Introduction to Normative Ethics

Study Notes

General Areas of Ethics

Normative ethics provides guidelines or rules to determine right and wrong actions. It focuses on how individuals ought to behave and the kind of people they ought to be.

Umbrella Theories in Normative Ethics

Consequentialism judges the morality of actions based on their outcomes. It asks, "What are the consequences of this action?"
- Ethical Egoism prioritizes maximizing individual well-being.
- Ethical Altruism prioritizes the well-being of others.
Deontology focuses on duty and obligation. It asks, "Is this action consistent with my duty?"
- Emphasis on moral obligations regardless of consequences.
Virtue Ethics focuses on character and becoming a good person. It asks, "What kind of person does this action make me?"
- Aims to cultivate moral character traits for a fulfilling life.

Specific Examples of Ethical Theories

Utilitarianism assesses the goodness of an action based on how it maximizes benefits and minimizes pain for the greatest number of people.
Kantian ethics emphasizes acting in accordance with duty, following rules and principles.

Applied Ethics

Branch of ethics that applies moral concepts to real-world issues.
Aims to answer questions like, "What is the right thing to do in this specific situation?"

Metaethics

Investigates the nature of moral ideas and judgements.
Explores the meaning and validity of moral language.

Moral Realism vs. Moral Anti-realism

Moral Realism believes in objective moral facts or values that exist independently of human beliefs.
Moral Anti-realism denies the existence of objective moral facts.

Summary of Ethical Theories

Consequentialism: Focuses on the good outcome.
Deontology: Focuses on duty and responsibility.
Virtue Ethics: Focuses on developing good character.

Description

Explore the foundational theories of normative ethics, including consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics. This quiz will guide you through the principles that shape our understanding of right and wrong, focusing on the moral implications of actions and character. Test your knowledge on ethical frameworks and their applications.