1. Plato’s view of ethics in terms of morality
Being moral is inherently valuable
2. *Distinctions between what is meant by ethics and what is meant by morality
Ethics:
Process of determining between right & wrong
-moral reasoning (theories, reflections, analysis)
-both an art & science
morality :
Actual content of right & wrong
-moral knowledge
-end result go ethical deliberation
3. The four broad categories of ethics and definitions/descriptions of each
Descriptive ethics:
Sociological discipline that attempts to describe the morals of a particular society,
often by studying other cultures
-Ex; anthropology
Normative ethics:
(ought to be)
Discipline that produces moral norms or rules as its end product
-describes normal behavior for individuals and society
-the attempt to formulate systems of value and principles used distinguish between
morally correct/incorrect behavior
-identifying the universal principals of morality to which all persons ought
to appeal to guide/justify their behavior (an ideal code of morality)
Metaethics:
Analyzes or describes the way(s) in which moral judgement are actually used
-investigates the meaning of moral language (right, good, just, etc.)
-investigates the epistemology of ethics
-investigates the justification of ethical theories and judgments
Areatic (virtue):
Focuses on the virtues in individuals, not the morality of specific acts
-Matters of virtue and character
4. *Four specific considerations involved in making moral judgments
1. The action itself
2. The motive of the person ('moral actor')
3. Consequences of the actions & decisions
4. Character of moral actor
5. *The highest level or broadest classification/division of ethical systems (see Topic
6, Part 1 Lecture Notes)
1 Action Oriented
, 2 Virtue Based
6. *The five main subcategories under the highest level or broadest
classification/division of ethical systems, and the description/characteristics of
each main subcategory (see Topic 6, Part 1 Lecture Notes)
1. Deontological
("what is due") Intrinsic rightness/wrongness of an act and our duty to do that act
-based on principles in which actions are inherently
right/wrong Key facts:
1 Morality is objective
2 Morality in an act resides in the act itself
3 The intrinsic nature of each act determine moral rightness/wrongness
2. Teleological
Consequences of an act & our duty to of the act that brings about the greatest
amount of good & the least amount of evil
-right & wrong is based on the end result produced by the action rather than
any inherent aspects
3. Relativism
-different cultures have radical different moral values (conditional & provisional)
-no universal morals shared by every human society
-refrain from passing moral judgments on beliefs and practices character of culture
other than their own
4.
5.
7. Definition of Ethical Relativism
-different cultures have radical different moral values (conditional & provisional)
-no universal morals shared by every human society
-refrain from passing moral judgments on beliefs and practices character of culture
other than their own
8. Two primary types of Ethical Relativism and particular features of each type
Subjectivism: the doctrine that knowledge is merely subjective and that there is no external
or objective truth.
conventionalism:
Conventionalism is the philosophical attitude that fundamental principles of a certain kind are
grounded on (explicit or implicit) agreements in society, rather than on external reality.
9. *Major criticisms or problems associated with Ethical Relativism
Problems:
-exaggerating the degree of diversity between cultures
-overlooks the necessary core set universal values any human culture must
endorse in order to flourish (or survive)
10. *Definition and key aspects of Ethical Objectivism
Being moral is inherently valuable
2. *Distinctions between what is meant by ethics and what is meant by morality
Ethics:
Process of determining between right & wrong
-moral reasoning (theories, reflections, analysis)
-both an art & science
morality :
Actual content of right & wrong
-moral knowledge
-end result go ethical deliberation
3. The four broad categories of ethics and definitions/descriptions of each
Descriptive ethics:
Sociological discipline that attempts to describe the morals of a particular society,
often by studying other cultures
-Ex; anthropology
Normative ethics:
(ought to be)
Discipline that produces moral norms or rules as its end product
-describes normal behavior for individuals and society
-the attempt to formulate systems of value and principles used distinguish between
morally correct/incorrect behavior
-identifying the universal principals of morality to which all persons ought
to appeal to guide/justify their behavior (an ideal code of morality)
Metaethics:
Analyzes or describes the way(s) in which moral judgement are actually used
-investigates the meaning of moral language (right, good, just, etc.)
-investigates the epistemology of ethics
-investigates the justification of ethical theories and judgments
Areatic (virtue):
Focuses on the virtues in individuals, not the morality of specific acts
-Matters of virtue and character
4. *Four specific considerations involved in making moral judgments
1. The action itself
2. The motive of the person ('moral actor')
3. Consequences of the actions & decisions
4. Character of moral actor
5. *The highest level or broadest classification/division of ethical systems (see Topic
6, Part 1 Lecture Notes)
1 Action Oriented
, 2 Virtue Based
6. *The five main subcategories under the highest level or broadest
classification/division of ethical systems, and the description/characteristics of
each main subcategory (see Topic 6, Part 1 Lecture Notes)
1. Deontological
("what is due") Intrinsic rightness/wrongness of an act and our duty to do that act
-based on principles in which actions are inherently
right/wrong Key facts:
1 Morality is objective
2 Morality in an act resides in the act itself
3 The intrinsic nature of each act determine moral rightness/wrongness
2. Teleological
Consequences of an act & our duty to of the act that brings about the greatest
amount of good & the least amount of evil
-right & wrong is based on the end result produced by the action rather than
any inherent aspects
3. Relativism
-different cultures have radical different moral values (conditional & provisional)
-no universal morals shared by every human society
-refrain from passing moral judgments on beliefs and practices character of culture
other than their own
4.
5.
7. Definition of Ethical Relativism
-different cultures have radical different moral values (conditional & provisional)
-no universal morals shared by every human society
-refrain from passing moral judgments on beliefs and practices character of culture
other than their own
8. Two primary types of Ethical Relativism and particular features of each type
Subjectivism: the doctrine that knowledge is merely subjective and that there is no external
or objective truth.
conventionalism:
Conventionalism is the philosophical attitude that fundamental principles of a certain kind are
grounded on (explicit or implicit) agreements in society, rather than on external reality.
9. *Major criticisms or problems associated with Ethical Relativism
Problems:
-exaggerating the degree of diversity between cultures
-overlooks the necessary core set universal values any human culture must
endorse in order to flourish (or survive)
10. *Definition and key aspects of Ethical Objectivism
