Unit 2: Morality, Ethics, and Moral Development

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Unit 2 lessons on Ethics and Morality, Catholic concepts of sin, the four ethical experiences, Kohlberg's stages of moral development, and the ethical philosophies of Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, and Emmanuel Levinas.

Ethics

The search for the infinite good (such as happiness, freedom, and justice) that provides vision for human actions; derived from the Greek ta ethika, meaning having to do with good character.

Morality

The path to the good that translates ethical ideals into daily duties, rules, laws, and commandments; derived from the Latin moralities, referring to customs, habits, and manners.

Sextant

A navigational instrument that helps sailors determine direction; used as a metaphor showing that ethics and morals guide life rather than restrict it.

Sin

An intentional act, thought, word, or deed representing a state of hard-heartedness or moral blindness, requiring personal accountability.

Mortal Sin

A grave sin that destroys an individual's relationship with God, others, and self, requiring grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent.

Venial Sin

A less serious moral failure that damages or strains one's relationship with God without completely destroying it.

Sin of Commission

A sin committed by actively engaging in a wrongful deed or action.

Sin of Omission

A sin committed by neglecting or failing to perform an action when one ought to act.

The Scream

An ethical experience of personal response characterized by an automatic, natural urge to assist someone who is facing immediate danger.

The Beggar

An ethical experience of the other occurring in face-to-face encounters, which evokes an immediate reminder of our moral responsibility for other people.

The Duty

An ethical experience of obligation involving an internal impulse to obey rules, laws, or legitimate authority commands.

The Contrast

An ethical experience of the unimaginable marked by deep outrage when witnessing blatant injustice or unfair treatment toward oneself or others.

Stages of Moral Development

A developmental progression comprising three levels: Pre Conventional (Ages 3-7: Avoiding Punishment, Self-interest), Conventional (Ages 8-13: Good Boy Attitude, Law and Order Morality), and Post Conventional (Adulthood: Social Contract, Principle).

Teleological Ethics

An ethical framework centered on discovering the ultimate purpose, design, or end goal of human life, central to Aristotle's philosophy.

Happiness (Aristotle)

An enduring condition of a person who succeeds in living well and acting well by repeatedly performing typical human tasks through reason, distinct from momentary pleasure.

Virtues (Aristotle)

Habits of human excellence that develop when people allow reason to guide their conduct and strive toward their intended purpose.

The Mean (Aristotle)

The moral balance where virtue resides between two extremes (deficiency and excess), which is moderate and tailored to each individual and context.

Theoretical Reason (Kant)

The cognitive domain of reason concerned with understanding how humans acquire knowledge through sensory experiences, laws of nature, and cause and effect.

Practical Reason (Kant)

The moral dimension of reason that guides human behavior by enabling individuals to understand and act from conscious moral choices.

Empiricism

The epistemological theory asserting that knowledge originates from sensory experience and observable evidence.

Deontological Ethics

An ethical theory derived from the Greek word deon (duty), asserting that an action is morally good when performed out of duty rather than desires or consequences.

Good Will (Kant)

The fundamental commitment to choose what is morally right for the sake of duty alone, which Kant considered the supreme good.

Maxim

A subjective principle or personal rule of conduct that guides how an individual chooses to act.

Universal Law Maxim

Kant's moral imperative dictating that an individual should only act on maxims that they could rationally will to become universal laws for everyone.

Treat People as Ends

Kant's moral principle stating that one must treat humanity, whether in oneself or another person, always as an end in itself and never merely as an instrument or means.

Kingdom of Ends

An ideal society envisioned by Kant in which every individual respects all people as inherently valuable ends rather than useful tools.

The Other (Levinas)

A vulnerable, unprotected, or marginalized stranger whose presence disrupts self-centeredness and calls forth moral responsibility.

The Face (Levinas)

A direct encounter with another person's unique individuality and eyes that exposes vulnerability, reflects traces of God, and issues the moral command: You shall not murder.

Trace (Levinas)

A visible imprint or sign of the infinite Good or God encountered in unique human beings, who can never be fully grasped or reduced to universal categories.