PHI 112-Test 1, Part 1-What is Ethics

Question 1

Altruism

Answer 1

putting other’s interests before your own, contrasted with egoism

Question 2

Sociobiology

Answer 2

Social structures and behavioral patterns are biologically based and explained by evolutionary theory.

Question 3

Natural Law Theory

Answer 3

through rational intuitions embedded in human nature by God, we discover eternal and absolute moral principles

Question 4

Categorical imperative

Answer 4

This is a moral imperative that is unqualified and does not depend on one’s desires, it is doing one’s duty for duty’s sake. The action is done because it has intrinsic value.

Question 5

Prima facie duties

Answer 5

(“at first glance”) Duty that is tentatively binding on us until this duty conflicts with another (Ross)

Question 6

Actual duty

Answer 6

Ross argued this is the stronger of two conflicting duties (it overrides the weaker one in conflict).

Question 7

Virtue theory

Answer 7

View that morality involves producing excellent persons who act well out of spontaneous goodness and serve as examples to inspire others

Question 8

Descriptive Morality

Answer 8

The DESCRIPTION of one’s (or culture’s) ACTUAL moral beliefs. Has NOTHING to do with PRESCRIBING moral actions.

Question 9

Religion and Morality

Answer 9

Even though moral behavior is usually essential to religion, Pojman & Fieser believe religion is not necessary to live a moral life.

Question 10

What kind of ethics do Pojman and Fieser want to build?

Answer 10

A Secular Ethic

Question 11

Morality and Law

Answer 11

Even though many laws are created to promote well-being, resolve conflicts of interest, and promote social harmony, sometimes ethics may judge some laws to be immoral (without denying their legal authority).

Question 12

Morality and Etiquette

Answer 12

Etiquette determines what is POLITE behavior while ethics determines what is RIGHT behavior. At the same time, it may sometimes be “immoral” to defy or ignore the rules of etiquette.

Question 13

Limitation of etiquette?

Answer 13

It does not seem to get to the heart of morality.

Question 14

What kinds of questions does ethics ask?

Answer 14

What is it to be a moral person?
What is the nature of morality?
Why do we need morality?
What function does morality play?
How do I know what is the good?
(Keep in mind that while ethics has to do with what is valuable, it does not comment on what is beautiful, only what is right or wrong.)

Question 15

Morality and Law

Answer 15

Sometimes ethics OVERRIDES law.

Question 16

What is the definition of philosophy?

Answer 16

“love of wisdom”

Question 17

What does APPLIED ETHICS work with?

Answer 17

It applies ethical theory to controversial issues such as abortion, the death penalty, etc.

Question 18

Teleological Ethics

Answer 18

Ethical theories that focus primarily on consequences.

Question 19

How can action be divided?

Answer 19

These can be divided into obligatory and permissible

Question 20

Deontological Ethics

Answer 20

Emphasizes the NATURE of an act – some acts are INHERENTLY good or bad.

Question 21

Character-Based Ethcs

Answer 21

Emphasizes VIRTUE

Question 22

Ethical Relativism

Answer 22

The idea that moral truth DEPENDS on the individual or culture

Question 23

Prescriptivity

Answer 23

The practical, or ACTION-GUIDING, nature of morality.

Question 24

Practicability

Answer 24

Moral principles must be WORKABLE.

Question 25

Universalizibility

Answer 25

Moral principles must apply to ALL people.

Question 26

Publicity

Answer 26

Moral principles must be made PUBLIC in order to guide our actions.

Question 27

Overriddingness

Answer 27

Moral principles sometimes have PREDOMINANT AUTHORITY compared to aesthetic, prudential, and legal ones.