Chapter 3 -- Normative Ethics

Question 1

ethics

Answer 1

the systematic reflection on morality

Question 2

morality

Answer 2

the totality of opinions, decisions, and actions with which people express, individually or collectively, what they think is good or right

Question 3

descriptive ethics

Answer 3

the branch of ethics that describes existing morality, including customs and habits, opinions about good and evil, responsible and irresponsible behavior, and acceptable and unacceptable action

Question 4

normative ethics

Answer 4

branch of ethics that judges morality and tries to formulate normative recommendations about how to act or live

Question 5

descriptive judgement

Answer 5

judgement that describes what is actually the case (the present), what was the case (the past), or what will be the case (future)

Question 6

normative judgement

Answer 6

judgement about whether something is good or bad, desirable or undesirable, right or wrong

Question 7

values

Answer 7

Lasting convictions or matters that people feel should be strived for in general and not just for themselves to be able to lead a good life or to realize a just society
Intrinsic value – value in and of itself

Question 8

instrumental value

Answer 8

something that is valuable in as far as it is a means to, or contributes to something else that is intrinsically good or valuable

Question 9

norms

Answer 9

rules that prescribe what actions are required, permitted, or forbidden

Question 10

characteristics of virtues

Answer 10

Desired characteristics and they express a value that is worth striving for; Expressed in action; Lasting and permanent – form a lasting structural foundation for action; Always present but only used when necessary; Can be influenced by the individual

Question 11

normative relativism

Answer 11

ethical theory that argues that all moral points of view – all values, norms, and virtues – are equally valid

Question 12

universalism

Answer 12

ethical theory that states that there is a system of norms and values that is universally applicable to everyone, independent of time, place or culture

Question 13

absolutism

Answer 13

a rigid form of universalism in which no exceptions to rules are possible

Question 14

problems with absolutism

Answer 14

Cannot work with the notion that a universal norm prescribes the best action in all situations; Gives no answers for conflicting norms; Offers no room for an independent moral judgement since it often stems from dogmatism

Question 15

consequentialism

Answer 15

class of ethical theories which hold that the consequences of actions are central to the moral judgement of those actions

Question 16

utilitarianism

Answer 16

Actions are judged by the amount of pleasure and pain they bring about; Action that brings the greatest happiness for the greatest number should be chosen

Question 17

hedonism

Answer 17

idea that pleasure is the only thing that is good in itself and to which all other things are instrumental

Question 18

utility principle

Answer 18

principle that one should choose those actions that result in the greatest happiness for the greatest number

Question 19

moral balance sheet

Answer 19

balance sheet in which the costs and benefits for each possible action are weighed against each other

Question 20

freedom principle

Answer 20

moral principle that everyone is free to strive for his/her own pleasure as long as they do not deny or hinder the pleasure of others

Question 21

no harm principle

Answer 21

one is free to do what one wishes as long as no harm is done to others

Question 22

criticisms of utilitarianism

Answer 22

Happiness cannot be measured objectively; Can lead to exploitation; Distributive justice – refers to the value of having a just distribution of certain important goods like income, happiness and career; Ignores personal relationships between people; Certain actions are morally acceptable even though they do not create pleasure and some actions that maximize pleasure are morally unacceptable

Question 23

act utilitarianism

Answer 23

traditional approach to utilitarianism in which the rightness of actions is judged by the (expected) consequences of those actions

Question 24

rule utalitarianism

Answer 24

variation of utilitarianism that judges actions by judging the consequences of the rules on which these actions are based

Question 25

duty ethics

Answer 25

(deontological ethics) class of approaches in ethics in which an action is considered morally right if it is in agreement with a certain moral rule

Question 26

good will

Answer 26

we can speak of good will if our actions are led by the categorical imperative; only thing that is unconditionally good

Question 27

hypothetical norm

Answer 27

condition norm which only applies under certain circumstances, usually of the form “if you want X do Y”

Question 28

categorical imperative

Answer 28

universal principle of the form “Do A” which is the foundation of all moral judgments in Kant’s view

Question 29

universality principle

Answer 29

first formulation of the categorical imperative: act only on that maxim which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law

Question 30

equality postulate

Answer 30

prescription to treat persons as equals, with equal concern and respect

Question 31

reciprocity principle

Answer 31

second formulation of the categorical imperative: act as to treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of any other, in every case as an end, never as means only

Question 32

criticisms of duty ethics

Answer 32

Often there are several contradictory norms; No such thing as bending a rule; Prima facie norms – applicable norms, unless they are overruled by other more important norms that become evident when we take everything into consideration

Question 33

moral autonomy

Answer 33

view that a person should be able to determine what is morally right through reasoning

Question 34

virtue ethics

Answer 34

ethical theory that focuses on the nature of the acting person; Indicates which good or desirable characteristics people should have or develop to be moral

Question 35

practical wisdom

Answer 35

intellectual virtue that enables one to make the right choice for action

Question 36

care ethics

Answer 36

ethical theory that emphasizes the importance of relationships, and which holds that the development of morals does not come about by learning general moral principles