Ethics and Moral Philosophy

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering introductory concepts in ethics, morality, the sub-branches of ethics, and classical philosophical perspectives from Protagoras, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

What is the definition of ethics according to the lecture notes?

Ethics is the philosophical study of morality that examines fundamental concepts such as right and wrong, justice and fairness, virtue and vice, and duty and obligation to ask what people ought to do.

What is the Latin origin and definition of morality?

Morality comes from the Latin word mos (plural mores), meaning custom or tradition, and refers to the set of customs, norms, and values that govern behavior within a community or culture.

What is the key difference between morality and ethics?

Morality consists of the actual beliefs, rules, and practices regarding right and wrong that individuals and societies follow, whereas ethics is the philosophical discipline that examines, analyzes, and evaluates why those moral beliefs are justified.

According to Rachels and Rachels (2019), why is morality indispensable in daily life?

Morality is indispensable because it prevents social chaos, promotes cooperative living, and supports individual well-being by maintaining social order, trust, and harmony.

What are the three sub-branches of ethics?

The three sub-branches of ethics are Meta-ethics, Normative ethics, and Applied ethics.

What does the sub-branch of Meta-ethics study?

Meta-ethics examines the nature, meaning, and foundation of moral concepts, asking whether moral values are objective and universal or subjective and culturally dependent.

What question does Normative ethics seek to answer, and what are its three main theoretical approaches?

Normative ethics asks the prescriptive question "What should we do?" to establish general principles for guiding moral action. Its three main approaches are Utilitarianism, Deontology, and Virtue Ethics.

How does Utilitarianism evaluate moral actions?

Utilitarianism evaluates actions based on their consequences and seeks to choose the action that produces the greatest overall benefit or happiness for the greatest number of people.

What is the core principle of Deontology in normative ethics?

Deontology emphasizes duties, rules, and moral obligations, holding that one must do what is morally right as a duty regardless of the possible consequences.

What is the primary focus of Virtue Ethics?

Virtue Ethics focuses on character development and moral excellence, asking what a good and virtuous person would do rather than focusing solely on rules or consequences.

What is Applied Ethics?

Applied Ethics is the branch of ethics that applies general moral principles to specific real-world problems in domains such as medicine, business, politics, law, and environmental policy.

What is the etymology of the word "philosophy" and who is credited with coining it?

Philosophy is credited to Pythagoras, who coined it from the Greek words philia (love) and sophia (wisdom), meaning "love of wisdom."

What position did the Sophist Protagoras hold regarding morality?

Protagoras held the view of ethical relativism, encapsulated by his statement "Man is the measure of all things," suggesting that truth and morality depend on individual or cultural perspectives.

What is the main criticism against Protagoras' ethical relativism?

Critics argue that ethical relativism undermines the possibility of establishing universal moral standards across different cultures.

How did Socrates view moral wrongdoing?

Socrates believed that moral wrongdoing results from ignorance, asserting that no one willingly does wrong if they truly possess genuine knowledge of what is right.

What famous declaration did Socrates make regarding self-examination?

Socrates declared that "the unexamined life is not worth living."

What are the two levels of reality described in Plato's Theory of Forms?

The two levels of reality are the physical world (imperfect, changing, experienced through senses) and the world of Forms (a higher realm of perfect, eternal, and unchanging ideals).

What is the Form of the Good in Plato's philosophy and what analogy does he use for it?

The Form of the Good is the highest and most important Form—the ultimate source of truth, justice, beauty, and reality. Plato compares it to the sun because it gives intellectual light allowing the mind to understand truth.

According to Aristotle, what is eudaimonia and how is it achieved?

Eudaimonia is the ultimate goal of human life, meaning a good, meaningful, and flourishing life. It is achieved through virtuous activity and developing good character rather than temporary pleasure.

What concept is illustrated in this diagram regarding Aristotle's view of virtue?

The Golden Mean, which holds that virtue is the mean between two vices—one of excess (recklessness) and one of deficiency (cowardice).

What is phronesis in Aristotle's ethics?

Phronesis is practical wisdom, which enables sound moral judgment to determine when, how, and to what extent one should perform virtuous actions in specific circumstances.