Questions and Answers
What is the primary focus of ethics?
Which type of ethics examines the moral values and principles of individuals, groups, or cultures?
What is the primary concern of Consequentialism?
Which type of ethics deals with the question of how people ought to act?
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What is the primary focus of Applied Ethics?
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What is the primary focus of Virtue Ethics?
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Which ethical principle is concerned with treating individuals fairly and equally?
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What is the term for the belief that moral principles are absolute and unchanging?
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Which ethical decision-making approach involves weighing the potential benefits against the potential costs of an action?
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What is the term for maintaining the privacy of clients or patients?
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Which ethical principle is concerned with doing no harm to others?
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Study Notes
Definition of Ethics
- Ethics is the branch of philosophy that deals with moral principles and values that govern human behavior
- It involves systematic reflection on moral beliefs and practices, and the principles that guide them
Types of Ethics
- Descriptive Ethics: examines the moral values and principles of individuals, groups, or cultures
- Normative Ethics: deals with the question of how people ought to act, and what moral principles they should follow
- Applied Ethics: applies ethical principles to specific fields or issues, such as medical ethics, business ethics, or environmental ethics
Ethical Theories
- Consequentialism: moral rightness depends on the consequences of an action (e.g. utilitarianism)
- Deontology: moral rightness depends on the action itself, regardless of its consequences (e.g. Kantianism)
- Virtue Ethics: moral character is more important than moral rules or consequences
Ethical Principles
- Respect for Autonomy: respect individuals' ability to make their own decisions
- Non-Maleficence: do no harm to others
- Beneficence: act to benefit others
- Justice: treat individuals fairly and equally
- Veracity: tell the truth
Ethical Dilemmas
- Moral Absolutism: the belief that certain moral principles are absolute and unchanging
- Moral Relativism: the belief that moral principles vary depending on the situation or culture
- Cultural Relativism: the belief that moral principles vary depending on the culture
Ethical Decision-Making
- Cost-Benefit Analysis: weighing the potential benefits against the potential costs of an action
- Moral Reasoning: applying ethical principles and theories to a situation
- Reflective Equilibrium: reconciling conflicting moral intuitions and principles
Professional Ethics
- Confidentiality: maintaining the privacy of clients or patients
- Informed Consent: obtaining consent from individuals before proceeding with a action
- Conflict of Interest: avoiding situations that compromise one's professional judgment
Definition of Ethics
- Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with moral principles and values governing human behavior, involving systematic reflection on moral beliefs and practices.
Types of Ethics
- Descriptive Ethics examines moral values and principles of individuals, groups, or cultures.
- Normative Ethics deals with how people ought to act and what moral principles they should follow.
- Applied Ethics applies ethical principles to specific fields or issues, such as medical ethics, business ethics, or environmental ethics.
Ethical Theories
- Consequentialism holds that moral rightness depends on the consequences of an action, e.g., utilitarianism.
- Deontology posits that moral rightness depends on the action itself, regardless of its consequences, e.g., Kantianism.
- Virtue Ethics emphasizes moral character as more important than moral rules or consequences.
Ethical Principles
- Respect for Autonomy emphasizes respecting individuals' ability to make their own decisions.
- Non-Maleficence is the principle of doing no harm to others.
- Beneficence involves acting to benefit others.
- Justice demands treating individuals fairly and equally.
- Veracity requires telling the truth.
Ethical Dilemmas
- Moral Absolutism is the belief that certain moral principles are absolute and unchanging.
- Moral Relativism holds that moral principles vary depending on the situation or culture.
- Cultural Relativism posits that moral principles vary depending on the culture.
Ethical Decision-Making
- Cost-Benefit Analysis involves weighing the potential benefits against the potential costs of an action.
- Moral Reasoning applies ethical principles and theories to a situation.
- Reflective Equilibrium reconciles conflicting moral intuitions and principles.
Professional Ethics
- Confidentiality requires maintaining the privacy of clients or patients.
- Informed Consent involves obtaining consent from individuals before proceeding with an action.
- Conflict of Interest requires avoiding situations that compromise one's professional judgment.
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Description
Learn about the basics of ethics, including its definition, types, and principles that guide human behavior and moral values.
