General Ethics Practice Flashcards

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers introductory concepts in philosophy and ethics, including definitions of major branches, the nature of moral philosophy, types of moral dilemmas, and the objects of ethical study based on the course module.

Aristotle

An ancient Greek philosopher and scientist (born 384 bce, Stagira - died 322, Chalcis) known as one of the greatest intellectual figures of Classical antiquity and Western history.

Philosophy (Etymological Definition)

Derived from the Greek words $philia$ (love) and $sophia$ (wisdom), meaning the love of wisdom.

Wisdom

The correct application of knowledge, specifically knowledge directed toward the fundamental and pervasive concerns of existence.

Philosophy (Real Definition)

The rational science of all things (beings) through their ultimate causes.

Principles

That which precedes reality; the foundation of all metaphysical, physical, and moral truth.

Beings ($Ens$)

That which denotes essence ($Esse$) and connotes existence.

Axiology

The philosophical study of value, including the nature, classification, and kinds of things that have value.

Metaphysics

The branch of philosophy that studies the fundamental nature of reality, including first principles of being, identity, change, cause and effect, and possibility.

Epistemology

Derived from $Episteme$ (knowledge) and $Logos$ (study), it is the study of the nature and scope of knowledge and justified belief.

Aesthetics

The study of art and beauty (from the Greek $aisthetikos$, sense/sentience), questioning what makes something beautiful or meaningful.

Logic

The study of correct thinking and the principles and criteria of a valid argument to distinguish sound from unsound reasoning.

Political Philosophy

The study of government addressing the nature, scope, and legitimacy of public agents and institutions.

Ethics

The study of behavior or action (from the Greek $ta \text{ } ethika$), concerning the morality of human actions and the search for right conduct and a good life.

Moral Philosophy

A field that investigates theories to systematically describe what makes acts right or wrong, usually divided into metaethics, applied ethics, and normative ethics.

Metaethics

The category of moral philosophy concerned with the origin and meaning of moral values and language; it asks "what is morality?" rather than "what is moral?"

Applied ethics

The use of philosophical tools to examine specific controversial issues and provide practical solutions to moral problems.

Normative ethics

The investigation of moral standards that regulate right and wrong conduct, including theories like utilitarianism and virtue ethics.

Ethos

A Greek word meaning custom or behavior.

Mos/Moris

Latin words meaning custom.

Material object (of Ethics)

Human acts.

Formal object quod (of Ethics)

Right conduct; specifically, human acts considered under the aspect of being right or wrong or in accord with the natural moral law.

Formal object quo (of Ethics)

Human reason alone; the means or apparatus used to derive principles and conclusions without relying on Divine Revelation.

Moral Relativism

The belief that decisions about right and wrong are purely personal and subjective.

Absolutophobia

The fear of saying unequivocally that certain behavior (such as the Holocaust) is unethical.

Moral Dilemmas

Situations where an individual must choose between two or more clashing options that are often not pleasing or truly acceptable.

Epistemic moral dilemmas

A situation involving two conflicting moral choices where the individual has no knowledge of which choice is most morally acceptable.

Ontological moral dilemmas

A situation where moral options are equal in consequence and neither supersedes the other, preventing a choice.

Self-imposed moral dilemmas

A moral conflict caused by the individual’s own mistakes or misconduct.

World-imposed moral dilemmas

An unavoidable moral conflict created by events outside of one’s control, such as war or a financial crash.

Obligation moral dilemmas

Situations where an individual feels obliged to opt for more than one choice from a moral or legal standpoint.

Prohibition moral dilemmas

Situations where all available choices are, on some level, morally reprehensible.

Personal Dilemmas

Moral dilemmas experienced and resolved on an individual level.

Organizational Dilemmas

Ethical cases encountered and resolved by social organizations, including business, medicine, and the public sector.

Structural Dilemmas

Cases involving networks of institutions and operative theoretical paradigms that are multi-sectoral in scope.