Moral Agent and Ethical Frameworks

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on moral agents, ethical frameworks, culture's impact on moral behavior, and ethical theories.

Culture

A set of beliefs, customs, arts, etc. of a particular society, group, place or time.

Contextualization

The act of thinking or providing information regarding the situation in which something happens.

Relativism

A theory on truth that states truth is viewed depending on the individuals and groups holding them.

Cultural Relativism

A doctrine that asserts the validity of culture in the process of thinking, indicating that truth is culture-specific.

Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

A theory that outlines the stages of moral development individuals go through as they grow, moving from lower to higher levels of moral reasoning.

Preconventional Morality

The first level of Kohlberg’s moral development, where morality is understood through consequences like pleasure and pain.

Conventional Morality

The second level of Kohlberg's theory, where morality is based on social norms and expectations.

Post-Conventional Morality

The third level of Kohlberg's stages, where individuals define morality based on personal principles and values, beyond societal expectations.

Virtue Ethics

An ethical theory that emphasizes the character of the moral agent and the virtues they uphold, rather than focusing on rules or consequences.

Eudaimonism

A concept synonymous with virtue ethics that posits happiness as the ultimate goal of human existence, achievable through virtues.

Cardinal Virtues

Four fundamental virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance that represent moral excellence.

Natural Law

An aspect of eternal law knowable to humans and applicable to human lives, emphasizing moral laws derived from nature.

St. Thomas Aquinas

A philosopher and theologian known for his contributions to ethics and the concept of natural law.

Justice

The virtue of giving everyone their due, which includes various types such as distributive, commutative, and social justice.

The Ethical Teachings of St. Augustine

Emphasizes that God is the central basis of ethics, asserting that love and free will are fundamental elements in morality.