Key Terms Used in Ethics PDF - Definitions & Concepts

KEY TERMS USED IN ETHICS  Absolutism As a political theory, absolutism is typically a synonym for despotism. As an ethical theory, it can be contrasted with relativism. An absolutist would assert that there is one correct approach to the moral life, across persons and cultures. ...

KEY TERMS USED IN ETHICS  Absolutism As a political theory, absolutism is typically a synonym for despotism. As an ethical theory, it can be contrasted with relativism. An absolutist would assert that there is one correct approach to the moral life, across persons and cultures.  attitude the way we think and feel about someone or something. A feeling or way of thinking that affects a person’s behavior. A feeling or emotion toward a  Altruism Regard for others. As a theory of action, this can be descriptive (i.e., that people do, at least sometimes, appear to act in other than self-regarding ways). Or it can be a normative position about how people ought to behave (viz., at least sometimes, people should act in non-self-regarding ways). Contrast with egoism.  AUTONOMY The principle of respect for persons, and of individual self- determination consistent with that principle. the direction of personal liberty of action in accordance with a  BELIEFS what you personally feel is true. A state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing. BENEVOLENCE Disposition to do good An act of kindness A generous gift Synonymous to giving BENEFICENCE The quality or state of being a good Samaritan. Synonymous to alms, contribution and philantrophy.  CARING Effort made to do something correctly, safely, or without causing damage. A disquieted state of mixed uncertainty and responsibility.  CITIZENSHIP The qualities that a person is expected to have a responsible member of a community. The status of being a citizen. Synonymous to nationalistic.  CHARACTER The way someone thinks, feels, and behaves; Someone’s personality Set of qualities that make a person, place, or things different from others. CODE OF ETHICS document stating an individual's or group's beliefs, standards, and ethical expectations.  CONDUCT The way that a person behaves in a particular place or situation. A mode of standard of personal behavior especially as based on moral principles.  Confidentiality The principle that one should keep one's promises about information (re)disclosure. A subset of duties consequentialism the theory that the value and especially the moral value of an act should be judged by the values of its  CULTURE the customary beliefs, habits, and traits of a racial, religious, or social group often depending on one's country and language. A way of thinking, behaving or working that exist in a place or organization.  DEONTOLOGY The theory of moral obligation. Generally, a normative stance that views what should be done as determined by fundamental principles that do not derive solely or even primarily from consequences. An act or rule is right insofar as it satisfies the demands of some over-riding (non-consequentialist) principle of moral duty.  DIGNITY A way of appearing or behaving that suggest seriousness and self-control. The quality of being worthy of honor or respect.  DILEMMAS A particular situation in which a person make a difficult choice. A usually undesirable or unpleasant choice. A problem involving a difficult choice.  DISCIPLINE Behavior that is judged by how well it follows a set of rules or orders. Doing the right thing at the right time, at the right place without anyone watching.  DISPOSITION The usual attitude or mood of a person. A tendency to act or think in a particular way. The tendency of something to act in a certain manner under given circumstances.  Duty Action, or an act, that is due by moral or legal obligation. Rights, grounded in core ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence/nonmaleficence and justice, create duties -- either of non-interference provision of social goods (positive rights). Duty need not be grounded only in the strong language of rights.  EMPATHY An act of putting oneself to the shoes of others. Showing compassion and concerned for others. Synonymous to caring.  EGOISM A doctrine that individual self-interest is the actual motive of all conscious action. Excessive concern for oneself with or without exaggerated feelings of self- importance.  ETHICS Rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad. A belief that something is very important. Set of moral principles; theory or system of moral values. EUDAEMONISM A theory that the highest ethical goal is happiness and personal well- being. Having a good attendant spirit. the highest aim of moral thought and conduct.  FAIRNESS Treating people in a way that does not favor some over others. Not too harsh or critical. Agreeing with what is thought to be right or acceptable.  FIDELITY The principle that one should keep one's promises. The quality of being faithful to your partner. Synonymous to loyalty.  HONESTY The quality of being fair and truthful. A fairness and straightforwardness of conduct. Sincerity.  IMMORAL Morally evil; Conflicting with generally or traditional held moral principle. Not morally good or right. Bad person.  INTEGRITY The quality of being honest and fair. The state of being complete or whole. Firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.  JUDGEMENT An opinion or decision that is based on careful thought. A formal utterance of an authoritative opinion. Ability to make good decisions.  JUSTICE Commonly described as fairness, but more closely aligned to the concept of "desert“. One has acted justly toward a person when one gives that person what is due or owed, and therefor what is deserved. Common to all definitions of justice is the minimal principle that relevantly similar cases (persons) be treated alike.  LOYALTY A feeling of strong support for someone or something. Synonymous to fidelity.  KINDNESS The quality of being good to something or someone. Synonymous to courtesy. An act of affection.  MANNERS The way that a person normally behaves especially while with other people. A characteristic or customary mode of acting Social conduct or rules as shown in MALEVOLENCE The quality or state of being mindless; An act of cruelty. Synonymous to hatefulness, malice, meanness, nastiness and MALEFICENCE The act of committing harm or evil. An evil act.  MATURITY Synonymous to adulthood. The quality or state of being full developed. The period of acquiring wisdom.  METAETHICS The study of meanings of ethical terms, the nature of ethical judgements, and the types of ethical arguments.  MORALS beliefs about what is right and wrong or good and bad. Considered right or good by most people; agreeing with a standard of right behavior.  nihilism The belief that traditional morals, ideas, beliefs, etc., have no worth or value. the belief that a society’s political and social institutions are so bad that they should be destroy.  Nonmaleficence Moral principle that one should refrain from harming others ("first, do no harm"). Compare with beneficence.  objectionable Referring to an act, situation or decision that is not good or right and causing people to be offended.  Paternalism Stance that a person’s liberty is justifiably restricted to prevent self-harm, or to promote that person’s own well- being. It is sometimes defended by a theory of future consent: viz., that the person whose liberty is circumscribed will (or, at least in principle, could) eventually agree that the restriction was desirable, given better facts or improved cognitive capacity in future.  politeness Having or showing good manners or respect for other people. Having the characteristics of advanced culture; Marked by refined cultural interests and pursuits. Showing or characterized by correct social usage and protocol. Marked by an appearance of consideration, tact, or courtesy.  REALISM The quality of a person who understand what is real and possible in a particular situation and is able to deal with problems in an effective and practical way. Concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary.  RELATIVISM The belief that different things are true, right, etc., for different people or at different times. A view that ethical truths depends on the individuals and groups holding them.  RESPECT A feeling of admiring someone or something that is good, valuable and important. A expression of high or special regard; esteem. RESPONSIBILITY A duty or task that you are required or expected to do. Something that we should do because it is morally right and legally required. The state of being the person who caused something to happen.  REPUTATION An overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general. The common opinion that people have about someone or something. A recognition by other people of some characteristics or ability a person possesses.  RIGHTS That which is due to individuals, based on core ethical principles. Rights create parallel duties on the part of others, or on society as a whole. Positive rights, are rights of "recipience" (e.g., to education, health care), typically grounded in the principle of justice.  STANDARDS The level of quality, achievement, etc., that is considered acceptable or desirable. Ideas about morally correct or acceptable behavior. Something that is very good and that is used to make judgment about the quality SUBJECTIVISM A theory that limit knowledge to subjective experience. A doctrine that individual feeling or apprehension is the ultimate criterion of the good and the TELEOLOGICAL An ethical theory that focus on the nature of humanity. Exhibiting or relating to design or purpose especially in nature. TRUSTWORTHY Able to be relied on to do or provide what is needed or right. Deserving of trust.  utilitarianism Theory that the principle of utility is -- or ought to be -- applied to particular acts in particular circumstances. A conception of the moral life in terms of means-to-ends reasoning. An act or rule is right insofar as it produces or leads to the maximization of good consequences.  VALUES something of worth or held in esteem. Something intrinsically valuable or desirable. Usefulness or importance.  VERACITY The principle that one should tell the truth. It explain the quote: ("honesty is the best  VIRTUES A good and moral quality; Positive ethical/character traits, such as benevolence, confidential-ness, fairness, faithfulness, gratefulness, non-deceptiveness (truthfulness), nonmalevolence.  WISDOM Knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life. The natural ability to understand things that most people cannot. Knowledge of what is proper or reasonable.