Task 5 - Ethics and figures of speech

Question 1

Divided into three general subject areas

Answer 1

1. Metaethics
2. Normative ethics
3. Applied ethics

Question 2

Metaethics

Answer 2

focus on the issues of universal truths, the will of God, the role of reason in ethical judgments, and the meaning of ethical terms themselves

Question 3

Normative ethics

Answer 3

• takes on the practical task of arriving at moral standards that regulate right and wrong conduct
• This may involve articulating the good habits that we should acquire, the duties that we should follow, or the consequences of our behavior on others

Question 4

Applied ethics

Answer 4

involves examining specific controversial issues, such as abortion, infanticide, animal rights, environmental concerns, homosexuality, capital punishment, or nuclear war – discussions here try to resolve these controversial issues

Question 5

Psychological egoism

Answer 5

experiencing power over other people – it maintains that self-oriented interests ultimately motivate all human actions

Question 6

Psychological hedonism

Answer 6

the view that pleasure is the specific driving force behind all of our actions

Question 7

Psychological altruism

Answer 7

an inherent psychological capacity to show benevolence to others – it maintains that at least some of our actions are motivated by instinctive benevolence

Question 8

Emotive element

Answer 8

i am expressing my emotions about some specific behaviour

Question 9

Prescriptive element

Answer 9

I am prescribing some specific behaviour

True moral action is motivated only by reason when it is free from emotions and desires

Question 10

The Golden Rule

Normative Ethics

Answer 10

• we should do to others what we would want others to do to us
• This establishes a single principle against which we judge all actions

Question 11

Plato emphasized four virtues

Virtues

Answer 11

• Wisdom
• Courage
• Temperance
• Justice

Question 12

Other important virtues are

Answer 12

• Fortitude
• Generosity
• Self-respect
• Good temper
• Sincerity

Question 13

Theological virtues

Answer 13

Faith, hope and charity

Question 14

Repetitio

Answer 14

A word or a phrase is repeated almost verbatim a number of times, hammering it home to the audience

Question 15

Anaphora

Answer 15

A repetitio at the start of a number of sentences or lines of verse is called an anaphora

Question 16

The rule of three

Answer 16

The use of three arguments is recommended

Question 17

Chiamus

Answer 17

Two related sentences or phrases are each other’s syntactical mirror change

Question 18

Rhetorical question

Answer 18

A question which instead of being a real question is a definite statement in the shape of a question – it is not meant to be answered

Question 19

Metaphor

Answer 19

You call something by another name directly, comparing that which you really mean with that which you call it

Question 20

Tautology

Answer 20

A concept is repeated using a different word that has (roughly) the same meaning

Question 21

Pleonasm

Answer 21

An obvious quality of an object or a concept is repeated

Question 22

Hyperbole

Answer 22

A more or less appropriate exaggeration, hyperbole often has a comical effect

Question 23

Enumeration

Answer 23

A number of names, facts, arguments follow each other up, giving each element of the enumeration an emphatic and convincing ring

Question 24

Paradox

Answer 24

It is an apparent contradiction

Question 25

Understatement

Answer 25

It is the opposite of a hyperbole: intentional trivialisation

Question 26

Euphanism

Answer 26

A term which sounds too harsh or unkind is replaced with another, less direct term

Question 27

Oxymoron

Answer 27

It is a combination of two contradictory terms

Question 28

Litotes

Answer 28

A special kind of understatement: something is strongly emphasised by denying the opposite