Test 1 Flashcards
THE THEORY THAT PEOPLE DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG.
WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU MAY NOT BE RIGHT FOR ME
RELATIVISM IS THE THEORY THAT THERE ARE NO UNIVERSAL MORAL NORMS OF RIGHT AND WRONG.
NOT A WORKABLE ETHICAL THEORY
SUBJECTIVE RELATIVISM
THE THEORY THAT THE MEANING OF “RIGHT” AND “WRONG” RESTS WITH A SOCIETY’S ACTUAL MORAL GUIDELINES, WHICH VARY FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND FROM TIME TO TIME.
NOT A WORKABLE ETHICAL THEORY
CULTURAL RELATIVISM
THE THEORY THAT “RIGHT” ACTIONS ARE THOSE ALIGNED
WITH THE WILL OF GOD AND “WRONG” ACTIONS ARE THOSE CONTRARY TO THE WILL OF GOD
NOT A WORKABLE ETHICAL THEORY
DIVINE COMMAND THEORY
EACH PERSON SHOULD FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON HIS OR HER SELF-INTEREST
RIGHT ACTION IS THE ACTION THAT WILL PROVIDE THAT
PERSON WITH THE MAXIMUM LONG-TERM BENEFIT
BASED ON SELFISH POINT-OF-VIEW
NOT A WORKABLE ETHICAL THEORY
ETHICAL EGOISM
RULE BASED
DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU.
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE: ACT ONLY FROM MORAL LAWS THAT CAN BE UNIVERSAL MORAL LAWS.
IF MULTIPLE RULES, PERFECT DUTIES (ALWAYS DO, NO EXCEPTIONS) ARE SELECTED OVER IMPERFECT DUTIES (SOMETIMES DO).
DON’T TREAT PEOPLE AS A MEANS TO AN END
A WORKABLE ETHICAL THEORY.
KANTIANISM
BASED ON CONSEQUENCES OF ACTION
ACTION IS RIGHT IF ITS NET EFFECT IS TO INCREASE TOTAL HAPPINESS AND IS DETERMINED THROUGH CALCULATIONS
THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN ACTION MATTER MORE THAN THE INTENTIONS OF AN ACTION
A WORKABLE ETHICAL THEORY
ACT UTILITARIANISM
RULE BASED
WE OUGHT TO ADOPT MORAL RULES THAT LEAD TO THE
GREATEST INCREASE IN TOTAL HAPPINESS.
MORAL RULES ARE THE RULES THAT ARE NEEDED TO GAIN THE BENEFITS OF SOCIAL LIVING
ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF “MORAL LUCK”.
A WORKABLE ETHICAL THEORY.
RULE UTILITARIANISM
RULE BASED
RATIONAL PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW THE “RULES” ON THE
CONDITION THAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW THEM TOO.
ASSOCIATED WITH INDIVIDUALS’ RIGHTS AND SOCIETAL
DUTIES. WHEN DECIDING ON A RULE – WAS A PERSON’S
RIGHTS VIOLATED?
WE SHOULD COLLECTIVELY PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS, SUCH AS THE RIGHTS TO LIFE, LIBERTY, PROPERTY, AND PRIVACY.
A WORKABLE ETHICAL
THEORY.
SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY
BASED ON THE PERSON PERFORMING THE ACTION
A RIGHT ACTION IS AN ACTION THAT A VIRTUOUS PERSON, ACTING IN CHARACTER, WOULD DO IN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES
A VIRTUOUS PERSON IS A PERSON WHO POSSESSES AND LIVES OUT THE MORAL VIRTUES. (E.G. HONESTY, BRAVERY)
THE VIRTUES ARE THOSE CHARACTER TRAITS HUMAN
BEINGS NEED IN ORDER TO FLOURISH AND BE TRULY HAPPY.
A GOOD PERSON DOES “THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT
TIME FOR THE RIGHT REASON.”
MORAL WISDOM OR DISCERNMENT TAKES PRECEDENCE
OVER ANY RULE.
VIRTUE ETHICS
List the workable ethical theories
Kantianism, Act Utilitarianism, Rule Utilitarianism, Social Contract Theory, and Virtue Ethics
The difference between workable and non-workable theories?
Workable theories make it possible for a person to present a
persuasive, logical argument to a diverse
audience of skeptical, yet open-minded people
A right obligating others to do something on your behalf. (right of free education)
Positive right
A right that another can guarantee by leaving you alone. (right of free expression)
Negative right
A right guaranteed without
exception. (right to life; also a negative right)
Absolute right
A right that may be restricted based
on the circumstances. (Free education up through 12th
grade, not after)
Limited right
The understanding that other people in your community and their core values are also worthy of respect.
Ethical Point of View
The theory that there are
no universal moral norms of right and
wrong.
Relativism
the attempt to suppress
or regulate public access to material
considered offensive or harmful
Censorship
