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Flashcards in Topic 2 Deck (14)
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1
Q

What is Ethics?

A

Moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or conducting of an activity.

2
Q

What is ethics considered to be in this subject?

A

In this subject ethics is taken to be about whether or not the means (actions) and ends of our actions are ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.

3
Q

By speaking of ‘means’ we are referring to:

A

The actions a person takes in order to try to achieve a goal.

4
Q

What is Normative Ethics?

A

Normative ethics is about standards of right and wrong, good and bad conduct and character that ought to be accepted by people.

5
Q

What is Positive Ethics?

A

Positive ethics is about what should be not what is.

6
Q

What is Cultural relativism?

A

It is the argument that all ethical values, norms and rules are mere opinions or prejudices ground in a particular time and place.
It is argued that in any given period there are many co-existing communities that each has their own values, norms and beliefs.

7
Q

What is the aim of theories of ethics?

A

They provide us with guides as to what constitutes right and wrong.

8
Q

What are the three things that Theories of Ethics provides?

A
  • Standards or guidelines for determining good and bad or right and wrong.
  • Justifications for using these particular standards.
  • Differentiation between what is and isn’t morally significant.
9
Q

What is Morality?

A

Is following a community or groups ethical values, norms and principles.

10
Q

What makes a decent person?

A

A person who tries to follow moral values, rules and norms and who would rather suffer than cause others to suffer.

11
Q

What is Ethical Egoism?

A

This focuses on the individual and their understanding of what is in their own best interest.

12
Q

What is Utilitarian?

A

People who have a view in utilitarianism base their moral decision on a calculation of what will produce the largest balance of good over bad outcomes for ALL people affected by an action.

13
Q

What is Kantianism?

A

It is the belief that consequences should have no effect on the decision made. E.g. A lie is bad, whether its consequence is for the greater good or not, its still bad.

14
Q

What is Empirical Universalism?

A

They claim that there are some common values that appear to be held right around the world in all communities and which we can then use as a guide. Particularly when interacting with people from other cultures.