Understanding Ethics

Question 1

what is “prima facia binding”

Answer 1

First and most important that bind the rest
- principle is binding until it conflicts with a second one

Question 2

What is an ethical dilemma?

Answer 2

Situation that requires ethical action, but the professional is required to perform two or more mutually exclusive actions
- ethical principles are in conflict
- can be “ethical residue” following action
- might be no satisfactory conclusion, yet choice not to act is an ethical decision

Question 3

What are the philosophical perspectives on ethics?

Answer 3

1. Teleological ethics
2. Deontological ethics
3. Virtue ethics
4. Relational ethics
5. Relative ethics
6. New causistry

Question 4

What is teleological ethics?

Answer 4

• consequentialism, utilitarianism
• analytical and social approach
• good is determined by consequences of the act
• emphasizes greatest happiness of greatest number
• ex) lying but led to good

Question 5

What are 2 types of teleological ethics?

Answer 5

Act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism

Question 6

What is act utilitarianism?

Answer 6

An act is evaluated on the consequences it produces in a particular situation and the balance of good over bad (which action created greatest good)

Question 7

What is rule utilitarianism?

Answer 7

An act is right if the rule dictating the act maximizes happiness or the greatest good for the greatest number (which use if followed will create greatest good)
- following virtues

Question 8

What are Deontological ethics?

Answer 8

Principilism (principle based)
- duty ethics without factoring consequences (not realistic)
- one acts ethically, when upon reflection, this act/decision can be made into a universal law
- principles are not negotiable
- autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice

Question 9

What are virtue ethics?

Answer 9

Character ethics
- excellence of character
- an action is right if it is what a virtuous agent would characteristically do
- not concerned with consequence or correspondence with principles

Question 10

What are 5 focal virtues?

Answer 10

Compassion, discernment, trustworthiness, integrity, conscientiousness

Question 11

What are relational ethics

Answer 11

Ethics of care, feminist ethics
- importance of personal relationships
- values consensus, social context, and cooperation
- each act is right or wrong based on the impact on relationships of people involved
- judged to be ethical act if caring act towards someone else
Trust is an essential

Question 12

What is relative ethics?

Answer 12

Recognizes moral values differ from person to person and culture to culture, and period of time to period of time
- no moral standards absolute, can change
- individuals must bear responsibility for ethical decision making

Question 13

What is new causistry?

Answer 13

Focuses on concrete cases and analysis of cases, derives ethical principles from those cases
- bottom-up process from cases to principles
- live and learn

Question 14

Moral sensitivity?

Answer 14

Recognizing a situation has implications for welfare of someone else
- able to identify a dilemma

Question 15

Moral reasoning?

Answer 15

Thinking through the alternatives once the situation has been recognized as having moral dimension

Question 16

Moral motivation?

Answer 16

Once options are evaluated, the next step is to decide whether or not to follow through on the ethical choice
- commitment to action, accepting responsibility

Question 17

Moral character?

Answer 17

Carrying out a moral action to its conclusion
- sometimes uncomfortable and comes at personal cost