Chapter 1: Moral Reasoning in Bioethics

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, principles, theories, and reasoning terms from the lecture notes on Chapter 1: Moral Reasoning in Bioethics.

Morality

Beliefs about morally right and wrong actions and morally good and bad persons or character; a normative concern about life.

Ethics

The study of morality using the tools and methods of philosophy (not synonymous with morality).

Descriptive ethics

The study of morality using the methodology of science; investigates empirical facts about beliefs, behaviors, and practices.

Normative ethics

The search for, and justification of, moral standards or norms for guiding actions and judgments.

Metaethics

The study of the meaning and justification of basic moral beliefs and questions about moral terms and facts.

Applied ethics

The use of moral norms and concepts to resolve practical moral issues in particular domains.

Bioethics

Applied ethics focused on health care, medical science, and medical technology.

Moral norms

Standards that guide conduct and evaluate actions and character, often overriding nonmoral norms in moral contexts.

Normative dominance

The idea that moral norms override other kinds of norms in moral decision making.

Universality

Moral principles apply in all relevantly similar situations.

Impartiality

The demand that everyone’s interests count the same unless there is a morally relevant difference.

Reasonableness

Moral judgments must be backed by reasons that others can acknowledge.

Moral obligations

Duties to perform or not perform certain actions.

Moral values

Judgments about what is morally good, bad, praiseworthy, or blameworthy, often about persons or motives.

Right (obligatory)

An action that would be wrong not to perform; required.

Permissible

An action that is allowed; not morally wrong to perform.

Prohibited

An action that would be wrong to perform; not allowed.

Supererogatory

An action that is above and beyond duty; praiseworthy but not required.

Autonomy

Rational capacity for self-governance and self-determination; the ability to direct one’s own life.

Respect for autonomy

The obligation to honor an autonomous person’s decisions, typically requiring informed consent.

Informed consent

Consent given freely with adequate information to allow an autonomous decision.

Nonmaleficence

Do no harm; do not intentionally or negligently harm patients; exercise due care.

Beneficence

Do good to others; actively promote welfare and prevent or remove harm.

Utility

Produce the greatest overall balance of good over bad (harm) for all those affected.

Justice

Fair distribution of benefits and burdens; equals should be treated equally unless there is a morally relevant difference.

Harm principle

Autonomy may be restricted to prevent harm to others.

Paternalism

Overriding a person’s choices for their own good; can be weak or strong.

Absolute principle

A principle that applies without exceptions.

Prima facie principle

A principle that applies in all cases unless overridden by a more weighty duty.

Moral theory

A general framework that explains what makes actions right or wrong and why.

Higher principle

A broad principle from which specific moral premises are derived.

Moral objectivism

The view that there are objective moral standards that apply across people and cultures.

Moral absolutism

The belief that objective moral principles are unconditional and universal, with no exceptions.

Ethical relativism

The view that moral standards are not objective but relative to individuals or cultures.

Subjective relativism

Right actions are those sanctioned by a single person (individual level).

Cultural relativism

Right actions are those sanctioned by one’s culture (culture level).

Divine command theory

Right actions are those commanded by God and wrong actions are those forbidden by God.

Euthyphro dilemma

Are actions right because God commands them, or does God command them because they are right?

Natural law theory

Moral truths derive from human nature and rational understanding; used in both secular and religious ethics.

Descriptive vs normative ethics

Descriptive ethics studies how people actually behave; normative ethics prescribes how people ought to behave.

Counterexample

An instance that shows a general claim or principle may be false or doubtful.

Deductive argument

An argument intended to provide conclusive support; if premises are true, the conclusion must be true.

Inductive argument

An argument that provides probable support; conclusions are likely but not guaranteed.

Modus ponens

If p, then q; p is true; therefore q is true.

Modus tollens

If p, then q; not q; therefore not p.

Valid argument

An argument where the conclusion follows logically from the premises.

Sound argument

A valid deductive argument with true premises.

Cogent

A strong inductive argument with true premises; the conclusion is likely to be true.

Straw man

A fallacy that misrepresents an opponent’s position to defeat it more easily.

Ad hominem

An appeal to the person rather than to the argument; dismissing a claim because of who says it.

Appeal to ignorance

Basing a claim on a lack of evidence either for or against it.

Begging the question

Arguing in a circle; assuming the conclusion in the premises.

Slippery slope

Arguing that a small first step will inevitably lead to extreme consequences without justification.

Confirmation bias

Tendency to seek, interpret, or remember information that confirms one’s preconceptions.

Availability error

Relying on readily memorable information rather than on all relevant evidence.

Dunning-Kruger effect

The tendency for people with little knowledge to overestimate their competence.