Moral Issues Unit 1

Morality

A person's or society's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is right and wrong, good and bad

Ethics

A system of moral principles and norms that guide behavior

Utilitarianism

A consequentialist moral theory according to which happiness has positive intrinsic value in terms of which actions are right or wrong

Utility

A technical term introduced in connection with utilitarianism to refer to the net intrinsic value (positive or negative) of the consequences of some action or rule, where what has intrinsic positive value for the utilitarian is happiness and what has intrinsic negative value is unhappiness

Greatest Happiness/Principle of Utility

The fundamental moral principle of the utilitarian moral theory, according to which (in its “act” version) an action is morally right (not wrong) if and only if (and because) it would likely produce as high a utility as would any available alternative action open to the agent

Pleasure/Happiness

Some philosophers maintain that happiness is intrinsically good—its goodness depends on the inherent nature of happiness—and that things like money and power, while not intrinsically good, are nevertheless extrinsically good because they can be used to bring about or contribute to happiness. Happiness is entirely constituted by experiences of pleasure and unhappiness by experiences of displeasure or pain

Kantian Ethics (Kantian Moral Theory)

A type of moral theory first developed by German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) that features the notions of respect for persons and universality

Moral Law

An absolute principle defining the criteria of right action

Hypothetical vs. Categorical Imperative

Hypothetical: conditional. Categorical: applies without exception and conditions

Formulation #1 Universal Law

A formulation of Kant’s Categorical Imperative which states that an action is morally permissible if and only if the maxim associated with the action is universalizable

Formulation #2 Humanity

Treat all persons as ends in themselves, not merely as means to our own ends

Virtue Ethics

A type of moral theory that makes considerations of virtue and vice the basis for explaining the rightness and wrongness of actions

Virtue vs. Vice

Virtue: right actions. Vice: wrong actions

Virtues of Character and its classification

Virtues of character are positive personal qualities that align with moral standards, often categorized in philosophy and positive psychology into groups like the Six Virtues (Wisdom, Courage, Humanity, Justice, Temperance, Transcendence)

Characteristics of the Good/Moral Excellence

Characteristics of moral excellence include honesty, compassion, kindness, integrity, generosity, courage, and discipline, which are developed through repeated virtuous actions and form a virtuous character that adheres to high ethical standards

Care Ethics

A type of moral theory that emphasizes the moral significance of relationships among people

Duties of care

The legal or moral obligation to take reasonable steps to avoid foreseeable harm to others, acting as a prudent person would in a similar situation

Relationship

Relationships and morality are deeply intertwined, as shared moral principles like honesty, respect, and loyalty are fundamental to building and maintaining healthy connections, while differing moral values can create conflict within a relationship. The presence of a relationship can also change a person's moral judgment, with people often holding differing expectations for behavior within close bonds compared to their interactions with strangers

Pros and Cons of Each Moral Theory

Pros: coherence, wholeness of human nature, recognition of social connection. Cons: theoretically instinct

Recognize An Argument: Deductive and Inductive Argument

Deductive arguments offer a conclusion that is guaranteed to be true if the premises are true, moving from general principles to specific cases to provide certainty. In contrast, inductive arguments derive a conclusion that is probable but not certain, moving from specific observations and experiences to broader generalizations to form a likely conclusion