Philosophy of ethics and morality Flashcards
Argumentation
Ability to put forward your thoughts when debating
Worldviews
Lens in which you see the world
Philosophy
Studies knowledge, wisdom using logic and argumentation. Philosophy challenges peoples worldviews to consider arguments from a different perspective rather than merely accepting personal bias. Philosophy can relate to a range of subjects: religion, history, politics, science and ethics
Ethics
The study of our actions and what is right or wrong. It’s concerned with who we are as people and our character
Morality
Examines our behaviour to determine what values we should have and therefore the actions that should or should not be carried out
Hedonists
Pleasure seekers
Moral
A moral action is typically viewed as good if it has a positive outcome for others e.g. when we give to charity money can be used to improve the circumstances of others
Immoral
An action can be viewed as immoral if it produces a negative outcome for others e.g. stealing someone else’s money. Additionally actions may be viewed as immoral if they go against the values of a persons community e.g. a Christian performing an action that is contrary to the church community/sacred text
Amoral
Some actions may be considered as neither immoral or moral. It could be considered a choice that a person is free to make without any moral significance e.g. whether you purchase a galaxy chocolate over a dairy milk as your chocolate treat
Morality designed by God
Religious believers don’t believe that moral decisions are decided because of the consequences of action, but because the action itself is right or wrong as decided by God. A key term religious believers use to describe this is the word ‘absolutism’
Absolutism
This means that there is a fixed standard of right and wrong that people across the world should follow e.g. it’s always wrong to murder, of course by consequence, a religious person could argue – as another person’s life is taken this is why God commanded that people shouldn’t murder
Absolute
Must be followed no exceptions, intact, must be finished can’t add/detract from it e.g. the 10 Commandments
Circumstances where it could be considered moral to lie
Lying to not offend, lying as a distraction to save someone, lying to protect yourself
What do religious believers believe about lying
Religious believers believe the action of lying itself is morally wrong and that the consequences of the action are irrelevant
One reason that religious believers could argue God is the provider of morality
Because as the creator of the world he has the authority to make such decisions. Otherwise who gets to decide what’s right or wrong? If one person thinks one action is morally acceptable but another thinks differently, it becomes difficult to decide who is right! Is morality subjective?
