facts
pertinent details of the situation
rules
what the law says about the issue
values
moral principles that the decision about a question should appeal to
logic
reasoning using valid and sound arguments
valid
conclusion follows from premises such that if premises are true, then conclusion is true
sound
both premises and conclusion are true
true
actually factual premise or conclusion
fallacy
error in reasoning that renders argument incorrect
slippery slope
assuming that a small change will lead to disaster
ad hominem
focus on one person's life rather than the argument they present
tu quoque
claiming that one's argument is false because it is inconsistent with their past actions or claims
straw man/red herring
focuses on issues irrelevant to the argument at hand
post hoc
supposing a causal link between two events
appeal to authority
citing an authority who is irrelevant to the question
appeal to feelings
citing one's personal feelings as justification for an argument
ad populum
justifying an action because "everybody does it"
false dichotomy
presenting an issue as if there are only two possible choices
begging the question
a conclusion which requires good reasons is assumed without argument or proof
equivocation
an argument which utilizes an ambiguous term in multiple, conflicting senses
deontological
referring to morality of the action we take
teleological
referring to morality of the intentions and purposes behind the action we take
constructivist
morality is not something which can be discovered, but is made by and for social groups
utilitarianism
what actions bring about the most happiness?
principle of utility
actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness
rule-utilitarianism
one must follow rules that generally maximize happiness
act-utilitarianism
one must act to maximize happiness
kantian ethics
universal duties tell us what we must do, regardless of our personal desires
principle of universalizability
consistently will that everyone in a similar situation will act a certain way
hypothetical imperative
consider means to an end (if I want..., then I should...)
categorical imperative
consider only ends (I should always...)
maxim
a rule that guides your actions
consequentialism
consequences count rather than motives or intentions
theory of value
good consequences are defined by pleasure or absence of pain and suffering
impartiality
each being's happiness is to count as one and not more
Hobbesian Contractarianism
morality is whatever we decide is to our mutual advantage
veil of ignorance
not knowing what position you would hold in a given society
social contract theory
rational people in the original position (behind veil of ignorance) would choose principles of liberty and equality in hypothetical society
autonomy
respect capacity of individuals to choose their own vision of the good life and act accordingly
beneficence
foster the interest and happiness of other persons and of society at large
nonmaleficence
refrain from harming other persons
justice
act fairly
prima facie duty
must always be acted on unless it conflicts on a particular occasion with another duty
actual duty
act based on examination of respective weights of competing prima facie duties in particular situations
principlism
weigh moral principles and balance conflicting values to make decisions
positive obligation
respectful treatment in informational exchanges and actions involving decision making
negative obligation
no controlling constraints by others
specification
principles must be defined to suit needs and demands of particular contexts; narrow scope of norm
consistency
avoidance of contradiction
argumentative support
explicit support for a position with reasons
intuitive plausibility
feature of a norm or judgment being secure in its own right
compatibility
coherence with available empirical evidence
comprehensiveness
covering as much of the entire moral domain as possible
simplicity
reducing number of moral considerations to the minimum possible
complete coherence
total seamless system of morality
active euthanasia
direct action designed to kill a patient
passive euthanasia
withholding treatment to allow a patient to die
process
there is no single criterion for death; rather, death is a:
coma
eyes closed unconsciousness; not usually permanent
brain death
irreversible loss of the clinical function of the whole brain
persistent vegetative state
eyes opened unconsciousness; brain stem activity, no higher processing
locked-in state
paralyzed consciousness; eye movement and blinking possible
minimally conscious state
severe, but not complete, impairment of awareness
whole brain criterion
death occurs only when all integrative functions of all the parts of the brain irreversibly cease
cortical criterion
death occurs when the cortex irreversibly loses the capacity for essential life function (consciousness, thought, feeling)
cardiorespiratory criterion
death occurs when vital bodily fluids (air and blood) fail to continue to flow through the organism
Halevy-Brody response
life support could be unilaterally withdrawn when the cortex no longer functions
duty to die
patient making the choice for active or (usually) passive euthanasia due to burdens being placed on others