Ethics

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Meta-ethics

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the study of ethical concepts such as good and bad, and right and wrong.

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Cognitivist theory

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some statements can be described as true or false, therefore moral statements can be can be true or false

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Moral realism

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maintains that moral principles are facts which exits independently of personal beliefs

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Non-cognitivist theory

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believing that there are no moral facts

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Natural facts

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facts of the situation; proven either true or false by appealing to relevant evidence, it provides a reason for believing that a moral claim is true.

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Normative facts

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are either true or false

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Emotivism

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moral statements are nothing more than expressions of personal preference based on feelings. also known as the boo hooray theory.

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Prescriptivism

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declaring something is either right or wrong is also offering a kind of prescription of how to behave

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Moral relativism

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there are no absolute moral truths, morals are a product of culture

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Nihilism

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there is no justification for objective moral truth

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Normative ethics

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norm; meaning a principle or standard we use to judge human conduct. it investigates questions of right and wrong and how we should respond to different moral problems.

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Utilitarianism

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is believing that the value of any action is defined according to how much happiness it produces and how much unhappiness it prevents

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Bentham's utilitarianism

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The utilitarian philosophy of Jeremy Bentham, holding that pleasure is the only good and that the greatest happiness for the greatest number should be the ultimate goal of humans.

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Felicific calculus

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a method of determining the rightness of an action by balancing the probable pleasures and pains that it would produce

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Mill's utilitarianism

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The belief that the quality of happiness is more important than the quantity. Sometimes referred to as ideal utilitarianism

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Higher pleasures

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Pleasures that are associated with imagination and intellect ( according to mill it is these pleasures we should seek)

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Lower pleasures

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Pleasures that are sensory and superficial, don't tend to last as long as higher pleasures

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Preference utilitarianism

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a subset of this principle which maintains that every person subjectively determines what is to their own benefit, according to their preference. By this concept, no action can be deemed inherently moral or immoral.

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Negative utilitarianism

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the concept that minimising suffering should be the aim rather than maximising happiness

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Act and rule utilitarianism

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act utilitarianism is opposed to rule utilitarianism. Both agree that what is morally right is what generates the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. However, rule utilitarianism sets broad, universal rules Act utilitarianism will say the rules must change given the circumstances; sometimes lower taxes will bring greater happiness, sometimes not.

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Deontology

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the branch of ethics dealing with duty, moral obligation, and moral commitment. they do not believe that actions are defined by their consequences, rather if the action was right or wrong in itself (Immanuel Kant)

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Categorical imperative

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In the ethical system of Immanuel Kant, an unconditional moral law that applies to all rational beings and is independent of any personal motive or desire.

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Universality maxim

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the first maxim of the Categorical imperative; it is only okay to do something if you think it would be okay if everyone did it all the time (it could be a universal law)

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Ends vs. means maxim

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the second maxim of the Categorical imperative;Always treat others as ends and not means. you cannot manipulate anyone for personal gain

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King of ends Maxim

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the third maxim of the Categorical imperative; you are your own authority of what is right and wrong, you are also not responsible for other peoples actions because they too are their own authority

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The virtue theory

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a classification within Normative Ethics that attempts to discover and classify what might be deemed of moral character, and to apply the moral character as a base for one's choices and actions