Ethical Approaches Flashcards
(15 cards)
it assumes that only matter exists and man is responsible only to the State since there is no God who rules the universe.
Atheistic
Tenets of Atheism
- Matter is the only reality
- Man is matter and does not have spiritual soul
- Man is free and must exercise his freedom to promote the welfare of the society
- There is no life after death
- Man is accountable only to the State
it assumes that God is the supreme lawgiver. Everything must conform to God’s eternal plan of creation. Man must exercise his freedom in accordance with God’s will.
Theistic
Tenets of Theism
1.God is the supreme creator and lawgiver
2. Man is free and must use his freedom to promote personal interest along with that of others
3. Man has an immortal soul
4. Man is accountable for his actions, both good and evil.
a person who has the obligation to listen to the “dictates of reason”.
Professional
means that the person performing the act is liable for such act. It involves the notion of guilt or innocence.
Imputability of a human act
comes from the Latin word “voluntas”, referring to the will. It is essential to an act, without it, an act is a mere act of man.
Voluntariness
(Classifications of voluntariness) it is present in a person who is forced by circumstances beyond his control to perform an act which he would not do under normal conditions. Eg. a child who is intimidated by his mother to study the lesson is acting with conditional voluntariness.
Conditional
(Classifications of voluntariness) it is present in a person who acts without fully realizing the act. Eg. a woman in terror, might jump out of a window without fully intending to kill herself.
Imperfect
(Classifications of voluntariness) it is present in a person who fully knows and fully intends the act. Eg. a man who, wanting to get even, takes a gun and shoot his enemy.
Perfect
(Classifications of voluntariness) it is present in a person doing an act wilfully, regardless of whether he likes to do it or not.
Simple
(Types of voluntariness) it accompanies an act which is primarily intended by the doer, either as an end in itself or as means to achieve something else. Eg. going to school, inviting a friend to a movie, reading a book, or writing a note.
Direct
(Types of voluntariness) it accompanies an act or situation which is the mere result of a directly willed act. Eg. getting a failing grade is indirectly voluntary on the part of the student who has willingly neglected to study.
Indirect
A human act which two effects may result, one good and one evil, is morally permissible under four conditions. If any of these conditions is violated, then the action is not justifiable and should not be done.
Principle of Double Effect
where the direct intention is the saving of the mother’s life with the accidental result of aborting the fetus.
therapeutic abortion
