Consequentialism in Ethics

An ethical theory judging actions based on their outcomes, aiming for the greatest good for the greatest number.

The core principle of consequentialism, advocating decisions maximizing overall happiness and well-being.

Actions taken based on ethical principles and frameworks to guide the judgment of choices.

A method for determining the morality of actions based on the results or impact of those actions.

Ethical viewpoints (e.g., deontology, virtue ethics) that oppose consequentialism by emphasizing duty, rules or virtues.

The belief that moral principles are not absolute but vary across cultures and time periods.

The idea that there are universal moral principles that apply to everyone, regardless of culture.

The understanding that different cultures have different values and norms.

Ethical relativism emphasizes cultural variations in morality, while moral absolutism asserts universal principles.

Ethical relativism is criticized for potentially hindering moral progress and offering no solution to cultural conflicts.

A Greek philosopher (5th century BC) who challenged the idea of absolute truth, suggesting that truth was relative to individual perception.

A famous Sophist who famously stated "Man is the measure of all things", reflecting a relativistic view of knowledge.

A school of thought that built on the ideas of the Sophists, emphasizing doubt and the difficulty of achieving certainty about knowledge.

A radical form of relativism that emphasizes the idea that there are no objective facts, only interpretations based on individual perspectives.

The observation that different cultures have unique moral codes.

Universal principles of right and wrong that exist independently of cultural beliefs.

The belief that moral principles are rooted in sociocultural contexts, making cross-cultural comparisons difficult.

The emphasis on the variability of moral perceptions across cultures, as seen in different opinions on practices like food and women's rights.

The idea that if objective moral values existed, they would be distinct from natural facts and thus unknowable.

An international document that establishes basic human rights and freedoms, suggesting some values are shared across cultures.