Ethics and it's 3 branches

What is the Greek word of 'Ethics'?

ethos

What's the literal meaning of 'ethos'?

Customs

What's ethics in Latin?

moral

What is the definition of Ethics?

The study of the morality of human acts

An action where man is master, having the power to do it or not do it. (Has Control)

Human Act

It requires willingness, awareness, and freedom.

Human Act

What is WAF in human act?

Willingness, Awareness, Freedom

Action done without the awareness of the mind.

Act of Man

An automatic action of the body that we can't control like breathing or blinking.

Act of Man

What are the 3 branches of ethics? (Mnemonic: MNA)

Metaethics, Normative Ethics, and Applied Ethics.

What does Metaethics study?

The nature and basis of morality itself.

What branches of ethics ask the question: What is morality?

Metaethics

What are the two major, opposing views under Metaethics regarding moral facts?

Realism and Antirealism.

What is Moral Realism?

The view that moral facts exist just like scientific facts.

Everyone has intuition, but establishing these hard moral facts faces the 'grounding problem' (the search for a solid foundation for moral beliefs).

Moral Realism

What are the 2 VIEWS of Moral Realism?

Absolutism and Relativism.

Uses absolute standards from a single basis (religion, law, logic).

Absolutism

Clue word is 'always' (something is always good or always evil).

Absolutism

Allows for more than one moral position.

Relativism

Clue word is 'depends.' Or depending on belief or religion.

Relativism

What are the 2 kinds of Relativism?

Descriptive Cultural Relativism (DCR) and Normative Cultural Relativism (NCR).

A kind of Relativism that simply describes different moral beliefs across cultures.

Descriptive Cultural Relativism.

A kind of Relativism that judges right/wrong by stating that no culture can actually be wrong; each culture is right within itself.

Normative Cultural Relativism.

The view that there are no objective moral facts and rules are fake (e.g., believing violence is fine as long as it's for food animals).

Antirealism.

A view preferred by humans stating that morality is entirely dependent on personal feelings or attitudes.

Subjectivism.

Give an example comparing Realism vs. Subjectivism on the topic of cheating.

Cheating is wrong (an objective fact).

It is an objective fact.

Realism.

Give an example of Subjectivism on the topic of cheating.

Cheating is wrong because people dislike it (depends on human feelings).

Dependent on human feelings.

Subjectivism.

What does Normative Ethics deal with?

Norms and prescriptive ethics (how to be good or evil).

What are the two types of standards under Normative Ethics?

Moral Standards and Non-Moral Standards.

What happens when someone fails to comply with 'Moral Standards'?

It causes a sense of guilt.

Consequence-based. Morality depends on results/outcomes.

Teleological.

Aims for the general welfare ('the greatest good for the greatest number').

Teleological.

The end justifies the means.

Teleological.

Non-consequence-based. Rightness/wrongness is held by natural law or virtue.

Deontological.

An evil act is always evil, no matter how good the outcome.

Deontological.

The end does NOT justify the means.

Deontological.

What are 'Non-Moral Standards' and what happens if you break them?

Standards expected by society to be followed (like folkways).

Non-compliance causes feelings of shame or embarrassment rather than guilt.

Non-Moral Standards.

Applying ethical principles and moral theories to real-life, practical moral issues (like child labor and abortion).

Applied Ethics.

What are the 4 Domains of Applied Ethics? (Mnemonic: BCOS)

Business, Clinical, Organizational, and Social.