S2 - Doing the right thing, definitions Flashcards
What is the definition of law? How is it reflected in society? Where do we find them?
Set of obligatory rules established by a sovereign authority and sanctioned by public force
Enforced by code of laws
Code of ethics, code of deontology (professions)
What is the definition of culture? How is it reflected in society? Where do we find them?
A manner of feeling, thinking, and acting structured by collective models but not expressly dictated by laws or institutions.
Reflected in norms, customs and values.
Business culture, work climate, value statement
What is the definition of morals? How is it reflected in society? Where do we find them?
Set of imperatives and prohibitions that stem from the opposition of good and evil. Are often considered as absolute by philosophical, political or religious systems. Morals are influenced but not dictated by law and culture.
Philosophical, political or religious systems
Personal beliefs and individual belonging.
What is the definition of ethics? How is it reflected in society? Where do we find them?
Critical reflection around a diffuse desire to live a good life, influenced but not dictated by law, culture and morals. Above all a process (whereas morals = outcome).
Reflection and decision-making process which aim at the common good.
A process, a quest
Individual and collective reflections on decisions and behaviors
What is the definition of philosophy?
A fundamental discipline that tests the basic assumptions of thoughts in order to better inform action.
What is the definition of moral philosophy?
A discipline that tries to help human beings to live a just and good life—a life that generates meaning, through ethics.
What is the definition of Moral argument (moral reflection)?
A dialectic between our judgments about particular situations and the principles we affirm on reflection. (…)
Moral reflection is not a solitary pursuit, but a public endeavour.
It is dialectical: It moves back and forth between the judgments we make in concrete situations and the principles that inform those judgements—it needs opinions and convinctions, however partial and untutored, as ground and gist.
What is an ethical issue?
An ethical issue is a problem, challenge, or dilemma of an ethical nature, that is, an
issue that involves or opposes values, motivations, ideals, visions of the good life or visions of the common good.
What is a legal issue?
A legal issue is a problem, challenge or dilemma of a legal nature. This type of issue can arise when laws are not respected or are circumvented by an individual or organization, or when they are unclear, not precise enough or non-existent in a certain area of the
law.
What is a governance issue?
A governance issue is a problem, a challenge or a dilemma that concerns the governance of an organization, and therefore potentially its leaders, its board of
directors, its decisions, its stakeholder management, etc.
Compare Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Thomas Hobbes’ views on the nature of humans.
Rousseau: Human beings are naturally good, but corrupted by society.
Hobbes: Human beings are selfish. “Man is a wolf to man.”
