Philosophy A level - Ethics

What are ethics?

Principles that govern a person's or group's behaviour, determining what is right and wrong. They often involve moral values and guide decision-making in various contexts.

What is morality?

Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behaviour. It encompasses the rules and guidelines that individuals or societies follow to live ethically.

What is absolutism?

Ethical theory that affirms fixed moral principles that apply universally, regardless of context or consequences.

What is relativism?

Relativism is an ethical theory that posits that moral principles are not fixed and can vary based on culture, context, or individual circumstances, suggesting that what is right or wrong is subjective.

What are normative ethics?

Normative ethics is the branch of ethics that examines and establishes the standards for right and wrong behavior, providing a framework for how individuals should act.

What are applied ethics?

Applied ethics is a practical branch of ethics that deals with the application of moral principles to real-world issues and specific situations, such as medical, legal, and environmental dilemmas.

What are meta-ethics?

Meta-ethics is the area of ethics that explores the nature, meaning, and foundations of ethical concepts, focusing on questions about what good and bad truly mean.

What might influence someone’s ethical decision making?

Factors such as agency, intentions, consequences and moral patients.