Moral Theories and Ethical Principles Flashcards
morality
- usually construed as meaning what is right and wrong, and refers to social conventions about right and wrong human conduct
- generally, widely shared values that form a stable (although usually incomplete) communal consensus
common sense morality
based on norms such as:
- treat others as you would like to be treated
- keep your promises
- be fair
- do your best
non-consequentialism
- the view that rightness or wrongness of actions and institutions is a function of something other than the goodness or badness of their consequences
- usually falls under deontological theories
natural rights
(Locke) everyone is naturally good and rational, and have a natural right to life, liberty, and property
consequentialism
- i.e. utilitarianism
- the rightness or wrongness of actions and institutions is a function of the goodness or badness of their consequences
- morality should be guided by the “greatest good for the greatest number”
- utility or happiness for all should be maximized
kantian ethics
- deontological, rule based
1. Always treat persons (rational agents) as ends-in-themselves and never merely as means to your ends.
2. The right moral rules are those which rational agents would freely choose to have govern them.
3. A maxim is universalizable if and only if you could effectively achieve your goal by acting on it in a world where everyone else was pursuing the same goal by acting similarly in similar circumstances.
deontological theory
uses rules rather than consequences to justify an action or policy
divine command theory
- morality based on God’s commands
- this is the morality derived from religious texts, and is the major form of morality provided by the world’s religions
natural rights theory
- all individuals have natural rights to life liberty and property, which should only be limited by the need not to violate the rights of other people
- it has sometimes also been assumed that such natural rights have a religious foundation
universalizability
- whatever is right (or wrong) in one situation is right (or wrong) in any relevantly similar situation
- a basic logical feature of all moral discourse
- making a distinctively moral judgement, you commit yourself to its universalizability
- if in making a judgment if you refuse to recognize its universalizability then you are actually refusing to make a moral judgment
ethics
- greek ethos meaning habit or custom
- an understanding of the moral life
- considering universal laws, from the standpoint of the impartial spectator or ideal observer
- ethics is also a general term, referring to both morality and ethical theory, and the words “ethics” and “morality” are often used interchangeably
normative ethics
- how things should or ought to be
- how to value things
- which things are good or bad
- which actions are right or wrong
virtue ethics
-the key ethical concept is neither utility, rights, nor principles, but virtue, or good character traits, which is what moral education should focus on developing
casuistry
- case based reasoning, focusing on practical decision-making in particular cases based on precedent
1. particular features of a case are identified
2. a comparison is made with other similar cases and prior experiences, attempting to determine not only the similarities but also the differences
4 principles used in medical ethics
one of the most widely used frameworks and offers a broad consideration of medical ethics issues generally, not just for use in a clinical setting
-the four principles provide a general guide and leave considerable room for judgement in specific cases
1. autonomy
2. beneficence
3. non maleficence
4. justice
each of these principles are prima facie - each to be followed unless it conflicts with one or more of the others - and non-hieraarchial
