30 Questions
Why do people usually follow accepted rules?
To avoid negative consequences
Which document outlines the governing principles of a nation?
Constitution
What is one of the advantages of a system where the government is limited in power?
Enhanced individual liberty
What do rules help prevent according to the text?
Exploitation and domination
Which concept further protects individual liberty according to the text?
Separation of powers
What contributes to an individual's happiness according to the text?
Living an authentic life aligned with one's values
What is the branch of philosophy that studies morality or the rightness or wrongness of human conduct?
Ethics
Where does the word 'ethics' originate from?
Greek word 'ethos'
What does morality refer to?
Behavior standards of humans
Which term is synonymous with 'moral philosophy'?
Ethics
What purpose do rules serve in society according to the text?
To provide guidelines for behavior
What is the primary concern of ethics as a normative study according to the text?
Norms of human conduct
What is the primary focus of moral standards?
Distinguishing between good and bad behavior
How do moral standards differ from non-moral standards?
Moral standards involve serious wrongs or significant benefits, while non-moral standards do not.
Which of the following is NOT an example of non-moral standards?
Legal statutes
What gives validity to moral standards?
The line of reasoning supporting them
How do ethicists relate moral values and moral principles to moral standards?
Equating them
What distinguishes moral standards from non-moral standards according to the text?
Involvement in serious wrongs or significant benefits
What is the key feature of a moral dilemma according to the text?
Conflict between two or more actions
Which level of moral dilemma includes ethical cases encountered by social organizations?
Organizational Dilemmas
What happens in a moral dilemma if an agent tries to do both conflicting actions?
The agent fails to resolve the conflict
Which category of moral dilemmas involves cases on a personal level?
Personal Dilemmas
What makes resolving a structural dilemma complex according to the text?
Operative theoretical paradigms
In which type of dilemma does an agent seem to face moral failure no matter the choice?
Personal Dilemmas
Why are rules important in a system?
To provide justice and limit the actions of the powerful
What happens if individuals transgress laws and ordinances?
There are social and criminal consequences
How do rules protect intellectual property?
Through copyrights and patents
Why are rules necessary for a healthy economic system?
To ensure product safety and competitiveness
What do company regulations that protect employee rights do for the workplace?
Ensure employee well-being
What does morality refer to?
Standards about what is right and wrong, or good and evil
Study Notes
Key Concepts in Ethics
- Ethics is the branch of philosophy that studies morality or the rightness or wrongness of human conduct.
- Morality speaks of a code or system of behavior in regards to standards of right or wrong behavior.
- Ethics deals with human actions and reasons for action, and is concerned with character.
Importance of Rules to Social Beings
- Rules are explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct within a specific activity or sphere.
- Rules protect social beings by regulating behavior, building boundaries, and imposing consequences on those who violate them.
- Rules help guarantee each person certain rights and freedom, and produce a sense of justice among social beings.
Moral Standards
- Moral standards are norms concerned with or relating to human behavior, especially the distinction between good and bad behavior.
- Moral standards deal with matters that can seriously harm or benefit human beings.
- The validity of moral standards comes from the line of reasoning that was taken to back or support them.
Moral Dilemmas
- A moral dilemma is a conflict in which you have to choose between two or more actions and have moral reasons for choosing each action.
- The key features of a moral dilemma include conflicting moral reasons for choosing each action, and the impossibility of doing both actions.
Levels of Moral Dilemmas
- Personal Dilemmas: experienced and resolved on the personal level.
- Organizational Dilemmas: refer to ethical cases encountered and resolved by social organizations.
- Structural Dilemmas: refer to cases involving networks of institutions and operative theoretical paradigms.
Importance of Rules in Society
- Rules generate a stable system that provides justice, and limits the power of the powerful.
- Rules are essential for a healthy economic system, ensuring product safety, employee safety, and product quality.
- Rules protect intellectual property and keep the banking system stable.
Explore the fundamental concepts in ethics, the branch of philosophy that delves into the rightness and wrongness of human behavior. Learn about morality, behavior codes, reasons for action, and character traits that are central to ethical discussions.
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