ETHICS MIDTERMS IDENTIFICATION

Ethics

The study of moral principles that govern behavior

Non-maleficence

The principle of avoiding harm

Difference between ethics and etiquette

Ethics involves moral right and wrong while etiquette is about manners

Veracity

The ethical principle of truthfulness and honesty

Ethical dilemma

A conflict between moral principles like truth vs compassion

Not a core principle of ethics

Popularity

Ethics vs Religion

Ethics can be secular and not based on religious belief

Moral relativism

The view that right and wrong depend on cultural context

Beneficence

The principle of promoting good

Legal vs Ethical

Something legal can still be morally wrong

Anthropocentrism

The belief that humans are the central moral concern

Not a criterion for moral status

Physical strength

Bentham's moral consideration

The ability to feel pleasure and pain

Kant on animals

Animals lack rationality so have no moral status

Deontology

Morality based on duty regardless of outcome

Empiricist view

Morals are learned from experience

Existence precedes essence

Sartre's idea that people define themselves through actions

Rationalism in ethics

Moral truths are discovered through reason

Cooperation in evolution

It evolved because it aids group survival

Utilitarian view on sacrifice

Justified if it benefits the majority

Mencius on human nature

Humans are inherently good

Not one of the Four Sprouts

Discipline

Child-in-the-well scenario

Demonstrates innate compassion

Xunzi on moral behavior

Moral education is needed to control selfish instincts

Legalist alignment

Strict laws and control like Xunzi

Criticism of Xunzi

Can lead to authoritarianism

Kohlberg's level of social approval

Conventional (Stage 3)

Challenging unjust laws

Stage 5 of Kohlberg’s model

Universal Ethical Principles

Stage 6: based on justice and dignity

Kohlberg’s theory

Moral reasoning develops in stages

Human Act

A deliberate act with knowledge and consent

Act of Man

An act done without full knowledge or intent

Aristotle on ignorance

Moral accountability is excused if ignorance is involuntary

Not part of Human Act

Consequences

Kant on moral responsibility

Requires freedom and rational choice

Moral accountability under coercion

Reduced or absent

Voluntariness

The willingness to act intentionally

Object of a moral act

The actual deed being done

Role of intention

It influences the morality of the act

Stealing in moral philosophy

Depends on ethical view (always wrong in deontology)

Consequentialism

Morality based on outcomes

Hedonistic calculus creator

Jeremy Bentham

Mill vs Bentham

Mill values quality of pleasure over quantity

Utilitarianism's moral action

What increases overall happiness

Rule Utilitarianism

Following rules that generally promote the greatest good

Major criticism of utilitarianism

It may ignore justice and individual rights

Peter Singer's focus

Applying utilitarianism to animal rights

Equal happiness principle

Everyone’s happiness is equally important

Utilitarian sacrifice view

One can be sacrificed to save many

Not part of hedonistic calculus

Skin color