Ethics, Moral Theories, and Sources of Moral Authority

Ethics

• The study about what we should do, what's right and wrong, and what's acceptable or unacceptable in human behavior.

• The intellectual discipline of studying human behavior and ideal ways of thinking.

Aesthetic Valuations

• Judgments of personal approval or disapproval about what we perceive with our senses.

Technical Valuations

• doing something the right way to achieve a goal,

• like performing surgery or playing a musical instrument skillfully.

Etiquette

• The proper way to act in social situations,

• saying "thank you".

• breaking a rule isn't a major ethical issue.

Ethical/Unethical

Acceptable or unacceptable behavior.

Moral/Immoral

Specific beliefs, attitudes, or actions that are either proper or improper.

Amoral

Neither right nor wrong.

Moral judgment/Moral reasoning

Suggests a more rational dimension at work when assessing actions.

Professional ethics

Acceptable and unacceptable ways of behaving in a given field.

Descriptive Study of Ethics

Reports how people or groups make moral valuations without making judgments for or against them.

Normative Study of Ethics

• Engages the question of what 'should' be considered the right way of acting and prescribes standards for moral valuations.

Moral Issue

A situation that calls for a moral valuation.

Moral Decision

When one is faced with a choice of what act to perform.

Moral Judgment

When an observer assesses someone else's actions or behavior.

Moral Dilemma

When one is forced to choose between two good options or between the lesser of two evils.

Reasoning

Central to ethical thought ; our moral valuations can be based on a principle, which is a 'rationally established ground' that justifies our decisions.

Fraternity hazing

A case study used to introduce ethical questions about the value of life and the nature of fraternities.

Moral Theory

an attempt to establish validity of maintaining a certain moral principles

Framework

A theory of connected ideas and a structure through which we can evaluate our reasons for valuing a certain decision or judgment.

Law

An objective standard that is obligatory and applies to all, but does not cover all ethical situations.

Divine Command Theory

The theory that we are obligated to obey God's commands, providing ideals to pursue, not just prohibitions.

Cultural Relativism

• The idea that there is no single universal standard for moral valuations, promoting tolerance and humility.

• it is problematic because it suggests we cannot judge practices in other cultures

Subjectivism

• The belief that the individual is at the heart of all moral valuations

• no one can tell you what is right or wrong,

• when you say something is good, then its good

Psychological Egoism

A descriptive theory claiming all human actions are naturally motivated by self-interest, nullifying the possibility of normative ethics.

Ethical Egoism

A prescriptive theory stating we should make our own interests our single most important concern, with actions deemed right only if they benefit oneself.

Negative ethical judgment

A judgment made about a practice that may not violate the law but is still considered unethical.

Myth of Gyges

A story in Plato's Republic illustrating that a life lived without self-control can lead to internal disorder and a tyrannical existence.

Corruption

A form of egoism where the welfare of one's own family and friends is prioritized without regard for others.

James Rachels

A philosopher who critiques Cultural Relativism for suggesting we cannot judge practices in other cultures or our own.

Fixed entity

The presumption that a culture is a single, unchanging entity, which can be problematic for individuals with multiple cultural backgrounds.

Self-interest

The motivation behind all human actions according to Psychological Egoism.

Normative ethics

A branch of ethics that Psychological Egoism ultimately nullifies by suggesting all actions are equally self-serving.

Plato's response to egoism

Plato argues that living without self-control leads to a destructive existence for both the self and others.

Nepotism

A form of corruption where favoritism is shown to relatives or friends, prioritizing their welfare over others.

Cronyism

A form of corruption similar to nepotism, where friends are favored in professional or political contexts.

Ethical theories

Theories that focus on the individual as the center of moral valuation.

Obligatory standard

A standard that must be followed, as provided by the law.

Prohibitive law

Laws that restrict certain actions but do not encompass all ethical dilemmas.