A Concise Introduction to Ethics

Flashcards about Introduction to Ethics, Chapters 1 and 2

What is morality?

Focused on the good life, our duties to others, the nature of virtue, etc.

What isn't morality?

Law, etiquette, self-interest, tradition, convention

What is conventional morality?

1. System of widely accepted rules and principles. 2. Created by and for human beings. 3. Members of a culture or society use them to govern their own lives and assess the actions and motivations of others.

What is the assumption of the book regarding conventional morality?

The standards of conventional morality can be mistaken.

What is critical morality?

1. Does not have its origin in social agreements. 2. Is untainted by mistaken beliefs, irrationality, or popular prejudices. 3. Can serve as the true standard for determining when conventional morality has things right or wrong.

What will be explored in this book?

Critical morality

What is value theory?

What makes a life go well?

What is normative ethics?

What are our moral duties?

What is metaethics?

What is the status of ethics?

Some questions related to value theory

What is the good life? What is worth pursuing for its own sake? How do we improve our lot in life?

Some questions related to normative ethics

What are our fundamental moral duties? Which character traits are virtues, and which are vices? Who should our role models be? Do the ends always justify the means?

Some questions related to metaethics

What is the status of moral claims and advice? Can moral claims and theories be true or false? Can we have moral knowledge? If so, how? Is there always good reason to behave morally?

One possible view of moral philosophy

The enterprise of moral philosophy is bankrupt, and all ethical views are equally plausible.

Ethical starting points

Everyone is morally fallible. Friendship is valuable. We are not obligated to do the impossible. Children bear less moral responsibility than adults. Justice is a very important good. Deliberately hurting other people requires justification.

More ethical starting points

Equals ought to be treated equally. Self-interest isn’t the only ethical consideration. Agony is bad. Might doesn’t make right. Free and informed requests prevent rights violations.

Divine Command Theory

An act is morally required just because it is commanded by God and immoral just because God forbids it.