons`
Hippocratic Oath
the code of physician ethics attributed to the greek physician, but more likely written by his followers in the fourth century BCE
Hippocratic Principle
the core principle of the hippocratic oath, holding that the physician pledges to benefit his patient according to his ability and judgement and protect the patient from harm
liberal political policy
the dominant commitment of secular society in the US that has its origins in the philosophy of Locke, Hobbes, and Rousseau and reaches its most well-known political expression the in the documents of the Founding Fathers’ political system. It stresses the place of the individual and commands respect for the liberty of the individual. it also incorporates a belief in the equality of moral worth of all persons, providing a basis for various concerns about social justice
paternalism
when an individual, group, or governing body tries to benefit another by either overriding or not soliciting the wishes of the beneficiary.
Circulatory definition of death
the view that an individual dies when there is irreversible cessation of all cardiac and respiratory functions. If the functions are expanded to include other bodily integrating functions such as digestion, elimination, maintenance of homeostasis, and so on, then this sometimes is referred to as the somatic integrating definition of death
Higher-brain oriented definition of death
the view that an individual dies when there is irreversible cessation of all “higher” functions of the brain, often believed to be function related to consciousness and feelings. The continued functionality of the brain stem is insufficient for life.
moral standing
the status of humans and other beings who have moral claims on others or to whom others have duties
person (moral defintion)
humans (and other beings) who possess full moral standing
person (nonmoral definition)
humans (and other beings) who possess some critical physical or mental capacity such as self-consciousness, self-awareness, or rationality
rights-based defense of the moral status of animals
sentient animals have a sacredness or right to life just as humans do. The argument is not driven by concern for consequences but instead focuses on animals’ capacities and interests
speciesism
the view in the debate about the moral status of animals that holds that species itself is a morally relevant factor in deciding moral standing, usually standing than other nonhuman animals, even those capable of having similar quantity and quality experience
stem cells
cells found in multicellular organisms that are unspecialized and are capable of renewing themselves. Under certain conditions they can become tissue or organ-specific-cells.
utilitarian defense of the moral status of animals
animals of different species who experience the same kind and quantity of pleasure or pain have equal moral claim to have the pleasure promoted or to be relieved of that pain
whole brain-oriented definition of death
the view that an individual dies when there is irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem
