Lecture 6 Flashcards
Why is it important to study ethics in science?
Because scientific research affects society and individuals, so ethical implications must be considered alongside empirical findings
What is ethics?
Ethics is a systematic and rational approach to understanding right and wrong, involving the intersection of values and morals
How are values defined in ethics?
Values are personal beliefs about what is important or worthwhile, shaped by individual experience and worldview
What are morals?
Morals are codes of conduct that govern group behavior and express shared societal values
What is the relationship between ethics, values, and morals?
Ethics provides a rational framework for navigating conflicts between individual values and social morals
What is moral philosophy?
Another term for ethics, focusing on questions about duty, values, good vs. evil, and the nature of morality
What are the two types of issues explored in ethics?
Metaphysical (Is morality real and universal?)
Psychological (Why do we behave morally?)
What is objectivism in ethics?
The belief that moral values exist independently of human opinion—moral truths are absolute and universal
What is relativism in ethics?
The belief that moral values are created by individuals or cultures, and are not universally binding
What is individual relativism?
The idea that each person defines their own moral standards
What is cultural relativism?
The belief that morality is grounded in social approval—what is right or wrong depends on societal norms
What is egoism in ethical psychology?
The view that people act primarily out of self-interest, and all actions are ultimately self-serving
What is ethical egoism?
A theory that claims acting in one’s own self-interest is morally right (e.g., Ayn Rand’s philosophy)
What is altruism in ethical psychology?
The belief that humans are capable of acting out of concern for others, beyond self-interest
What is the debate between emotion and reason in moral judgments?
Whether moral decisions are primarily based on feelings (emotion) or rational thought (reason)
What did Hume argue about moral reasoning?
That emotion is essential to moral judgment; reason alone cannot motivate moral action
What did Kant argue about moral reasoning?
That moral decisions must be based on reason, and emotions should be resisted in ethical analysis
What is normative ethics?
A branch of ethics that asks what actions are right or wrong, how we should live, and what kind of person we should be
What is applied ethics?
The application of ethical principles to real-world issues, such as medical or environmental dilemmas
What are examples of applied ethics fields?
Medical ethics
Bioethics
Animal welfare ethics
Environmental ethics
Business ethics
What makes an issue an applied ethical issue?
It must be controversial and involve a distinctly moral question of right vs. wrong
What is moral standing?
The status of an entity that makes its interests ethically relevant in moral decision-making
What is anthropocentric moral standing?
Only humans have moral value; other beings matter only in relation to human interests
What is non-anthropocentric moral standing?
Expands moral consideration to non-human entities such as animals, ecosystems, or species
What are the major theories of moral standing discussed?
- Zoocentric: animals matter
- Biocentric: all life matters
- Ecocentric: ecosystems matter
Why is moral standing important in bioethics?
Because it determines who or what should be considered in ethical decision-making about biology, medicine, and the environment
What is the significance of studying multiple ethical theories in bioethics?
No single theory applies to all situations, so using multiple perspectives helps address complex issues involving many stakeholders
