Ethics and Moral Philosophy Quiz

Ethics and Moral Philosophy

• The term "ethics" comes from the Greek word "ethos", meaning character, habit, customs, and ways of behavior.
• Ethics is also referred to as moral philosophy.
• The roots of ethics are found in human freedom and the ability to pursue values through choices.

Socrates and Plato

• Socrates was the first to recognize the need to define ethical concepts and establish a universal standard.
• Plato found his standard in immutable, universal abstractions and measured goodness by his ideal Form.

Moral Standards

• A moral standard refers to the norms that determine what actions are morally acceptable or unacceptable.
• Moral standards deal with matters that can seriously harm or benefit human beings.
• The validity of moral standards comes from the reasoning that supports them, and they cannot be formed or changed by particular bodies of authority.

Examples of Moral Standards

• Egoism: Always do what is in your own best interest.
• Utilitarianism: Always do what creates the most utility (happiness, pleasure, or good) for the most people.
• Kantianism: Whatever you wish for everyone to do is a moral mandate for all (the universalizing principle).
• Subjectivism: Do what you think is correct; you are the final arbiter of morality.

Non-Moral Standards

• Non-moral standards address what we should or should not do from a non-moral perspective.
• Examples include: Speed limits, Building codes, "Do not walk on the grass", Dress codes, and Grooming codes.

Moral Reasoning

• Moral reasoning applies critical analysis to specific events to determine what is right or wrong, and what people ought to do in a particular situation.
• Both philosophers and psychologists study moral reasoning.
• Moral reasoning applies logic and moral theories, such as deontology or utilitarianism, to specific situations or dilemmas.
• People are not especially good at moral reasoning, a phenomenon known as moral dumbfounding.