Intro to Ethics - Oral Examination #1`

Ethics

Branch of philosophy that deals with morality, exploring what is wrong/right and good vs. evil

Relativism

The view that everything is relative to something else rather than absolute

Subjectivism

What is wrong or right is relative to the one judging; reflects personal feelings, tastes, or individual approval/disapproval

Ethnocentrism

Judging another culture by the standards and values of one's own culture

Habitus

Norms and expectations unconsciously acquired through experience and upbringing

Adaptive Value

How much a moral belief, behavior, or cultural practice helps a human group survive, reproduce, and thrive in their specific environment

A Priori

"I am right no matter what"; using what you know independently of experience

Divine Command Theory

Morality is entirely dependent upon God's will or commands

Natural Law Theory

Universal moral and legal standards are inherent in human nature, discoverable through human reason

Materialism

The view that the entire universe is made up of one basic substance

Determinism

Every event, action, and choice is fully caused by prior events and the laws of nature

Free Will

The ability to make any choice we want

Social Determinism

Behavior and actions shaped by social interactions, environment, and culture

Psychological & Physical Determinism

We are genetically determined and made up of molecules and atoms

Compatibilism

Free will and determinism are logically compatible with each other

Agent Causation

A person can cause an action or start a new causal chain directly

Causal Responsibility

The actual physical cause that sets off a chain of effects to create a result

Moral Responsibility

The status of a person who morally deserves praise, blame, reward, or punishment for an action based on ethical standards

Egoism

The theory that self-interest is or should be the primary motivation of human action

Ethical Egoism

Moral agents ought to do what is in their own self-interest

Psychological Egoism

People are naturally wired to act out of self-interest

Altruism

Unselfish concern for the well-being and life of others without expecting personal reward, benefit, or reciprocity

Genetic Altruism

Neurons in our body (mirror neurons) that empathize with others and make us want to help them

Kinship Altruism

An exchange mechanism; seeks help back in the future

Psychological Altruism

Learned behavior that allows us to function better when we help others

Social Contract Theory

Theory by John Locke and others that sets the basis of democracy

Diffident / Diffidence

Lack of trust

Utilitarianism

An ethical theory that judges actions as right or wrong based on their outcomes

Consequentialist

Theories that think you should take into consideration the consequences of the action

Non-Consequentialist

Don't look at consequences, look at the action itself

Principle of Utility

An action is morally right if it produces the greatest amount of happiness or benefit for the greatest number of people

Hedonism

Pleasure is most important; to do the right thing needs to be objective, prioritizing immediate pleasure

Emotivism

Morality is a language of emotions