Ethics, Moral Theories, and Abortion: Key Concepts and Debates

Term: What is ethics

Definition: Study of morality — right, wrong, good, or bad; examines principles guiding human behavior.

Term: What is normative ethics

Definition: Focuses on what moral standards or principles ought to guide actions (e.g., utilitarianism, Kantianism).

Term: What is metaethics

Definition: Studies meaning and nature of moral judgments, e.g., "What does 'good' mean?" and "Are moral truths objective?"

Term: What is applied ethics

Definition: Applies moral principles to specific issues like abortion, euthanasia, or famine relief.

Term: Moore's argument against 'good = pleasure'

Definition: Open Question Argument: We can ask "Is pleasure really good?" → meaning of "good" ≠ "pleasure."

Term: Why is utilitarianism better than egoism

Definition: Promotes general happiness rather than self-interest; considers duties to others.

Term: Why does Ross say utilitarianism oversimplifies morality

Definition: Ignores multiple moral duties (promises, justice, gratitude); reduces morality to outcomes.

Term: What is a prima facie duty

Definition: A moral reason that counts in favor of action but can be overridden; guides actual duty.

Term: Name three prima facie duties & origins. Definition: Fidelity (promises), Reparation (past wrongs), Beneficence (opportunity to help).

Term: What is an intuition

Example? Definition: Immediate moral insight; e.g., "Breaking a promise is wrong."

Term: What is a self-evident proposition

Example? Definition: Truth known directly without proof; e.g., "The whole is greater than the part."

Term: Ross on supreme moral principle

Definition: Rejected; morality rests on multiple prima facie duties, not one overarching principle.

Term: Ross's method of ethical truth

Definition: Reflection and moral intuition to identify prima facie duties.

Term: Absolute Poverty

Definition: Life below basic human decency: malnutrition, disease, illiteracy, squalor.

Term: Absolute Affluence

Definition: Surplus wealth beyond basic needs.

Term: Singer's main moral principle

Definition: If we can prevent something bad without comparable moral sacrifice, we ought to do it.

Term: 'Child in the pond' analogy

Definition: Obligation to prevent death (even distant) is like saving a drowning child; minor sacrifice is morally required.

Term: Nearby-first objection

Definition: Distance/nationality are irrelevant; suffering matters equally everywhere.

Term: How much should we give

Definition: Until giving more causes comparable moral sacrifice; strong version: until just above level of those helped.

Term: Government-responsibility objection

Definition: Personal moral obligation still exists, even if governments should act.

Term: 'All life is equal' critique

Definition: Not all lives have equal claims; obligations are limited by entitlements (rights, deserts).

Term: Eyes/kidneys inconsistency

Definition: If all lives equal, we'd be obliged to donate organs — absurd.

Term: Entitlements & obligations

Definition: Rights and deserts define what we must do morally; shape limits of duty.

Term: Negative vs. positive rights

Definition: Negative: right not to be interfered with; Positive: right to receive aid.

Term: Ideal moral code

Definition: Code maximizing good outcomes considering human nature, motivation, and social realities.

Term: Why disagreement with Singer

Definition: Singer: maximize good without limits; Arthur: respect rights, fairness, human limitations.

Term: Problem with "line drawing" in abortion

Definition: When life begins is unclear; key issue is bodily autonomy, not fetal status.

Term: Concessions to pro-life side

Definition: Fetus is a person from conception (for argument).

Term: Violinist argument

Definition: Forced bodily support for another (violinist/fetus) isn't morally required.

Term: Extreme anti-abortion view

Definition: Abortion always wrong, even to save the mother.

Term: Key missing factor

Definition: Woman's right to control her body; central to morality of abortion.

Term: When is abortion wrong

Definition: Only if violating rights of others; requires actual moral claim.

Term: Good vs. Minimally Decent Samaritan

Definition: Good: morally supererogatory; law shouldn't force women to be Good Samaritans.

Term: Critique of anti-abortion argument

Definition: Reliance on fetal personhood is unclear.

Term: Critique of pro-choice argument

Definition: Fails to explain why killing infants/adults is wrong.

Term: Why killing adults is wrong

Definition: Deprives them of a "future like ours" — valuable experiences, activities, enjoyments.

Term: Against desire account

Definition: Wrong even if victim has no current desire to live (e.g., unconscious).

Term: Against discontinuation account

Definition: Wrong because it deprives future experiences, not just current ones.

Term: Implications for contraception

Definition: No identifiable individual is deprived of a future → contraception not wrong.