Ethics and Moral Development

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the foundations of philosophy, major Greek philosophers, branches of philosophical study, types of morality, and specific categories of moral dilemmas based on the lecture transcript.

Philosophy

Means 'love of wisdom', derived from the Greek words Philia (love or friendship) and Sophia (wisdom).

6th century BCE

The time period, approximately 2,600 years ago, when Western philosophy is traditionally traced back to Ancient Greece.

Thales of Miletus

Known as the First Western Philosopher; he used reason and observation to explain natural events and believed water was the fundamental substance of everything.

Socrates

Known as the Father of Western Philosophy; he developed the Socratic Method and believed that 'The unexamined life is not worth living.'

Plato

Known as the Father of Idealism and student of Socrates; he founded the Academy and believed in the existence of perfect, unchanging forms or ideas.

Aristotle

Known as the Father of Political Science and student of Plato; he founded the Lyceum and believed knowledge comes from observing the natural world.

René Descartes

Known as the Father of Modern Philosophy; he introduced systematic doubt and the famous statement 'I think, therefore I am' (Cogito, ergo sum).

Epistemology

The branch of philosophy that involves the study of knowledge.

Metaphysics

The branch of philosophy that involves the study of the nature of reality.

Cosmology

A sub-branch of metaphysics that involves the study of the universe.

Ontology

A sub-branch of metaphysics that involves the study of being and existence.

Ethics

The branch of philosophy that involves the study of morality.

Logic

The branch of philosophy that involves the study of correct reasoning.

Aesthetics

The branch of philosophy that involves the study of beauty, art, and taste.

Axiology

The broader study of value which encompasses both ethics and aesthetics.

Normative Ethics

Also known as prescriptive ethics, this approach deals with norms or standards.

Meta-ethics

Also known as Analytical Ethics, this approach looks at the logic of ethical theorists.

Anencephaly

One of the worst genetic disorders, where infants are born without major parts of the brain and are sometimes referred to as 'babies without brains.'

Cerebrum

The forebrain portion consisting of two hemispheres and four lobes; it handles conscious thought and memory, and accounts for more than $85\%$ of the brain's weight.

Cerebellum

The hindbrain portion consisting of the vermis and two hemispheres; it coordinates movement and balance, taking up to $10\%$ of the brain's total volume.

Social Morality

Noted as the most important aspect of morality, it is concerned with human beings in relation to other human beings.

Supernatural Theories of Value

The belief that values come from higher beings or principles, such as The Good (Plato), Yahweh (Jews), Allah (Muslims), or Brahma (Hindus).

Dilemma

A situation in which a person is forced to choose between two or more conflicting options, neither of which is entirely acceptable or desirable.

Moral Dilemma

A situation where a moral agent is forced to choose between conflicting options, none of which resolves the situation in a morally acceptable way.

False Dilemma

A situation where a decision-maker has a moral duty to do one thing but is tempted or under pressure to do something else.

Epistemic Moral Dilemmas

Situations where two or more moral requirements conflict and the moral agent does not know which requirement takes precedence.

Ontological Moral Dilemmas

Situations where two or more moral requirements conflict, yet neither of these requirements overrides the other.

Self-imposed Moral Dilemma

A dilemma caused by the moral agent's own wrongdoings.

World-imposed Moral Dilemma

Occurs when events beyond our control cause an unavoidable moral conflict.

Obligation Dilemmas

Situations where more than one feasible action is obligatory.

Prohibition Dilemmas

Situations where all feasible actions are forbidden.

Single Agent Dilemma

A situation where a single agent is compelled to act on two or more equally weighted moral options but cannot choose both.

Multi-person Dilemma

Occurs in situations involving several persons (like a family or organization) who must reach a consensual decision on a moral issue.

Human Agency

Consists of two components: Freedom to choose (indicating will and personal choice) and Freedom to act (involving power and capacity).