Ethical Concepts and Ethical Theories: Frameworks for Analyzing Moral Issues

This set of flashcards covers essential concepts and theories related to ethics and morality as discussed in the lecture notes.

What is morality?

Morality can be defined as a system of rules for guiding human conduct and principles for evaluating those rules.

What are the two basic components of a moral system?

Rules of Conduct and Principles of Evaluation.

What is one approach to evaluating moral principles?

Grounding moral principles in a Religious System, Legal System, or Philosophical System of Ethics.

What distinguishes ethicists from moralists?

Ethicists study ethics as a branch of philosophy, while moralists advocate for specific moral values in society.

What is a discussion stopper concerning moral discourse?

People often disagree about morality, leading to a belief that meaningful discourse on moral issues is impossible.

What is cultural relativism?

The belief that a moral system is dependent on, or relative to, a particular culture or group.

What does the term 'private morality' imply?

The idea that morality is personal in nature and therefore simply a private matter, which is considered contradictory.

What is the relationship between morality and social policies?

Morality includes rules for establishing social policies, guiding actions on a macro level.

What is a core value in ethical studies?

Core values serve as fundamental principles that guide moral reasoning and ethical decision-making.

Provide an example of a directive in morality.

An example of a directive is 'Do not steal'.

What does it mean to 'Ground moral principles in a legal system'?

It means viewing actions as wrong based on their violation of established laws.

What role do Principles of Evaluation serve in a moral system?

They are evaluative standards used to justify rules of conduct.