Bioethics 2

Subjective relativism

The idea that moral judgments and truths are subjective and vary from person to person.

Cultural relativism

The belief that moral norms are relative to culture and that one culture's ideas about morality should not be judged by the standards of another.

Objective moral standards

Moral norms that are considered universally valid, independent of individual beliefs or cultural practices.

Divine command theory

The view that actions are morally right if they are commanded by God and morally wrong if they are prohibited by God.

Moral common sense

The intuitive understanding of right and wrong that people often possess regardless of philosophical reasoning.

Bio ethics

A field of ethics that evaluates the ethical implications of biological research and applications, especially in medicine.

Moral absolutism

The ethical belief that certain actions are absolutely right or wrong, regardless of context or circumstances.

Inductive argument

An argument that provides probable support for its conclusion but does not guarantee its truth.

Deductive reasoning

The process of reasoning from one or more general statements (premises) to reach a logically certain conclusion.

Fallacies in moral reasoning

Errors in reasoning that undermine the logic of an argument, often encountered in moral debates.

Ad hominem fallacy

A fallacy that attacks the character of the person making an argument rather than the argument itself.

Strawman fallacy

A common type of logical fallacy that misrepresents an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack.

Slippery slope argument

An argument suggesting that a relatively small first step leads to a chain of related events culminating in some significant effect.

Hasty generalization

A logical fallacy that draws a conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence.

Dunning-Kruger effect

A cognitive bias where individuals with low ability at a task overestimate their ability.

Ethical relativism

The view that ethical standards and morality are determined by cultural context and are not absolute.

Confirmation bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one’s preconceptions.

Paternalism

The interference with a person's liberty or autonomy, justified by perceived welfare or safety.

Normative ethics

The study of ethical action, exploring the standards for right and wrong conduct.

Moral objectivism

The belief that there are universal moral truths that apply to all individuals regardless of culture or personal beliefs.

Meta-ethics

The branch of ethics that seeks to understand the nature, scope, and meaning of moral judgments.

Descriptive ethics

The study of people’s beliefs about morality; focusing on what people actually believe rather than what they should believe.

Moral arguments

Arguments whose conclusion is a moral statement, usually asserting that an action is right or wrong.

Critical reasoning

The process of logically evaluating arguments and evidence to reach a well-founded conclusion.

Moral infallibility

The notion that an individual's moral judgments are always correct.

Doctrine

A set of beliefs or principles held and taught by a group, especially in religious contexts.

Ethics

The branch of philosophy that deals with questions about what is morally right and wrong.

Social reformers

Individuals who advocate for changes in societal norms to address moral issues.

Moral progress

The idea that societal moral standards improve over time, suggesting paths to a more ethical society.

Evidence

Information or data that supports a belief, argument, or theory.

Tolerance

The willingness to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that differ from one's own.

Biased reasoning

Judgment that is influenced by personal feelings or opinions rather than objective reasoning.

Moral judgment

An assessment or evaluation of an action, decision, or person in terms of moral standards.

Aquinas' theory

Philosophical perspectives espoused by Thomas Aquinas that grapple with the relationship between God and morality.

Natural law theory

The belief that moral principles are derived from the nature of humans and the world.

Perception of evidence

How individuals interpret data or facts based on their own biases and perspectives.

Dispute

A disagreement or argument about something, often involving differing opinions.