Ethics Chapter 1 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What are the 5 C's of morality?

Compromise (correct)

Conquer (correct)

Conflict (correct)

Cooperation (correct)

Compassion (correct)

What are the 4 sources for morality?

Subjectivism, Relativism, Objectivism

What is subjectivism?

The view that right actions are those sanctioned by a person.

What is relativism?

The view that right actions are sanctioned by one's culture. Signup and view all the answers

What is moral objectivism?

The view that there are moral norms or principles valid for everyone. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of laws?

To obligate and enforce social order and guide actions. Signup and view all the answers

Are there laws that are not moral?

True Signup and view all the answers

What is morality?

A formal system meant to generate cooperative behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is ethics?

The study of morality. Signup and view all the answers

What is metaethics?

The study of morality as a concept. Signup and view all the answers

What is normative ethics?

Statements and principles that tell people how to live. Signup and view all the answers

What is applied ethics?

Use of moral norms and concepts to resolve practical moral issues. Signup and view all the answers

What is the aim of morality?

Generating cooperative behavior and regulating interpersonal relations. Signup and view all the answers

What are moral rights?

Justified by reasoning of enlightened conscience. Signup and view all the answers

What are political rights?

Validated by laws which must be morally justified. Signup and view all the answers

What are legal rights?

Validated by laws which must be morally justified. Signup and view all the answers

What is a negative right?

Rights to non-interference. Signup and view all the answers

What is a positive right?

Welfare rights for necessary items or services. Signup and view all the answers

How are conflicts of rights resolved?

By considering the degree of need for the object of the right. Signup and view all the answers

What does conflict resolution and action guidance depend on?

There being some objective standard of rightness. Signup and view all the answers

What is a moral dilemma?

Occurs when we have good reasons for two or more alternative action choices. Signup and view all the answers

What is Deontology?

Duty-based morality. Signup and view all the answers

How did Kant agree with Aristotle?

Humans differ from other living things by our ability to reason. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 2 types of duties?

Perfect duties and imperfect duties. Signup and view all the answers

What are perfect duties?

Obligatory duties that can never be breached. Signup and view all the answers

What are imperfect duties?

Duties that aim at a particular outcome. Signup and view all the answers

What is Kant's categorical imperative?

A universally binding moral requirement. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 2 parts to the categorical imperative?

C1 and C2. Signup and view all the answers

What is C1 of the categorical imperative?

Universalizability. Signup and view all the answers

What is C2 of the categorical imperative?

Humanity as an end in itself. Signup and view all the answers

What happens if an action cannot be universalized?

It is not morally appropriate. Signup and view all the answers

What are disadvantages of Kant's imperative?

<ol> <li>Perfect duties obligate telling the truth 2) Beneficence always secondary to perfect duty 3) Not everyone agrees on absolute impartiality 4) Too much emphasis on rationality.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What was Ross's theory?

Prima facie duties. Signup and view all the answers

What are prima facie duties?

Duties that are obligatory unless in conflict with another moral duty. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 7 prima facie duties?

<ol> <li>Fidelity 2) Reparation 3) Gratitude 4) Justice 5) Beneficence 6) Self-improvement 7) Nonmaleficence.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is utilitarianism?

Cost-benefit analysis determining rightness by outcome. Signup and view all the answers

What is the principle of utility?

Maximize good consequences and minimize harm. Signup and view all the answers

What did Bentham believe in?

Hedonistic utilitarianism. Signup and view all the answers

What is hedonistic utilitarianism?

Seeking pleasure and avoiding pain in any situation. Signup and view all the answers

What is consequentialist theory?

Rightness of actions depends solely on consequences. Signup and view all the answers

What did Mill believe in?

Standard of goodness. Signup and view all the answers

What is the standard of goodness?

Happiness is the only thing desirable as an end. Signup and view all the answers

What are 2 strengths of utilitarianism?

<ol> <li>Uses a single absolute principle 2) Believes morality is about helping people.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What are weaknesses of utilitarianism?

<ol> <li>Difficult to know consequences fully 2) Looks at individuals like tools 3) Predictability of behavior 4) Judgments only made in retrospect.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What are the 2 levels to deal with criticisms of rule utility?

<ol> <li>Rule utility 2) Act utility.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is rule utility?

Right action conforms to rules benefiting everyone. Signup and view all the answers

What is act utility?

Rightness of actions depends on the relative good produced. Signup and view all the answers

What is justice?

Each individual gets equal consideration. Signup and view all the answers

What is the ethic of care?

A theory of moral development focusing on relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 2 principles of ethics of care?

<ol> <li>Minimize or avoid harm 2) Create, maintain, and protect positive relationships.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What prima facie conception does ethics of care use?

Impartiality. Signup and view all the answers

What is a criticism of the ethic of care?

Not directly applicable to individuals without relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 4 things moral decisions under ethics of care based on?

<ol> <li>Basis of one's affectedness 2) One's level of vulnerability 3) Dependence upon choices made 4) Context of situation.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is virtue ethics?

How one ought to live and what type of person one should be. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 2 types of virtues one must possess?

<ol> <li>Intellectual virtues 2) Moral virtues.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of virtue ethics?

Does not provide practical action guidance or conflict resolution. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 4 principles of biomedical ethics?

<ol> <li>Autonomy 2) Beneficence 3) Nonmaleficence 4) Justice.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is paternalism?

Authority figures restrict freedom of those dependent on them. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 2 kinds of paternalism?

<ol> <li>Weak paternalism 2) Strong paternalism.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is weak paternalism?

Permissible to interfere with a competent individual's autonomy in irrational situations. Signup and view all the answers

What is strong paternalism?

Permissible to override competent individual's autonomy for beneficence. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

5 C's of Morality

Includes cooperation, compromise, compassion, conquer, conflict.

Sources of Morality

Subjectivism: Morality is individualistic, based on personal conscience and unpredictable.
Relativism: Morality is culturally determined; all views are equally valid with no absolute moral rules.
Objectivism: Moral norms exist independently of personal or cultural beliefs, validated by authority or reason.

Purpose and Nature of Laws

Laws enforce social order and guide actions, but not all laws are inherently moral.
Morality serves to generate cooperative behavior and regulate interpersonal relations.

Categories of Rights

Moral Rights: Justified by enlightened conscience; focus on personal ethics.
Political Rights: Legally validated rights that require moral justification for enforcement.
Legal Rights: Rights associated with legal proceedings, requiring moral justification.

Rights Framework

Negative Rights: Rights to non-interference, specifying who owes duties to individuals.
Positive Rights: Welfare rights requiring provision of services/material for well-being, less clear about duty holders.

Conflict Resolution

Conflicts of rights are resolved by assessing the need for the object of the right.
Effective guidance depends on an objective standard of rightness.

Moral Decisions and Dilemmas

Moral dilemmas arise when valid reasons exist for multiple actions; solutions depend on the strength of reasons.
Conflicts often require weighing obligations based on duty types: perfect or imperfect.

Kantian Ethics

Deontology: Focus on duty; actions are judged based on motives.
Categorical Imperative: An unconditional moral law applicable universally, consists of:
- C1 (Universalizability): An action must be applicable to everyone.
- C2 (Humanity as an End): Individuals should never be treated merely as a means.

Limitations of Kant's Theory

Absolute obligations (perfect duties) sometimes conflict with personal values or outcomes, leading to impractical moral judgments.
Overemphasis on rationality and universal principles can ignore individual circumstances.

Ross's Theory

Prima Facie Duties: Duties that are obligatory unless conflicting with more pressing duties.
Seven prima facie duties include fidelity, reparation, gratitude, justice, beneficence, self-improvement, and nonmaleficence.

Utilitarianism

Ethical framework evaluating actions based on their consequences (cost-benefit analysis).
Principle of Utility: Maximizing good outcomes and minimizing harm for the greatest number.

Ethical Theories

Hedonistic Utilitarianism: Pleasure and pain as primary motivators; derived from Bentham's perspective.
Mill's Standard of Goodness: Happiness is the ultimate desirable end; individual freedom is paramount in defining happiness.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Utilitarianism

Strengths: Single, absolute principle; promotes altruism.
Weaknesses: Difficulty in predicting outcomes; treats individuals as means rather than ends; judgments based solely on retrospective analysis.

Justice and Ethics of Care

Justice requires equal consideration and treating similar cases similarly.
Ethics of Care: Focuses on protecting relationships and minimizing harm, emphasizing context and individual vulnerability in moral decisions.

Virtue Ethics

Centers on character and what constitutes a good life rather than specific actions.
Includes intellectual virtues (education) and moral virtues (habituation).

Biomedical Ethics

Four principles guide ethical decision-making: autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.

Paternalism

Authority figures may restrict the autonomy of dependents, believing they know what is best.
Weak Paternalism: Justifiable intervention in cases of apparent irrationality causing potential harm.
Strong Paternalism: Justifiable overriding of autonomy to promote welfare and prevent harm, even if the individual is competent.

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Test your knowledge on the key concepts from Chapter 1 of Ethics with these flashcards. Discover important terms like the 5 C's of morality and the different sources that shape moral understanding. Perfect for students seeking to deepen their grasp of ethical principles.