Moral Decision Making

Question 1

The Principles of Biomedical Ethics

Answer 1

1. Non-maleficence: do not cause harm
2. Beneficence: do good; prevent harm
3. Autonomy: respect preferences
4. Justice: treat like cases alike; be fair

Question 2

Non-moral facts

Answer 2

States of affairs that can be wholly or adequately described separately from moral values.

Question 3

Subjectivism

Answer 3

Morality is fundamentally about the expression of feeling or emotion.
Morality is not about beliefs per se.
Moral claims use language to express feelings, especially pro and v CB on feelings about a state of affairs.

Question 4

Moral Realism

Answer 4

Moral facts exist independently of the evidence for them and about which we can have at least appropriate knowledge.

Question 5

Metaethics

Answer 5

The inquiry into the nature and status of morality.

Example: whether morality is a preference or opinion or feeling

Question 6

Normative Ethics

Answer 6

The inquiry into the standards that determine how to act morally and lead a moral life.
The inquiry into what makes right actions right or wrong.
What it is to act morally.

Question 7

Applied Ethics

Answer 7

The application of moral theories, principles, and ideas to specific moral problems.

Question 8

Consequentialism

Answer 8

Rightness is a function of promoting good consequences.
Rightness is a function of promoting intrinsically good states of affairs, or good consequences.
The most prominent consequentialist theory is utilitarianism.

Question 9

Deontology

Answer 9

Rightness is not exclusively, and perhaps, not at all, a function of promoting good consequences.
The task is to explain what rightness is as something partly or wholly dependant of good consequences. The most prominent theory is Kant’s ethics.

Question 10

Utilitarianism

Answer 10

Right actions are those that maximize overall happiness or well-bring.
That which has intrinsic value, valued for itself (i.e. as an end) or instrumental value, valued for the sake of something else (i.e. as a means).

Question 11

Rights

Answer 11

Moral claims with special normative, apparently non-consequential, force.

Question 12

Virtue Ethics

Answer 12

Morality is principally a matter of realizing in action character traits (virtues) that express being a good person.

Question 13

Care Ethics

Answer 13

Morality is fundamentally about caring, fostering positive relations, and related concepts.

Question 14

Paternalism

Answer 14

The concept of interfering with someone’s liberty for their own good.
Recognizes a positive conflict between beneficence and autonomy.

Question 15

Weak Paternalism

Answer 15

It is not permissible to interfere with a competent person’s informed decision to accept or refuse an offered treatment.

Question 16

Strong Paternalism

Answer 16

It is permissible to interfere with a competent or incompetent person’s decision about treatment if it is in their best interest.

Question 17

Conflict of Interest

Answer 17

A situation in which a person has an obligation to a person or institution that is in opposition to another interest or obligation, which could corrupt the decision making of that person.

Question 18

Relativism

Answer 18

The position that moral judgements only reflect moral beliefs or preferences or opinions and nothing more.
Claims that morality is whatever an individual or culture believes is moral.

Question 19

Cultural Relativism

Answer 19

What is morally right is determined by whatever moral standards a culture or religion endorsed.
Whatever moral standards a culture or religion believes in or endorses are morally correct, and that is all that can be said in determining what is right.

Question 20

Why philosophers and ethicists are not convinced by relativism.

Answer 20

Relativist ideas about morality can be misleading and problematic.

Question 21

Morality

Answer 21

Morality is about identifying reasons for certain choices certain choices that all should be able to accept independently of their feelings or beliefs.
Moral debate is an evidence-based sphere of inquiry.

Question 22

The most prominent consequential theory

Answer 22

Utilitarianism

Example: preventing suffering, and preserving and promoting well being

Question 23

The most prominent deontologist theory

Answer 23

Immanuel Kant’s ethics

Example: respecting a person’s dignity

Question 24

Consequential principles relative to biomedical ethics

Answer 24

Non-maleficence

Beneficence

Question 25

Harm prevention

Answer 25

The idea that it is always a reason for acting if it prevents harm.

Question 26

Doing good

Answer 26

Is the idea that it is always a reason for to act if the action brings about net positive good consequences overall.

Question 27

Categorical Imperative

Answer 27

Moral duties.

The principle to which we are motivated to act.

To act with a moral motive is to be motivated to act according to a moral principle.

Question 28

According to Kantian ethics consequential moralities overlook . . .

Answer 28

Consequentialist moralities over look the key aspect of morality, which is a matter of acting with a
proper moral motive or good will.
Acting with a moral motive means acting with respect towards others by recognizing their inherent dignity.

Question 29

Why are Kant’s ethics often described as an ethic of respect for the dignity of the person?

Answer 29

Acting with a moral motive means acting with respect to the person.