Pol Sci Final

Ethical Relativism

no absolute, universal moral principles, what is morally right or wrong is relative to the individual 

cultural relativism

 individual personal values that depend on culture or beliefs

universalism

rights, values, and political norms apply to all people

sentient being

a living, conscious creature that has the capacity to have subjective experiences (emotion)

categorical imperative

you should act only according to a rule (maxim) that you could simultaneously will to become a universal law for everyone

Ubermensch

the ideal superior man of the future who could rise above conventional Christian morality to create and impose his own values

Minimally good Samaritan

an individual who does the bare minimum to help someone in need

slippery slope

a consequentialist argument claiming that a relatively small first step will inevitably lead to a chain of related, negative events, culminating in a major, undesirable outcome. 

active euthanasia

the deliberate, direct act of causing a patient's death to relieve unbearable suffering, typically performed by a physician via a lethal injection

passive euthanasia

the withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining treatments from a terminally ill patient with the intention of allowing them to die naturally

John S Mill

British, Utilitarian, libertarianism legislation and social reform, greatest happiness principle, women's equality 

Immanuel Kant

Deontology, German, categorical imperative

Jeremy Bentham

Utilitarian, British 

John Locke

natural rights ethicist, enlightenment philosopher, life liberty property, limited government

Ayn Rand

Objectivism, radical individualism, 

Aristotle

virtue ethicist, greek

F. Nietzsche

virtue ethicist ubermanch, will to power, german,

Carol Gilligan

care ethicist, women centered, maintain relationships American

Confucius

virtue ethicist, harmonious society, 5 relationships, chinese 

W.D Ross

Deontologist, prima facie duties, British, 7 basic duties