1. INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS

Question 1

1. What kind of discipline is Ethics?

Answer 1

• a philosophical one

Question 2

2. Name 3 important philosophers?

Answer 2

1. Plato
2. Aristotle
3. Socrates

Question 3

3. What is Ethics about?

Answer 3

• it is about human conduct
• it is a code/science of what is wrong and what is right
• it highlights what is considered the right behaviour in a
  situation

Question 4

4. What is the word “Ethics” derived from?

Answer 4

• it is derived from the Greek word “Ethos”
• this is said as “Ethicus” in Latin

Question 5

5. What does “Ethos” mean?

Answer 5

• this is the manner, customs and ways of a specific
  practice
• it is a way of acting

Question 6

6. What does Ethics focus on when it comes to Human behaviour?

Answer 6

• it focuses on doing what is good or right
• defending what is good or right
• recommending what is good or right

Question 7

7. Who coined the term “Ethics”?

Answer 7

• Aristotle
• he used it to denote his treatise on human life
• these treatise allowed him to explain how to reach
  happiness through living a virtuous life
• ethics began in theory for him

Question 8

8. What is a virtuous life?

Answer 8

• it is a moral life
• it is made up of good conduct

Question 9

9. What is the objective (aim) of ethics?

Answer 9

• to be good
• to act well in your profession

Question 10

10. What is required to be a good and virtuous doctor?

Answer 10

• medical knowledge
• moral code

Question 11

11. What does it mean when we say that Medicine is a moral community?

Answer 11

• the members of this community are bound together by
  a common moral purpose
• its members work towards what is considered the
  “medical good”

Question 12

12. What are the 3 broad categories of Ethics?

Answer 12

1. Philosophical and Applied Ethics
2. Normative and Descriptive Ethics
3. Medical Ethics and Bioethics

Question 13

13. What is a simple definition for Ethics?

Answer 13

• it is a philosophical discipline
• it is concerned with human behaviour and how to act
  well
• this can be applied to any endeavour

Question 14

14. What is Morality?

Answer 14

• this is the value dimension of human behaviour
• the understanding that there is a good and bad duality
  to each person

Question 15

15. What does Morality involve?

Answer 15

• it involves adhering to a specific belief system
• it involves adhering to a code of conduct or a specific
  belief system

Question 16

16. What is the difference between Ethics and Morality?

Answer 16

MORALITY:
- this is a matter of doing

ETHICS:
- this is a matter of knowing
- it is concerned with how a person should behave
- this behaviour should be morally correct or good
- this behaviour is based on values and reasoning
- this behaviour refers to the rules that form moral
codes about what is right and what is wrong

Question 17

17. What is meant by Normative ethics?

Answer 17

• these are ethical claims about how the world should be
• EG: how Greenhouse gas emissions should be
  minimised

Question 18

18. What are 2 other terms for Normative Ethics?

Answer 18

• Prescriptive Ethics
• Evaluative Ethics

Question 19

19. What is meant by Descriptive Ethics?

Answer 19

• these are ethical claims about the world
• EG: Greenhouse has emissions contribute to global
  climate change

Question 20

20. What is another term for Descriptive Ethics?

Answer 20

• Empirical Ethics

Question 21

21. What is meant by Medical Ethics?

Answer 21

• this is the area of ethics concerned with the practice of
  clinical medicine and scientific research

Question 22

22. What is another name for Medical Ethics?

Answer 22

• Healthcare ethics

Question 23

23. What are three characteristics of Medical Ethics?

Answer 23

1: It has a flexible set of solutions
(facts, logic and syllogism)

2: This kind of ethics is often seen as a proscriptive activity.
: it tells you what you can and cannot do3: This kind of ethics can be freeing in many cases
: it affirms that you are doing the right thing

NB:
- Syllogism = when a middle ground is reached in
between two premises

Question 24

24. What is meant by Bio-Ethics?

Answer 24

• it is concerned with ethical issues of Biomedical
  Scientific Technologies
• it is concerned with the future of human life

Question 25

25. Provide a definition for Bio-Ethics.

Answer 25

- a branch of applied ethics - it studies the philosophical, social and legal issues that arise in medicine and life studies

Question 26

26. Name 4 modern issues of Bio-Ethics.

Answer 26

1. Designer Babies 2. DNA Banks 3. Genetic Modification and Agricultural Activity 4. Human Genome and Associated Challenges

Question 27

27. Ethical reason is an integral part of Modern Medicine, just like Clinical Reasoning is. Why?

Answer 27

- it helps with the ability to reflect on moral issues - these issues can be abstract, in historical narratives and within particular traditions - it helps to identify, assess and develop ethical arguments - these arguments can be from a variety of ethical positions

Question 28

28. What is an Ethical Argument?

Answer 28

- this is an assertion - it is based on solid and coherent premises - it can also be based on ethical theories

Question 29

29. What is necessary for the ethical aspects of decision making when we deal with Clinical Practice?

Answer 29

- the decisions and the ethics surrounding them need to be explicit - the reasons for the decision have to be expressed

Question 30

30. What are the 3 categories present when it comes to developing an ethical argument?

Answer 30

1. DUTY AND RIGHTS - taking the right action 2. CHARACTER AND RELATIONSHIPS - being a good person - having good intentions 3. CONSEQUENCES - predicting the best possible future outcomes