What is Applied Ethics
Chapter 1: Introduction to Ethics-The Foundation of Ethics
1. Ethics
2. Morals
3. Critical thinking
4. Applied Ethics - Question and answers1. Came from the Greek word 'ethos' meaning
"the way things should be".
- Ethics is the study of morality. Is where we get the opportunities to test, question, and
challenge those rules and standards.
-Ethics is the reasoned study of what is morally right and wrong, good and bad.
2. Originated from the Latin word 'more' which meant "the way people are"
-Morality refers to generally to the rules and social standards that we are taught to
follow
3. Informed and logical though
4. Actual use of moral standards of conduct (guidelines about how best to act) in
making decisions about ethical issues.
1. Ethical or Moral issues
2. Ethical or Moral principles
3. Virtues/Character traits
4. Values
5. Moral Judgements - Question and answers1. Are questions, problems, situations or
actions that contain legitimate matters of moral right or wrong
- They are topics that raise honest ethical debate e.g. use of death penalty is an ethical
issue
2. Are general guidelines of ethical behavior. Are the 'should' statements of ethics
prescribing how one ought to conduct oneself. e.g.
'People should treat others as they would want to be treated'
'People should tell the truth'
'People should respect the rights of others'
3. Are character traits that make up a moral life. e.g. honesty, compassion, courage etc.
4. Beliefs, qualities, traditions or standards that are considered important and worthy
e.g. 'some values their jobs very highly others don't. 'some value their families more
than other'.
5. Simply ethical decisions and they are part of the ethics environment as well.
a) Moral Judgements- Actions judged to be consistent with good ethical thinking and
decision making
b) Immoral judgements- Behaviors that are contrary to good moral reasoning
,c) Nonmoral- Actions that don't fit either of these terms e.g. cheerios or fruit loops for
breakfast, wearing a blue or white shirt, reading a newspaper in the morning verses
listening to the radio
1. Relativism
2. Subjective Relativism
3. Cultural Relativism - Question and answers1. The belief that there are no moral
standards, judgments, or principles that apply to everyone.
2. What is morally right and wrong varies from one person to another
a) What is morally right and wrong varies from one culture to another
1. absolutism
2. legalism - Question and answers1. The belief that there are no matters of opinion in
ethics since all moral judgments are the same for everyone, coupled with the attitude
that one's own opinions are the correct ones.
2. The belief that ethical discussions are unnecessary because we have laws to govern
people's behavior; or that ethical standards and legal standards are really the same.
Academic Misconduct.:
1. Plagiarism
2. Misrepresentation - Question and answers1. When a student takes the creative work
of others and misrepresent as their own
2. Any act or omission with the intent to deceive an instructor for academic advantage
e.g. lying
Chapter 2: Moral Development
1. Plato's tripartite (three-part) conception of a persons psyche(soul) that has some
relevance to moral decision making
2. People believed that moral development was based largely on the principle of tabula
rasa (blank tablet or blank state) - Question and answers1. The appetite (or the body)
- That part of humans that are driven by their physical desires and drives
2. The spirit (or the heart)
-The part driven by emotions and feelings wanting to overcome adversity and achieve
victory
3. The head (or the mind)
-Governed by reason and intellect
** Plato believed that the mind controls and keeps in the balance the other two
2. John Locke argued that the human mind begins as a 'white paper' or void of all
characters without any ideas.
Lawrence Kohlberg's theory:
1. Level I Pre-Conventional
2. Level II Conventional
3. Level III Post- Conventional - Question and answers1. Egocentric or self-centered
thinking
a) Punishment and Obedience
,b) Instrument and Relativity
2. Conforming to social standards and rules
c) Interpersonal Concordance
d) Law and order
3. Reasoning based on ethical principles and values
e) Social contract
f) Universal Ethical Principles
Kohlberg's Six Stages:
1. Punishment and Obedience
2) Instrument and Relativity
3) Interpersonal Concordance
4) Law and order
5) Social contract
6) Universal Ethical Principles - Question and answers1. What's right is to obey
authority figures and avoid punishment
2. What's right is whatever meets one's own personal needs; using situations and other
people to ones advantage
3. What's right is to act in ways that elicit social approval; that makes others like you
4. What's right is to obey formal laws and rules in order to maintain social order
5. What's right is to live consistently with the deepest principles and values of ones
society, culture or subculture
6. What's right is to live consistently with self-chosen, universal moral principles
Gilligan's Levels of Caring (Women)
1. Level I
2. Level 2
3. Level 3 - Question and answers1. Caring only for self, at the expense of others if
necessary
2. Caring for others only, at the expense of self if necessary
3. Balance and truth; caring for self and others
James Rest's Four-Component Model - Question and answers1. Moral Sensitivity
2. Moral judgment
3.Moral motivation
4.Moral character
-Social Domain Theory - Question and answers- Recent research into how humans
develop their morality
1. Moral domain
2. Societal domain
3. personal domain
Chapter 3: Critical thinking part 1
, 1. Logic
2. Argument
3. Critical thinking
4. Fallacy - Question and answers1. The branch of philosophy that deals with the
principles of good thinking and reasoning process
2. A series of statements that work together to establish the truth of some point
3. The active and systematic process of communication, problem solving, evaluation
analysis, synthesis and reflection both individually and in community, to foster
understanding, support sound decision making, and guide action.
4. An illogical argument, often appearing logical at first glance, involving a statement or
statements that in one way or another deceive or mislead
1. open-mindedness
2. provincial
3. invisible ignorance
4. Skepticism
5. Fair mindedness - Question and answers1. Means willing to consider points of view,
ideas and values that are different from one's own.
2. means to see things only from a very well defined and particular point of view
3. Is Extreme provincialism. Person refuses tp consider any arguments or evidence for
any other points of view or perspectives
4. An attitude of doubt towards what others (and oneself) claim is 'true'
5. Trying to be as impartial and objective as possible when evaluating the merits or
demerits-the arguments for or against-different points of view
Three parts of an argument: - Question and answers1. Premises
-The reasons and evidence that are cited, directly or indirectly to support the conclusion.
- The premises can include facts, perceptions, opinions, principles, rules, proverbs,
advice, precedents, traditions and any other factors that could help strengthen peoples
confidence in an arguments conclusion
2. Structure
-Refers to the nature of the logical relationship between the premises and the claim the
argument purports to establish
3. Conclusion
-Conclusion defines the argument. One must know where the argument is going before
the other parts-the premises and structure-make sense at all.
- Conclusion is often identified in our language by the beginning word 'thus' or 'therefore'
or 'finally'.
***if there's no conclusion, or if it cannot be identified, then there is no argument in the
first place
Types of Arguments: - Question and answers1. Deductive
-Have very fixed and formal structures-similar to mathematical equations
-If an argument is deductive the premises and conclusion must interrelate i.e. the
premises must be relevant to the other premises in the argument as well as the
conclusion
Chapter 1: Introduction to Ethics-The Foundation of Ethics
1. Ethics
2. Morals
3. Critical thinking
4. Applied Ethics - Question and answers1. Came from the Greek word 'ethos' meaning
"the way things should be".
- Ethics is the study of morality. Is where we get the opportunities to test, question, and
challenge those rules and standards.
-Ethics is the reasoned study of what is morally right and wrong, good and bad.
2. Originated from the Latin word 'more' which meant "the way people are"
-Morality refers to generally to the rules and social standards that we are taught to
follow
3. Informed and logical though
4. Actual use of moral standards of conduct (guidelines about how best to act) in
making decisions about ethical issues.
1. Ethical or Moral issues
2. Ethical or Moral principles
3. Virtues/Character traits
4. Values
5. Moral Judgements - Question and answers1. Are questions, problems, situations or
actions that contain legitimate matters of moral right or wrong
- They are topics that raise honest ethical debate e.g. use of death penalty is an ethical
issue
2. Are general guidelines of ethical behavior. Are the 'should' statements of ethics
prescribing how one ought to conduct oneself. e.g.
'People should treat others as they would want to be treated'
'People should tell the truth'
'People should respect the rights of others'
3. Are character traits that make up a moral life. e.g. honesty, compassion, courage etc.
4. Beliefs, qualities, traditions or standards that are considered important and worthy
e.g. 'some values their jobs very highly others don't. 'some value their families more
than other'.
5. Simply ethical decisions and they are part of the ethics environment as well.
a) Moral Judgements- Actions judged to be consistent with good ethical thinking and
decision making
b) Immoral judgements- Behaviors that are contrary to good moral reasoning
,c) Nonmoral- Actions that don't fit either of these terms e.g. cheerios or fruit loops for
breakfast, wearing a blue or white shirt, reading a newspaper in the morning verses
listening to the radio
1. Relativism
2. Subjective Relativism
3. Cultural Relativism - Question and answers1. The belief that there are no moral
standards, judgments, or principles that apply to everyone.
2. What is morally right and wrong varies from one person to another
a) What is morally right and wrong varies from one culture to another
1. absolutism
2. legalism - Question and answers1. The belief that there are no matters of opinion in
ethics since all moral judgments are the same for everyone, coupled with the attitude
that one's own opinions are the correct ones.
2. The belief that ethical discussions are unnecessary because we have laws to govern
people's behavior; or that ethical standards and legal standards are really the same.
Academic Misconduct.:
1. Plagiarism
2. Misrepresentation - Question and answers1. When a student takes the creative work
of others and misrepresent as their own
2. Any act or omission with the intent to deceive an instructor for academic advantage
e.g. lying
Chapter 2: Moral Development
1. Plato's tripartite (three-part) conception of a persons psyche(soul) that has some
relevance to moral decision making
2. People believed that moral development was based largely on the principle of tabula
rasa (blank tablet or blank state) - Question and answers1. The appetite (or the body)
- That part of humans that are driven by their physical desires and drives
2. The spirit (or the heart)
-The part driven by emotions and feelings wanting to overcome adversity and achieve
victory
3. The head (or the mind)
-Governed by reason and intellect
** Plato believed that the mind controls and keeps in the balance the other two
2. John Locke argued that the human mind begins as a 'white paper' or void of all
characters without any ideas.
Lawrence Kohlberg's theory:
1. Level I Pre-Conventional
2. Level II Conventional
3. Level III Post- Conventional - Question and answers1. Egocentric or self-centered
thinking
a) Punishment and Obedience
,b) Instrument and Relativity
2. Conforming to social standards and rules
c) Interpersonal Concordance
d) Law and order
3. Reasoning based on ethical principles and values
e) Social contract
f) Universal Ethical Principles
Kohlberg's Six Stages:
1. Punishment and Obedience
2) Instrument and Relativity
3) Interpersonal Concordance
4) Law and order
5) Social contract
6) Universal Ethical Principles - Question and answers1. What's right is to obey
authority figures and avoid punishment
2. What's right is whatever meets one's own personal needs; using situations and other
people to ones advantage
3. What's right is to act in ways that elicit social approval; that makes others like you
4. What's right is to obey formal laws and rules in order to maintain social order
5. What's right is to live consistently with the deepest principles and values of ones
society, culture or subculture
6. What's right is to live consistently with self-chosen, universal moral principles
Gilligan's Levels of Caring (Women)
1. Level I
2. Level 2
3. Level 3 - Question and answers1. Caring only for self, at the expense of others if
necessary
2. Caring for others only, at the expense of self if necessary
3. Balance and truth; caring for self and others
James Rest's Four-Component Model - Question and answers1. Moral Sensitivity
2. Moral judgment
3.Moral motivation
4.Moral character
-Social Domain Theory - Question and answers- Recent research into how humans
develop their morality
1. Moral domain
2. Societal domain
3. personal domain
Chapter 3: Critical thinking part 1
, 1. Logic
2. Argument
3. Critical thinking
4. Fallacy - Question and answers1. The branch of philosophy that deals with the
principles of good thinking and reasoning process
2. A series of statements that work together to establish the truth of some point
3. The active and systematic process of communication, problem solving, evaluation
analysis, synthesis and reflection both individually and in community, to foster
understanding, support sound decision making, and guide action.
4. An illogical argument, often appearing logical at first glance, involving a statement or
statements that in one way or another deceive or mislead
1. open-mindedness
2. provincial
3. invisible ignorance
4. Skepticism
5. Fair mindedness - Question and answers1. Means willing to consider points of view,
ideas and values that are different from one's own.
2. means to see things only from a very well defined and particular point of view
3. Is Extreme provincialism. Person refuses tp consider any arguments or evidence for
any other points of view or perspectives
4. An attitude of doubt towards what others (and oneself) claim is 'true'
5. Trying to be as impartial and objective as possible when evaluating the merits or
demerits-the arguments for or against-different points of view
Three parts of an argument: - Question and answers1. Premises
-The reasons and evidence that are cited, directly or indirectly to support the conclusion.
- The premises can include facts, perceptions, opinions, principles, rules, proverbs,
advice, precedents, traditions and any other factors that could help strengthen peoples
confidence in an arguments conclusion
2. Structure
-Refers to the nature of the logical relationship between the premises and the claim the
argument purports to establish
3. Conclusion
-Conclusion defines the argument. One must know where the argument is going before
the other parts-the premises and structure-make sense at all.
- Conclusion is often identified in our language by the beginning word 'thus' or 'therefore'
or 'finally'.
***if there's no conclusion, or if it cannot be identified, then there is no argument in the
first place
Types of Arguments: - Question and answers1. Deductive
-Have very fixed and formal structures-similar to mathematical equations
-If an argument is deductive the premises and conclusion must interrelate i.e. the
premises must be relevant to the other premises in the argument as well as the
conclusion
