Moral Philosophy and Moral Reasoning Lecture Notes

A series of flashcards to help review key vocabulary and concepts from moral philosophy and reasoning.

Moral Philosophy

The study of right and wrong, good and bad, exploring moral principles, values, and justification.

Metaethics

A branch of moral philosophy that asks what morality is, including questions like 'Is morality objective?'

Normative Ethics

A branch of moral philosophy that provides moral rules and principles.

Applied Ethics

A branch of moral philosophy that applies moral principles to real-world issues.

Moral Reasoning

The process of deriving a conclusion based on premises in logical moral arguments.

Validity

The quality of an argument where the conclusion logically follows from the premises.

Soundness

An argument that is both valid and has true premises.

Moral Skepticism

The view that challenges whether we can have moral knowledge and questions if moral claims can be objectively true.

Autonomy

The moral principle that denotes respect for rational choice.

Beneficence

A moral principle that emphasizes promoting the welfare of others.

Nonmaleficence

The moral principle that focuses on avoiding harm to others.

Justice

The moral principle concerned with fairness and equality.

Cultural Relativism

The belief that morality depends on cultural norms, meaning there is no universal moral truth.

Argument for Cultural Relativism

An argument suggesting that differing moral codes among cultures imply no objective moral truth exists.

Moral Nihilism

The philosophical position that denies the existence of objective moral truths or values.

Subjectivism

The moral view that considers morality as individual and human-made, yet still meaningful.

Expressivism

A theory stating that moral language expresses emotional responses rather than factual assertions.

Emotivism

The view that moral statements are simply expressions of emotional reactions.

The Euthyphro Dilemma

A philosophical question about whether something is good because God commands it or if God commands it because it is good.

Divine Command Theory

The ethical theory that claims morality is grounded in God's will.

Natural Law Theory

The idea that morality is based on human nature and reason, deriving its origin from philosophical figures like Aristotle and Aquinas.

Intrinsic Value

The value that something has 'in itself,' or for its own sake, not merely for the sake of something else.

The Social Contract

A theoretical agreement among individuals in a society to provide mutual protection and cooperation.

Game Theory

A mathematical model that studies interactions among rational decision-makers, often used in ethical considerations.

Veil of Ignorance

A method of determining the morality of issues by pretending that societal decision-makers are unaware of their own social status.

Utilitarianism

A normative ethical theory that holds that the best action is the one that maximizes overall 'utility' or happiness.

Hedonism

The philosophical theory that pleasure is the only intrinsic good.

Mill's Contributions

John Stuart Mill's arguments that utilized utilitarianism to advocate for women's rights and emancipation.

Objections to Hedonism

Critiques of hedonism pointing out that intrinsic goods other than pleasure exist, such as knowledge and art.

Agency Objection

The critique that morality values actions and not just feelings, suggesting a broader understanding of good.

Kant's Categorical Imperative

The foundational principle of Kant's moral philosophy stating that one should act only according to the maxim that can be willed as a universal law.

Virtue Ethics

An ethical theory focusing on the development of good character and virtues rather than solely on rules or consequences.

Female-centered philosophy

An alternative ethical theory that emphasizes contextual, relational, and emotional aspects of moral decision-making, contrasting with traditional ethics of justice.