Philosophy of ethics and morality Flashcards
(19 cards)
Argumentation
Ability to put forward your thoughts when debating
Worldviews
Lens in which you see the world
Philosophy
Studies knowledge, wisdom using logic and argumentation. Philosophy challenges peoples worldviews to consider arguments from a different perspective rather than merely accepting personal bias. Philosophy can relate to a range of subjects: religion, history, politics, science and ethics
Ethics
The study of our actions and what is right or wrong. It’s concerned with who we are as people and our character
Morality
Examines our behaviour to determine what values we should have and therefore the actions that should or should not be carried out
Hedonists
Pleasure seekers
Moral
A moral action is typically viewed as good if it has a positive outcome for others e.g. when we give to charity money can be used to improve the circumstances of others
Immoral
An action can be viewed as immoral if it produces a negative outcome for others e.g. stealing someone else’s money. Additionally actions may be viewed as immoral if they go against the values of a persons community e.g. a Christian performing an action that is contrary to the church community/sacred text
Amoral
Some actions may be considered as neither immoral or moral. It could be considered a choice that a person is free to make without any moral significance e.g. whether you purchase a galaxy chocolate over a dairy milk as your chocolate treat
Morality designed by God
Religious believers don’t believe that moral decisions are decided because of the consequences of action, but because the action itself is right or wrong as decided by God. A key term religious believers use to describe this is the word ‘absolutism’
Absolutism
This means that there is a fixed standard of right and wrong that people across the world should follow e.g. it’s always wrong to murder, of course by consequence, a religious person could argue – as another person’s life is taken this is why God commanded that people shouldn’t murder
Absolute
Must be followed no exceptions, intact, must be finished can’t add/detract from it e.g. the 10 Commandments
Circumstances where it could be considered moral to lie
Lying to not offend, lying as a distraction to save someone, lying to protect yourself
What do religious believers believe about lying
Religious believers believe the action of lying itself is morally wrong and that the consequences of the action are irrelevant
One reason that religious believers could argue God is the provider of morality
Because as the creator of the world he has the authority to make such decisions. Otherwise who gets to decide what’s right or wrong? If one person thinks one action is morally acceptable but another thinks differently, it becomes difficult to decide who is right! Is morality subjective?
What might religious believers argue about morality as designed
Religious believers might argue that humans are designed by God and he knows the way that is best for us to live. Bible verses that make such beliefs explicit. In John 10 verse 10 Jesus states “I came so that you would live life abundantly “
What is the sanctity of life
The same to live life is Christian terminology, It comes from the word Sanctus (Latin), To sanctify life means to make it holy, precious, sacred.
Where does the process of sanctification begin
The process of sanctification begins at conception and it’s complete upon death because for Christians human life to be sanctified (made holy) they reject abortion – they use Genesis LV 27 to support this “man is made in the image of God “finally Christians say human life (in the womb) is sacrosanct holy, perfect, don’t tamper with it
Pro-choice abortion
Those who reject the pro-life/sanctity of life principle are always pro-abortion . Not all pro-choice supporters are always pro-abortion, the pregnant woman’s life trumps the unborn, the pregnant woman has options safe, wise advice, so she feels informed
