Ethics - the branch of philosophy that studies morality, or right and wrong behavior

Metaethics - the study of the foundations of ethics, which includes disciplines such as epistemology (how we know) and anthropology (the nature of humanity/personhood).

Moral Realism - the belief that there are moral facts, in the same way that there are scientific facts. In this view, any moral proposition can only be true or false.

Moral Absolutism - there are absolute standards against which moral questions can be judged regardless of the context or consequences

Moral Relativism - More than one moral position on a given topic can be correct

Descriptive Cultural Relativism - The observation and affirmation that people’s moral beliefs differ from culture to culture. For example, some cultures believe that capital punishment is wrong.

Normative Cultural Relativism - It’s not simply people’s beliefs that vary from culture to culture, but the moral facts themselves differ. For example, in some cultures capital punishment is objectively right (a moral fact), and in other cultures capital punishment objectively wrong (a moral fact).

The Grounding Problem of ethics - the search for a foundation of our moral beliefs, something solid that would make them true in a way that is clear, objective, and unmoving.

Moral Antirealism - the belief that moral propositions don’t refer to objective features of the world at all - that there are no moral facts.

Moral Subjectivism - Moral statements can be true or false - right or wrong - but they refer only to people’s attitudes. Moral statements merely reflect individual attitudes and beliefs.

Ethical Theories - moral foundations that help us come up with consistent answers about right and wrong conduct