The Nature of Ethics and Moral Reasoning

Flashcards covering key definitions, concepts, and challenges in ethics and moral reasoning from the lecture notes.

Ethics

A branch of philosophy, also called moral philosophy, that asks foundational questions about the good life, what is better and worse, whether there is any objective right and wrong, and how we know it.

Moral Reasoning

The process of determining what there are the best reasons for doing in any circumstance.

Philo

A Greek word meaning 'Love.'

Sophia

A Greek word meaning 'Wisdom.'

Philosophy (derived meaning)

“Love of Wisdom”

Ancient Greek Philosophy (Pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle)

Defined as the love, pursuit, or study of knowledge, wisdom, or truth, especially as to the nature of things.

Medieval Philosophy

Defined as the handmaid of theology, whose purpose is to elucidate revealed truths and to combat heresy.

Modern Philosophy (S.E. Frost Jr., Jean-Paul Sartre)

Defined as the meaning which the world has for you or as the meaning one has created or invented in life.

Foundationalism (Concept of Philosophy - Bonifacio, A.)

Refers to the whole range of our intellectual presuppositions, on which are rooted our epistemological, metaphysical, and ethical judgments, beliefs, and actions.

Reflective Activities (Concept of Philosophy - Bonifacio, A.)

Refers to the activities directed at our intellectual presuppositions.

Value System (Concept of Philosophy - Bonifacio, A.)

A reconstructed belief or value system, which for some, should show a universal and comprehensive character.

Aesthetics

A branch of philosophical investigation that asks foundational questions about art, such as what kind of things do or should count as art.

Philosophy of Science

A branch of philosophical investigation that asks foundational questions about scientific knowledge, such as whether it gives us reality as it is, whether there is progress in science, and what is the nature of the scientific method.

Philosophy of Law

A branch of philosophical investigation that seeks to understand the nature of law itself, the source of its authority, the nature of legal interpretation, and the basis of legal responsibility.

Mores

The customs, including the customary behavior, of a particular group of people, from which the word 'morality' is derived.

Morality

A term derived from the root word 'mores,' referring to the customs and customary behavior of a particular group of people.

Ethical Relativism

The view that ethical values and beliefs are relative to the various individuals or societies that hold them, implying there is no objective right and wrong.

Individual Ethical Relativism

A form of ethical relativism where ethical values and beliefs are relative to the outlook and attitudes of an individual person.

Cultural Ethical Relativism

A form of ethical relativism where ethical values vary from society to society, and the basis for moral judgments lies in these social or cultural views, determining what is right or wrong within that society.

Cultural Relativism (Maricopa)

The principle of regarding and valuing the practices of a culture from the point of view of that culture and to avoid making hasty judgments.

Cultural Relativist Claim 1

Different societies have different moral codes.

Cultural Relativist Claim 2

The moral code of a society determines what is right or wrong within the society.

Cultural Relativist Claim 3

There are no moral truths that hold for all people at all times.

Cultural Relativist Claim 4

The moral code of our own society has no special status; it is but one among many.

Cultural Relativist Claim 5

It is arrogant for us to judge other cultures. We should always be tolerant of them.

Point Against Cultural Relativism 1

Some values are shared by all cultures.

Point Against Cultural Relativism 2

We must bear in mind the difference between what a society believes about morals and what is really true.

Point Against Cultural Relativism 3

We are often arrogant when we criticize other cultures, and tolerance is generally a good thing. However, we shouldn’t tolerate everything. The toleration of torture, slavery, and rape is a vice, not a virtue.

Reason (in Moral Philosophy by James Rachels)