ethics and morals

perceptual error

occurs when our brains filter our perceptions from our senses and fill in missing information based in part on our expectations

misperception of random data

our brains tendency to impose order on random data

memorable events error

involves our ability to remember vividly outstanding events

probability error

occurs when we misestimate the probability of an event by a huge margin

gamblers error

is erroneous beliefs that previous events affect the probability in a random event

self-serving bias

describes when we attribute positive events and successes to our own character or actions, but blame negative results to external factors unrelated to our character

self-fulfilling prophecy

expectation or belief that can influence your behaviors, thus causing belief to come true

one of us/one of them error

occurs because we tend to treat people who are one of us with respect and those who are one of them whether in regard to race, sex, religion, political party, age, or nationality with suspicion or worse

moral outrage

occurs when we witness an injustice or violation of moral decency

moral reasoning

applies critical analysis to specific events to determine what’s right or wrong, what people ought to do in particular situation

moral values

those that benefit yourself and others and are worthwhile for their own sake

nonmoral values

goal-orientated and are a means to an end we wish to achieve, such as happiness

helpers high

happens when you help other people and then feel happy and good about yourself

virtue ethics

philosophy that emphasizes character over right actions

utilitarinanism

ethical theory stating that the morally right action is the one that produces the greatest good for greatest number of people

consequentialism

an ethical theory that judges whether an action is right or wrongbased on its consequences

categorical imperative

idea we all must act according to an unwavering moral codes that is not influenced by situational variables

deontology

moral theory that judges actions based on whether they follow absolute moral rules rather than the consequences of those actions

prima facie duties

Moral duties that are binding unless overridden by a more compelling moral duty.

rights-based ethics

philosophy that because we have moral rights, others have a duty to honor these rights (still universal)

ad hominem/personal attack

attacking speaker or group representing idea rather than attacking merits or idea itself

bandwagon fallacy

stating idea is correctif majority of people believe its correct

appeal to authority

argument that concludes the argument is true simply because a supposed authority or expert said it was true

appeal to ignorance

arguing that something is true simply because it has not been proven false

appeal to tradition

claiming that simply because something has always been done that way it should continue to be done thatway t

fallacy of sunk costs

the expenditure of past resources justifies the continued expenditure of resources

false dilemma

presents only 2 options/sides when there are many more options or side

hasty generalization

generalizing from a sample that is too small or biased

naturalistic fallacy

fallacy based on the assumption that what is natural is good

slippery slope

chain reaction argument that claims one event or action will inevitably lead to another. more disastrous outcome

appeal to pity

subsitiution of emotional appeal for proper evidence and reasoning

Lawerence kolbergs’s stages

Preconventional (Obey ti rules) 2.)Concentional (conform to avoid disapproval/censure) 3.) Post conventional (respect rights of indiv)

inductive reasoning

aims at developing a theory thats prob true. a tbased on probabilities. can be false even if premises are true

deductive reasoning

aims at testing exisiting theory. based on certainty. cant be false if premises are true

factors that create biased poll results

Self-selected samples, Slanted questions, push polls, loaded questions, self-serving errors

self-selected sample

occurs when only the people most interested in the poll or survey participate

types of syllogisms

categorical, hypothetical, disjunctive, fallacy of false dilemma

causal arguments

claims something is or isnt the cause of something else (cause-effect)hen 2 events occur toget

correlation

causation

sample size in generalizations

categorical syllogism

inductive arguments types

arguments based on analogy

random sampling

5 tests of inductive evidence

reliability of eyewitness testimony

self-ssrving bias

self-fulfilling prophecy