Philosophy of Morality

Question 1

Moral development

Answer 1

the gradual development of an individual’s concept of right or wrong

Question 2

Moral philosophy

Answer 2

principles or rules people use to decide what is right or wrong

Question 3

Prescriptive vs. descriptive questions

Answer 3

Prescriptive: What is right and wrong? (Philosophy/Ethics)

Descriptive: What happens during moral decision making? (Psychology)

Question 4

Consequentialism

Answer 4

consequences of one’s conduct are the ultimate basis for any judgment about the rightness of that conduct

Question 5

Utilitarianism

Answer 5

form of consequentialism; morally right act is one that will maximize happiness and minimize suffering; provide most benefit for the maximum number of people

Question 6

Deontology

Answer 6

morality of an action is based on the action’s adherence to a set of rules that bind you to your duty

Question 7

Virtue Ethics

Answer 7

focus is on the character of the agent rather than on the act

Question 8

Relativist Perspective

Answer 8

people disagree about what is moral; no objective right or wrong; we ought to tolerate the behavior of others even if we disagree about the morality of it

Question 9

Moral Absolutism

Answer 9

rules are set in stone and can’t be changed; objective right or wrong set by innate knowledge

Question 10

Pragmatism

Answer 10

a belief’s truth is based on the way something is intersubjectively verified; emphasis on rational thought and practical outcomes

Question 11

Ventromedial Prefontal Cortex

Answer 11

produces feelings as we consider the future consequences of our actions; the “emotion” center; patients with damage to this area say “yes” to both trolley problems - able to make a cool, rational decision

Question 12

Bloom’s View of Morality

Answer 12

morality is innate; infants are born with a moral “compass” - they try to comfort people in distress; good vs. bad is not taught

Question 13

Epigenetics and Morality

Answer 13

nature-nurture interaction; human brain has biases that allow for certain opportunities, but the social/physical world is what affects these biases; social and physical sculpts the brain over time, immersing children in a context of morality

Question 14

Critiques about innate morality

Answer 14

assumes that infants have many other abilities (i.e. intention, context); preference may be related to what we have experienced, not moral knowledge; fails to distinguish between moral vs. social norms; could be mislabeling simple interactions as intentional helping behaviors