Ethics test Flashcards
(20 cards)
What is the difference between ethics and morality?
Ethics is the branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles, the study or morals or norms that distinguish right and wrong.
Morals is a person’s or a group’s internalized principles of right and wrong, guiding their beliefs and actions.
What is euthanasia and what is the difference between voluntary active euthanasia and its opposite?
Voluntary euthanasia is a purposeful act performed to cause death (i.e. lethal injections) requested by a competent individual.
The opposite would be any other act while the affected individual is either not competent or it was not requested, in that case it’ll be deemed an illegal act.
What is the difference between ethical relativism and ethical absolutism?
Ethical relativism is actually morally right and wrong differs from one society to another
Ethical absolutism is one morality that applies to everyone, everywhere and always, although not everyone follows it or believes in it
What is the difference between moral relativism and moral absolutism?
Moral relativism is a theory the acknowledges that morals themselves differ amongst cultures
Moral Absolutism is a theory that actions are right or wrongs, regardless of context or consequence
Is compassionate homicide a crime in Canada?
If it is done without the consent of the victim, then it is deemed an illegal crime
What is an act or omission versus and act of commission?
Act of Omission is to not do something
Act of Commission is to do something
What is the difference between vincible ignorance and invincible ignorance?
Vincible ignorance is a lack of knowledge that leads to could knowing better
Invincible ignorance is a lack of knowledge that leads to NOT knowing any better
What is the difference between theology and philosophy?
Theology examines God and religious doctrines, often relying one revelation and faith
Philosophy uses reason and logic to explore questions and existence, knowledge, values and reality
What distinguishes an informed conscience and a misinformed conscience?
An informed conscience is one that is educated and developed through learning and applying moral principles and teachings
Misinformed conscience is one that is based one inaccurate or incomplete info, leading to a faulty moral judgements
List the 3 things a person with a well formed conscience must have
- Capacity
- Prescence of mind that is not impaired
- virtue and wisdom
Who was Plato and what did he wonder about?
He was one of the greatest philosophers to ever live and had questioned through and perception (psychology), created the myth of the cave.
Describe one of the consequentialists theories
Utilitarianism is a theory that states the morally right action is the one that produces the greatest overall good for the greatest number of people
Explain one of the non-consequentialist theories
Divine Command Theory: say we should always do the will of God
What is Plato’s myth of the cave and what does it teach us?
The myth of the cave uses the metaphor of prisoners in a cave to illustrate the journey from ignorance to knowledge. The prisoners who have never seen anything but the shadows on the wall mistake those shadows for reality while the one who is freed realizes that the shadows are just imperfect representations of reality, fearing his limited knowledge.
Who is Aristotle and what did he believe?
A Greek philosopher who studied in Plato’s Academy that questioned nature and science.
Who was Immanuel Kant and what are the three parts of the Categorical imperative?
A German philosopher who was considered the greatest philosopher to live and write since the ancient times of Plato and Aristotle. He made contributions to cosmology, metaphysics, theory of knowledge etc. He made greatly influential books on the problems of morality.
Categorical imperative:
- the universal law
- the humanity as an end
- universal laws of nature
Who was Emmanuel Levinas and what did he teach?
He was a Jewish philosopher who questioned the philosophical idea that we are all the same. He is particularly known for his contributions to ethics and phenomenology and his focus on the relationship between between the shelf and the other.
What is the current law in Canada around MAID? (who is eligible and who can provide it?)
Currently legal under certain conditions.
Who can provide:
- Physicians
- Nurse practitioners
Who is eligible:
- A Canadian resident
- 18+
- mentally competent
- with a irremediable medical condition
- acting without pressure or influence
- Gives informed consent based on the following: medical diagnosis, treatment choices, options to relieve suffering
What does the slipper slope mean?
The idea that an initial action or decision can lead to a chain or increasingly negative consequences, ultimately resulting in an undesirable outcome (an ethical dilemma)
What are the Catholic Church’s teaching on euthanasia/assisted suicide?
The Catholic Church is currently against it.
