Lesson 2: Morals, Ethics, and Morality

Vocabulary flashcards defining key philosophical concepts of morals, ethics, morality, immediate and ultimate principles, and their application to drug addiction analysis.

Morals

An individual's code of behavior that may come from religion, culture, principles, or beliefs, and which may or may not be rational or based on reason.

Ethics

A philosophical science that deals with the morality of human behavior viewed from ultimate principles known by human reason, providing a rational way of deciding what is good for the individual or society.

Morality

A judgment that can be attributed to a certain behavior which follows from an execution of a decision based on certain philosophical principles.

Ultimate Cause

Refers to the root cause or underlying cause of a problem.

Immediate Cause

Refers to the proximate cause of a problem.

Immediate Principle

A quick fix method of addressing a problem by merely addressing its immediate causes.

Ultimate Principle

A method that addresses the ultimate cause by eliminating the series of immediate causes to reach the first cause, also known as root cause analysis.

Immediate Cause of Drug Addiction

Drugs.

Ultimate Causes of Drug Addiction

Examples of underlying causes including peer pressure, family history of addiction, lack of family involvement, early use, low self-esteem, stress, trauma or abuse, relationship problems, and night jobs/nature of jobs to stay awake.

Immediate Approach to Drug Addiction

An approach that attempts to resolve addiction by eliminating addicts (either by killing them), drug dealers, or drug lords.

Ultimate Approach to Drug Addiction

An approach that eliminates the cause of addiction and rehabilitates addicts through the correct process, recognizing that shortcuts addressing only immediate causes are short-term.