Ethical Theories and Moral Decision-Making: Intuitions, Principles, and Cultural Relativism

What are moral intuitions?

Reactive, immediate judgments about the rightness or wrongness of actions.

Give an example of a moral intuition.

Thinking 'what a kind thing to do' when seeing someone help a handicapped person.

What is a moral principle?

A general statement that classifies actions as right or wrong.

How do moral principles help when intuitions conflict?

They provide justification for actions based on established moral rules.

What is the trolley problem?

A hypothetical scenario that produces conflicting moral intuitions regarding sacrifice.

In the trolley problem, what is scenario A?

Most people feel it is right to sacrifice 1 to save 5.

In the trolley problem, what is scenario B?

Most people feel it is wrong to sacrifice 1 to save 5.

What is ethical relativism?

The view that there are no objective moral truths and that morality is subjective.

What argument do moral relativists use to support their view?

Disagreements on ethical issues are common, suggesting no objective moral truth.

What is the implication of moral relativism on moral knowledge?

Without objective truth, there can be no moral knowledge.

What are the two main arguments for relativism?

The argument from disagreement and the argument for toleration of differing opinions.

What is a problem for relativism regarding clear cases?

Some moral issues, like slavery, are widely accepted as wrong despite differing views.

What does moral relativism imply about moral disagreement?

It makes genuine moral disagreement impossible, as all views are seen as equally valid.

What does ethical relativism suggest about our moral judgments?

It implies we are infallible in our moral judgments, which seems odd.

What is cultural relativism?

The belief that moral beliefs can be right or wrong only in relation to one's culture.

How does cultural relativism view individual moral beliefs?

An individual's beliefs can be wrong if they conflict with the dominant beliefs of their culture.

What is a strength of cultural relativism?

It acknowledges the profound effect of culture on moral beliefs.

What is a criticism of cultural relativism regarding tolerance?

Cultural relativism does not necessarily endorse toleration of differing opinions.

What challenge does cultural relativism face regarding moral criticism?

It struggles to explain how criticizing one's culture can be morally good.

What is a commonality among cultures regarding moral beliefs?

Most cultures agree on fundamental moral issues, such as prohibiting murder.

What example does Rauhut use to illustrate cultural agreement?

The example of the Intuits and their treatment of the elderly.

What does Rauhut suggest about the nature of moral disagreements?

Many disagreements stem from disputes about basic facts rather than ethical beliefs.

What is the significance of moral principles in ethical decision-making?

They provide a framework for resolving conflicts between moral intuitions.

How does ethical objectivism differ from ethical relativism?

Ethical objectivism holds that there are moral truths, allowing for moral knowledge.

What does the argument from disagreement suggest about moral objectivity?

Extensive disagreement on moral issues challenges the notion of moral objectivity.

What is the implication of changing moral views over time?

It suggests that previous views can be wrong, contradicting relativism's stance.

What does Rauhut imply about the nature of moral beliefs?

Moral beliefs are often influenced by cultural context and can evolve over time.