Chapter 7 Flashcards
(36 cards)
Moral Philosophy
The specific principles or values people use to decide what is right and wrong
Economic Freedom
A concept based on selfownership, the right to choose, voluntary excahnge, open markets, and clearly defined and enofreced property rights
Economic value orientation
Assoicated with values quantified by monetary means; according to this theory, if an act produces more economic value for its effort, then it should be accpeted as ethical
Idealism
A moral philosophy that places special value on ideas and ideals as products of the mind
Realism
The view that an external world exists independent of our perceptions
Monists
Believe only one thing is intrinsically good
Hedonism
The idea that pleasure is the ultimate good, or the best moral end involves the greates balance of pleasure over pain
Quantitative Hedonists
Those who believe more pleasure is better
Qualitative hedonists
Those who believe it is possible to get too much of a good thing
Pluralists
Often referred to as nonhedonists, take the opposite position that no one thing is intrinsically good
Instrumentalists
reject the ideas that (1) ends can be separated from the means
that produce them and (2) ends, purposes, or outcomes are intrinsically good in and of
themselves
Customers for drug companies
Goodness theories
typically focus on the end result of actions and the goodness or happiness created by them.
Obligation theories
emphasize the means and motives by which actions are
justified and are divided into the categories of teleology and deontology
Teleology
refers to moral philosophies in which an act is considered morally right or acceptable if it produces some desired result, such as
pleasure, knowledge, career growth, the realization of self-interest, utility, wealth, or even fame
Consequentialism
Teleological philosophies that assess the moral worth of a behavior by looking at its consequences
Egoism
defines right or acceptable behavior in terms of its consequences for the individual.
Enlightened egoism
a long-range perspective and allow for the well-being of others although their own self-interest remains paramount.
Utilitarianism
Seeks the greatest good for the greatest number of people
Rule utilitarians
Argue that general rules should be followed to decide which action is best
Act utilitarians
The rightness of each indiviudal action must be evaluated to determine whether it produces the greatest utility for the greatest number of people
Denotology
focus on the rights of individuals and the intentions assoicated with a particular behavior rather than its consequences
nonconsequentialism
Regard for certain behaviors as inherently right, and the determination of this rightness focuses on the individual actor, not on society
Categorical imperative
if you feel comfortable allowing everyone in the world to see you commit an act and if your rationale for acting in a particular manner is suitable to become a universal principle guiding behavior, then committing that act is ethical.
Rule deontologists
Conformity to general moral principles based on logic determines ethicalness