Outline Of Ethics: Descriptive Ethics

Questions and Answers

What is descriptive ethics?

Study of ethical actions

Examination of moral judgment in specific issues

Empirical research into attitudes of individuals or groups (correct)

Philosophical methods to identify moral actions

What is normative ethics concerned with?

The study of ethical action and how one ought to act morally.

Normative ethics is the same as descriptive ethics.

False

What does applied ethics examine?

<p>Particular issues in private and public life that are matters of moral judgment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of applied ethics?

<p>Bioethics</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Descriptive Ethics

Empirical research assessing attitudes of individuals or groups toward ethics.
Investigates beliefs about values and moral actions (right and wrong) and virtuous characteristics of moral agents.
Examines ethical ideals and societal condemnation through law and politics.
Acknowledges the generational nature of culture; ethics evolve with each new generation.
Focuses on whether ethical standards persist over time in shifting cultural contexts.

Normative Ethics

Examines ethical action and the questions regarding how one should act morally.
Distinct from meta-ethics, which explores the meaning of moral language and metaphysical aspects of moral facts.
Differentiated from descriptive ethics by its prescriptive nature, focusing on standards for rightness and wrongness of actions.
Descriptive ethics measures belief proportions (e.g., the belief that killing is wrong); normative ethics analyzes the correctness of that belief.
Sometimes referred to as prescriptive ethics due to its focus on moral guidelines.

Applied Ethics

Philosophical evaluation of specific moral issues in private and public life.
Utilizes philosophical methods to determine the morally correct course of action.
Bioethics addresses issues like euthanasia, allocation of health resources, and use of embryos in research.
Environmental ethics explores duties of individuals, such as whistleblowers, balancing public interest against loyalty to employers.
Represents a well-compensated and respected area within professional philosophy, valued in academia and beyond.

Description

Explore the concept of descriptive ethics through these flashcards. This quiz delves into empirical research surrounding the beliefs and values of individuals and groups regarding morality. Understand how descriptive ethics influences perceptions of right, wrong, and virtuous characteristics.