Unit 2 AoS 1 Ethics and Moral Philosophy Theme 1[43]

What is absolute/universal morality?

The view that certain moral principles are always right or wrong, regardless of circumstance.

What does moral relativism argue?

That moral beliefs are products of cultural contexts and are only binding for specific groups.

What problem arises from naive relativism?

It leads to the defense of morally problematic practices, like child marriage, by claiming all values are relative.

What is cultural relativism?

The idea that we should understand cultural practices in their own context instead of judging by our own standards.

What is Divine Command Theory?

The belief that morality derives its authority from God, who commands the moral principles.

What is the Euthyphro Dilemma?

The question of whether something is good because God commands it, or does God command it because it is good?

What does ethical naturalism propose?

That moral truths can be discovered through the natural world and science, rather than through religious doctrines.

What is the is-ought gap?

The philosophical concept stating that one cannot deduce prescriptive moral conclusions (what ought to be) purely from descriptive facts (what is).

What is nihilism?

The belief that moral values are illusory and that nothing is justified; it often leads to a perspective where anything is permissible.

What is moral realism?

The theory that there are moral facts that can be known and that some moral principles are objective.

What is emotivism?

The theory that moral statements merely express personal feelings or preferences rather than factual claims.

Why is the link between moral statements and natural facts significant?

Natural facts provide evidence to support moral claims, establishing that moral disputes can be seen as misunderstandings of evidence.

What challenge does logical positivism present to moral statements?

It asserts that moral statements are only meaningful if they are analytically true or empirically verifiable.

What is naive relativism?

The belief that all moral perspectives are equally valid, leading to the conclusion that any moral practice can be justified.

What is moral objectivism?

The position that certain acts are objectively right or wrong independently of human opinions or beliefs.

What are possible solutions to nihilism?

Solutions to nihilism include embracing existentialism, finding personal meaning beyond objective truths, and adopting moral frameworks that promote human well-being.

What is objective meaning in morality?

The idea that moral judgments have a reality independent of individual beliefs or feelings, and that they can be true or false based on objective standards.

What is subjective meaning in morality?

The belief that moral judgments are based on personal feelings, opinions, or experiences, and can vary from person to person.

What are potential problems with Absolute/Universal Morality?

It can lead to rigid moral judgments that ignore cultural differences and the complexity of human circumstances.

What are challenges faced by Moral Relativism?

It may prevent criticism of harmful cultural practices and can lead to moral paralysis when facing injustices.

What issues arise from Divine Command Theory?

It struggles with the Euthyphro Dilemma and can lead to justifying moral actions purely based on religious texts.

What is a problem with Ethical Naturalism?

It faces difficulty in establishing moral truths from empirical data due to the is-ought gap.

What difficulties does Nihilism present?

It can lead to a lack of motivation to pursue moral improvement and can foster despair or apathy toward ethical behavior.

What are criticisms of Moral Realism?

It may be challenged by the debate over the existence of objective moral facts and the implications of moral disagreement.

What are the problems associated with Emotivism?

It struggles to account for the rational discussion of morality and can reduce moral disputes to mere emotional expressions.

What complications arise with Logical Positivism's view on moral statements?

It can dismiss valuable moral discourse as meaningless if it cannot be empirically verified or analytically true.

What are concerns regarding Naive Relativism?

It leads to the potential endorsement of morally reprehensible practices under the guise of cultural respect.

What challenges does Moral Objectivism encounter?

It often faces skepticism over the existence of universal moral standards, especially in diverse cultural contexts.