Moral Agent Definition Quiz and Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of regulations?

To encourage chaos

To limit government power

To promote freedom

To control behavior and activities (correct)

What is the definition of a taboo?

A cultural idea

A religious text

A type of food

A practice or association that is prohibited (correct)

Which of the following best describes customs?

Regulations to control activities

Rules made by the government

Principles concerning right and wrong behavior

Cultural ideas that dictate behavior (correct)

What is the main purpose of moral rules?

To guide daily living and moral judgment Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the action-guiding nature of morality?

Prescriptivity Signup and view all the answers

What must moral principles adhere to according to the text?

Apply universally to relevantly similar people Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes man from animals in terms of moral agency?

Possession of intellect Signup and view all the answers

What is virtue a perfection of?

A good habit Signup and view all the answers

How are moral standards different from non-moral standards?

Moral standards are focused on ethical considerations, while non-moral standards are unrelated to moral or ethical considerations. Signup and view all the answers

What term describes a situation in which an individual faces moral reasons to take two conflicting actions?

Moral dilemma Signup and view all the answers

How does Kant define freedom in relation to morality?

Freedom is achieved through moral acts. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of freedom in morality according to the text?

Freedom allows individuals the capacity to choose between good and evil. Signup and view all the answers

How does Aristotle link moral responsibility and human actions?

He believes man is responsible for his actions as he understands their consequences. Signup and view all the answers

'Virtue' is described as:

A perfection of a good habit Signup and view all the answers

'Moral dilemmas' are situations in which:

Individuals face conflicting moral reasons for two actions Signup and view all the answers

'Freedom and morality' are linked in that:

Freedom allows individuals the capacity to choose between good and evil Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Moral Principles

Moral principles have predominant authority and override other kinds of principles
Moral principles must be made public in order to guide our actions
Moral principles must be workable and its rules must not lay a heavy burden on us when we follow them

Moral Agent

A moral agent is an individual who is able to make moral judgments based on some notion of right and wrong actions and to be held accountable for these actions
Man is rational, possessing the faculty of intellection (knowledge) and volition (will)
Man is capable of making choices, judgment, and decisions, and is free and responsible

Rules of Ethics

Rules of ethics are a set of rules that describe acceptable conduct in society
Examples of rules of ethics:
- Make direct eye contact with the person you are speaking with
- Do not pick your nose in public and if you must burp or fart say “excuse me”
- Flush the toilet after use and always wash your hands when finished
- Say “please” when asking for something and say “thank you” when someone does something for you
- Dress appropriately for the environment you are in
- Don’t interrupt someone while they are talking

Types of Rules

Social Rules (NORMS): most commonly defined as rules or expectations that are socially enforced
Laws: the discipline and profession concerned with the customs, practices, and rules of conduct of a community that are recognized as binding by the community
Regulations: rules made by a government or other authority in order to control the way something is done or the way people behave
Taboos: a social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding discussion of a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing
Customs: a cultural idea that describes a regular, patterned behavior that is characteristic of life in a social group

Importance of Rules

The importance of rules serves as a guide to moral daily living and helps one judge whether a certain behavior can be justified
The importance of rules serves to maintain civil behavior, be organized, and maintain harmony in the community

Morality

Morality is concerned with the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior
5 Key features of morality:
- Prescriptivity
- Universalizability
- Over ridingness
- Publicity
- Practicability

Moral Agent

A moral agent is an individual who is able to make moral judgments based on some notion of right and wrong actions and to be held accountable for these actions
Man is rational, possessing the faculty of intellection (knowledge) and volition (will)
Man is capable of making moral choices, judgment, and decisions, and is free and responsible

Ethics

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct
Ethics is the rational study of the meaning and justification of moral claims
Types of ethics:
- Meta-ethics: examines the nature of moral claims and arguments
- Normative ethics: examines moral standards that attempt to define right and wrong conduct
- Applied ethics: examines specific moral issues

Why Study Ethics?

It can provide a moral map
It can pinpoint a disagreement
Can give several answers
It doesn’t give right answers but it is only a moral compass

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Description

Test your knowledge on moral principles, including the concepts of overridingness, publicity, practicability, and what it means to be a moral agent who can make judgments based on right and wrong actions.