Morality and Ethics Flashcards
What is the main purpose founded by the “Trolley Problem”?
The good of the majority should be pursued even at the expense of the minority.
Define morality.
One’s own principles of what’s right and wrong.
Define ethics.
Right and wrong values that are provided to us as rules by society.
Define virtue.
Superior ethical values.
Define vice.
Immoral and unethical actions/intentions.
Define meta ethics.
Study of the nature and meaning of ethical and moral concepts.
Define normative ethics.
Study of ethical action.
Define applied ethics.
Application of ethical principles into real-life situations.
What is moral realism?
All morals are scientific facts.
What are the two branches of moral realism?
Moral absolutism and moral relativism.
Define moral absolutism.
Moral values that are deemed as right or wrong that exist around us.
Define moral relativism.
Moral facts and values that are interpreted differently by each person.
What are the two main factors of the ‘grounding problem of ethics’?
- the foundation of where our moral beliefs come from.
- the foundation has to be true and clear.
What is moral anti-realism?
No objective moral facts.
What are two branches of moral anti-realism?
Moral subjectivism and moral nihilism.
Define moral subjectivism.
Moral facts and values are created by what we as a society deem as right or wrong.
Define moral nihilism.
All moral facts and values are neither good or bad/right or wrong.
Define egoism.
An individual’s sense of self-importance.
The two types of egoism are…
Psychological egoism and ethical egoism.
Define psychological egoism.
We’re born predisposed to our own desires and selves.
Define ethical egoism.
People should always act out of self-interest.
Define altruism.
An individual’s sense of selfless concern of the well-being of another person.
The two types of altruism are…
Psychological altruism and ethical altruism.
Define psychological altruism.
We’re psychologically predisposed to act for the sake of each other’s sakes.
Define ethical altruism.
Philosophical belief that people should act out of selflessness.
What are the most common normative ethics theories?
(Hint: D.C.C)
Deontology, consequentialism and contractarianism.
Define deontology.
It focuses on the intention of the action or event.
Define consequentialism.
It focuses on the consequences of the action we take.
Define contractarianism.
(Hint: Zhongli)
It focuses on ‘moral contracts’ that depict what is right or wrong.
In regards to the categorical imperative, Kant argued that…
It’s unnecessary to blame others for the consequences of their actions, because it was out of their control.
According to Kant, the central construct of moral law is…
Categorical imperatives and hypothetical imperatives.
Define categorical imperatives.
They are rules you must follow, regardless of your desires.
In order to create categorical imperatives, you must look into
‘The universalisability principle’ and ‘formulation of humanity’.
Define the universalisability principle.
Acting in a way you’d want your peers to act in.
Define formulation of humanity.
Not using people as a means of achieving your goals.
Define hypothetical imperatives.
Commands that depend on one’s desires that must do in order to achieve something else.
Define ‘utilitarianism’.
Any action, whether its good or bad, is deemed as good if they bring pleasure to a great number of people.
