Ethics Reviewer PDF

ETHICS REVIEWER(੭˃ᴗ˂)੭ I simplified the descriptions/meanings so it’s Code of Ethics easier to understand and digest. Some contents is a set of ethical guidelines that is of the readings are already included here! universally recognized. WHAT IS ETHICS?...

ETHICS REVIEWER(੭˃ᴗ˂)੭ I simplified the descriptions/meanings so it’s Code of Ethics easier to understand and digest. Some contents is a set of ethical guidelines that is of the readings are already included here! universally recognized. WHAT IS ETHICS? ANALYSIS OF HUMAN ACTION Humans are said to be evaluative in nature. > Taken from the Greek word ‘Ethos’ which means customs, usage, The Intellectual Element characteristics Knowledge is a key trait that sets humans apart from other beings. > A branch of philosophy that looks at human actions to see if they have a basis While we may not achieve absolute truth, we that supports their moral values. can grasp some truths, and not all truths are relative, as established by epistemology. > Ethics investigates or studies morality. thus, the term ethics is The Volitive Element expressed in various ways of understanding Another key trait that distinguishes humans and examining the moral life of the person from animals is free will. as it is cited by Beauchamp and Childress (1994). Ignorance This significantly impacts how people think > Ethics is not just any action of man. about their actions. It refers to a person's insufficient understanding of the moral ETHICS VS. MORALITY nature of the actions they are doing or planning to do. Ethics > depend on how others see things Passion > are followed because the society has It drives people to seek good or avoid evil. decided that it is the right course of action The more intense the passion, the harder it is to think clearly and make balanced Morality decisions. can be based on standards from a specific philosophy, religion, or culture, or it can Habit come from an individual's personal beliefs. Is a behavior developed through repeated practice. It can be voluntary, done with a > When it comes to acceptability of Morality person's consent, or involuntary, learned it transcends the norms laid down by culture. without intention. > Morality is seen from the perspective of an individual. Fear > is followed because a person believes that is the mind's reaction to a potential danger it is the right course of action. that seems hard or impossible to escape. It can be strong or mild, depending on ACTS OF HUMAN VS. HUMAN ACTS whether the threat is serious and difficult to avoid or something minor that is easy to Acts of Human escape. > Happens naturally in the body Ex. Breathing, hearing, perspiration Determinism > Do not require decision-making actions A theory that all human actions are > Neither right or wrong. influenced entirely by prior events, rather > Considered as: than by free will. 1. Amoral or Indifferent Actions > In philosophy, the theory is based on the Human Acts metaphysical principle that an uncaused > EITHER right or wrong event is rather impossible. > Uses conscience > REQUIRE a person to make a choice Physical determinism Ex. Returning a lost item, telling the truth stating that human interaction can be > Can be classified reduced to relationships between biological, 1. Good Action chemical, or physical entities 2. Bad Action Theological determinism NORMATIVE ETHICS (evaluative) Is the theory that an all-powerful and all- Guides human conduct or action knowing God determines everything > Principles, rules, standards humans do, either by knowing their actions > yields an Applied Ethics beforehand or by decreeing them. The normative approach includes general normative ethics and applied ethics. Psychological determinism posits that we all possess certain mental General normative ethics focuses on qualities which govern our life. formulating and defending basic moral principles and virtues, emphasizing ethical Biological determinism theories like natural law, utilitarianism, is the idea that all behaviour, belief, and deontology, and virtue ethics. desire are fixed by our genetic endowment. NON-NORMATIVE ETHICS (non- Indeterminism evaluative) A theory that emphasizes that people have Describes certain actions, practices, and free will and the ability to make their own events. choices all the while recognizing the impact of behavior patterns and external factors Expresses what the action is and the way an action was done. THE ETHICAL DIMENSION OF HUMAN EXISTENCE Presents two considerations: Ethics as a subject for us to study is Descriptive Ethics about determining the grounds for It describes and explains a person's moral the values with particular and special behavior and beliefs, such as Lawrence significance to HUMAN LIFE. Kohlberg's stages of moral development. Our first point of clarification is to recognize Metaethics or analytic ethics that there are instances when we make value It explores the question of "what is" and judgements that are not considered to be analyzes the logic and structure of moral part of ethics. reasoning. Aesthetic Valuations SOURCES OF AUTHORITY aesthetic considerations and etiquette are important in human life, but they don't External Authority always reflect true ethical or moral value. Origin: Derived from societal norms, legal systems, religious doctrines, or cultural Yet in some cultures, what a woman wears traditions. (or does not wear) may bring upon harsh Influence: Guides behavior through external punishment to her according to the rules, regulations, or expectations, often community’s rule driven by fear of punishment or societal approval. Technical Valuations the English terms "technique" and 1. Law (state) "technical" from the Greek word "techne," Refers to a system of rules, regulations, and commonly employed to denote the correct principles established by a governing or proper method of performing tasks. authority (such as a government) to regulate However, a technical assessment of right or the behavior of individuals and groups wrong methods doesn't always match ethical within a society considerations. NOT ALL LEGAL IS MORAL, AND Moral Valuations NOT ALL MORAL IS LEGAL Involve evaluations related to human actions that significantly impact well-being 2. Religion (faith) and life Multiplicity of religion Thus, topics like war, capital punishment, abortion, and issues affecting well-being, Polygamy is considered morally acceptable in such as poverty, inequality, and sexual Islam but is deemed immoral in Christianity. Eating dinuguan is considered immoral by identity, are often part of ethical certain religions but not by Catholics. discussions. 3. Culture 1. Subjectivism Cultural Relativism (aesthetic differences, The starting point is the recognition that the religious differences, etiquette differences) individual thinking person is at the heart of “we are in no position to judge whether the all moral valuations ethical thought or practice of another culture is acceptable or unacceptable” “The individual is the sole determinant of what is morally good or bad, right or wrong.” “Ethics? It is simple. Just follow whatever your cultures says” 2. Psychological Egoism James Rachels (1941-2003) Human beings are naturally self-centered, Defines cultural relativism as the position so all our actions are always already that claims that there is no such thing as motivated by self-interest. objective truth in the realm of morality. All people are selfish in everything they do. Since different cultures have different moral codes, then there is no one correct moral code that all cultures must follow. 3. Ethical Egoism An act is right for a person to perform if and He believes that moral progress is possible only if that act is in the person’s best interest. and that societies can improve their moral standards overtime. We should make our own ends, our own interest, as the single overriding concern. Accepting moral beliefs without questioning them can hinder this progress. We may act in a way that is beneficial to others, but we should do that only if it ultimately He posits three ABSURD benefits us. CONSEQUENCES of accepting the claim of cultural relativism. LAWRENCE KOHLBERG STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT First, if cultural relativism was correct, then one cannot criticize the practices or beliefs Pre-conventional Level of another culture anymore as long as that culture thinks that what it is doing is correct. Stage 1: Punishment & Obedience Based on avoiding punishment Secondly, if cultural relativism was correct, then one cannot even criticize the practices Stage 2: Individual & Instrumental or beliefs of one’s own culture. Exchange Morality involves pursuing one's own Thirdly, if cultural relativism was correct, interests while respecting others' interests. then one cannot even accept that moral progress can happen. A moral perspective characterized by the principle of "an eye for an eye, and a tooth CULTURAL RELATIVISM CRITIQUE for a tooth" is based on a retaliatory or retributive approach to justice. Rachels argued against cultural relativism. He believed that this view could lead to Gandhi and Jesus Christ transcended stage moral stagnation because it discourages 2 rather than being confined to it. questioning and moral progress. If individuals unquestioningly accept their Conventional Level cultural moral beliefs, they may fail to recognize and correct morally problematic Stage 3: Mutual & Interpersonal aspects of their culture. Conformity Morality is defined by social approval, Internal Authority maintaining relationships, and conforming Origin: Stems from an individual's values, to societal expectations. conscience, and sense of morality. Influence: Guides behavior based on Stage 4: Law & Order personal convictions, moral values, and Morality is about following laws and ethical beliefs, driven by an internal moral upholding social order. compass. In Kohlberg’s reasoning, people who merely 2. Determine the ethical issue follow the rules and regulations of their The ethical issues are stated in terms of institution, the laws of their community or competing interests or goods. It’s these state, the doctrine of their religion—even if conflicting interests that actually make for they seem to be the truly right thing to do— an ethical dilemma. are trapped in this second or conventional > “versus” level, which is still not yet the highest. 3. What ethical principles have a Post-Conventional Level bearing on the case In any ethical dilemma, key moral values or Stage 5: Social Contract & Individual principles are at the heart of the conflicting Rights positions. Morality transcends individual perspectives It’s important to identify these principles and considers societal agreements and and decide which ones carry more weight, individual rights. with biblical principles often being the most significant. Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles Morality is guided by universal ethical 4. List the alternatives principles, even if they conflict with societal Part of the creative thinking involved in laws or rules. resolving an ethical dilemma involves coming up with various alternative courses Moral maturity of action. is when a person acts according to what they > you may come up with some very understand to be right, using their full creative alternative that you had not reasoning, regardless of whether the action considered before. brings pleasure or pain, or whether it follows community laws. 5. Compare the alternatives with the principles ISSUE, DECISION, JUDGEMENT, Eliminating alternatives according to the DILEMMA moral principles that have a bearing on the case. Moral Issue The term "issue" often refers to specific 6. Weigh the consequences situations that spark significant and ongoing If the principles do not yield a clear decision, debate, such as capital punishment and then a consideration of the consequences of euthanasia. the remaining available alternatives is in order. Moral Decisions When one is placed in a situation and 7. Make a decision confronted by the choice of what act to Deliberations cannot go on forever. At perform. some point, a decision must be made. Moral Judgement 3 STEPS IN ETHICAL DECISION When a person is an observer who makes an MAKING (format) assessment on the actions or behavior of someone. 1. Moral Problem 2. Moral Analysis Moral Dilemma 3. Moral Decision When a person must choose between two good or bad options, often selecting the I’m not sure if these are included but I found lesser of two evils. For example, a mother them in the readings so I thought of might struggle with the decision to steal including them here just in case! It’s up to food to feed her hungry child, knowing that you if you’ll read it ehe (ᵕ—ᴗ—) stealing is wrong. NORMATIVE ETHICS ETHICAL DECISION MAKING Axiology: the study of goodness and badness. 1. Gather the facts Frequently ethical dilemmas can be resolved Hedonism: the theory that pleasure and the simply by clarifying the facts of the case in absence of pain are the only things that are question. good in and of themselves Desire satisfactionism: the theory that the satisfaction of someone’s desire is the only sort of thing that is good in and of itself Non-naturalism: the theory that being good is a simple property that is irreducible or indefinable in terms of anything else Egoism: the theory that an action is right if an only if it has the best consequences for the person doing it Utilitarianism: the theory that an action is right if and only if its consequences are optimal Kantian deontology: the theory that an action is right if and only if the person performing the act could consistently will that the act become a universal law. Virtue theory: the study of what makes a person’s character morally praiseworthy METAETHICS cognitivism: the view that moral judgments are capable of being true or false non-cognitivism: the view that moral judgments are not capable of being true or false Yay congradjulashens you made it this far! I tried my best to not make this too long and too draining to look at. I didn’t include ALL of the readings since some r very repetitive. I tried my best to include everything here ok bye good luck REST AND STAY HYDRATED !!!! (๑ ̀ᗝ ́)૭