Ethics and Morality Unit 2 AOS 1 Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive vocabulary set covering key ethical theories, influences on moral thinking, and specific frameworks required for the Unit 2.1 SAC, designed to maximize student performance by clarifying core terminology.

Categorical Imperatives

Commands you MUST FOLLOW, regardless of your desires; these moral obligations are derived from pure reason.

Universalizability Principle

A rule of action stated as: "Act only according to that maxim which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law without contradiction."

Formula of Humanity

A moral command to act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end and never as mere means.

Utilitarianism

A moral theory focusing on the results or consequences of actions while treating intentions as irrelevant.

Principle of Utility

The ethical guideline stating we should act always so as to produce the greatest good for the greatest number.

Act Utilitarianism

A short-term approach where, in any given situation, you choose the specific action that produces the greatest good for the greatest number.

Rule Utilitarianism

A long-term version of the theory stating we ought to live by rules that, in general, are likely to lead to the greatest good for the greatest number.

Moral Relativism

The recognition of a wide variety of beliefs and practices without a universal standard, where the standard is often set by those in power.

Ethical Absolutism

The belief that there must be a set of universal moral rules that are always true, regardless of cultural beliefs.

Eudaimonia

A Greek term referring to a life well lived or human flourishing.

Virtue Theory

An ethical theory that emphasizes an individual’s character rather than specific rules, focusing on doing the right thing at the right time in the right way.

Golden Mean

A principle of virtue theory involving finding the balance in action, such as choosing courage by taking stock of a situation to intervene correctly.

Habituation

The process through which character is developed and virtue is learned as a skill through experience and copying virtuous people.

Egoism

A relativist, selfish ethic focused on self-preservation, based on the idea that if you are nice to others, they will be nice to you.

Moral Values

Universal or cultural ideas that have an importance attached to them such that people work towards attaining them.

Normative Standards

Specific actions or inactions which a culture approves or disapproves of, such as the disapproval of lying.

Social Norms

Rules created by collective behavior (what everyone does), whether those actions follow or go against the law.

Mores

The customs and conventions of society, such as shaking hands or tipping in specific cultures.

Conscience

The developed ability to tell right from wrong using knowledge, intuition, emotions, and wisdom.

Intuition

A feeling based on emotional intelligence, natural law, and life experience.

World View

The framework within which an individual operates and interprets reality.

Assumptions

Statements or ideas that are believed to be true without evidence.

Reasoning

The objective analysis of an ethical issue aided by factors such as conscience, intuition, morality, and assumptions.

Ethical Authority

Any person, thing, or idea—such as a parent, teacher, or law—used to support an ethical perspective.

Teleology

An ethical outlook focused on goals, tasks, or outcomes; in "12 Angry Men," it is seen in jurors who focus on the structural process or conforming to an outcome.

Deontology

The ethical approach centered on duty, rules, and the laws involved in an act, prioritizing moral obligations over consequences.

Reasonable Doubt

A legal and ethical threshold used in criminal cases to determine if there is enough certainty to find a defendant guilty.