Isat Final Exam

Front 1

Eight Key Questions

Back 1

Empathy
Fairness
Character
Liberty
Rights
Responsibilities
Outcomes
Authority

Front 2

Define "ethics"

Back 2

the difference between right and wrong

Front 3

Define "morality"

Back 3

individual values and choices (or religious views)

Front 4

Key Question for Empathy

Back 4

how would I respond if I cared deeply about those involved?

Front 5

Key Question for Fairness

Back 5

how can I act equitably and balance all interests?

Front 6

Key Question for Character

Back 6

what actions will help me become my ideal self?

Front 7

Key Question for Liberty

Back 7

what principles of liberty and personal autonomy apply?

Front 8

Key Question for Rights

Back 8

what rights apply?

Front 9

Key Question for Responsibilities

Back 9

what duties and obligations apply?

Front 10

Key Question for Outcomes

Back 10

what are the short-term and long-term outcomes of possible actions?

Front 11

Key Question for Authority

Back 11

what do legitimate authorities expect of me?

Front 12

Four Models to Reconcile the Approaches

Back 12

1. Superiority Thesis: one must be better
2. Integrationist Thesis: only one approach to ethics; all approaches are saying the same thing
3. Separate But Equal: all approaches are different; we all have our favorites but we should be tolerant of others; whatever you choose is perfectly valid
4. Diversity Thesis: all approaches are different but complementary; diversity is a source of richness; using all approaches in combination increases the probability of producing the best result (whole is greater than the sum of the parts)

Front 13

Define Cultural Relativism

Back 13

the proposition that right and wrong can only be described in reference to a particular culture's norms, and one culture should not judge another

Front 14

Define Subjectivism

Back 14

the proposition that morality is merely personal opinion

Front 15

Define Ethical Egoism

Back 15

proposition that individuals SHOULD act only in their own self-interest

Front 16

Define Psychological Egoism

Back 16

proposition that individuals DO act only in their own self-interest (humans are incapable of being altruistic)

Front 17

Key Insight for "Outcomes"

Back 17

we should choose actions that will produce the best outcomes, averaged across all of those affected

Front 18

Novice Approach to Outcomes

Back 18

focuses too much on the short-term outcomes for the moral agent

Front 19

Well-Reasoned Approach to Outcomes

Back 19

which action best balances the benefits and harms across all of the people affected?

which action will have the best long-term outcomes?

Front 20

Define Utalitarianism

Back 20

a way of thinking about outcomes in which you're trying to balance the good and the evil among all people effected

an action is "good" if it maximizes the happiness for the maximum number of people

Front 21

Intergenerational Ethics

Back 21

we have too much of a tendency to think only about our own life-span

do we owe an obligation to future generations to think about outcomes that may affect them as well?

Front 22

Key Insight for "Fairness"

Back 22

as individuals, we should seek to be fair to others

as a society, we should create institutions that treat everyone fairly

Front 23

Novice Approach to Fairness

Back 23

focuses too much on whether one perceives himself to have been treated fairly (only used when one sees someone else who seems to have gotten an advantage)

oversimplifies fairness- "just treat everyone the same"

Front 24

Well-Reasoned Approach to Fairness

Back 24

able to remove one's personal bias to view the question of fairness more objectively

recognizes the complexity of fairness; recognizes that not all people are the same

can assess the fairness of complex institutions (1. using power in a fair manner; 2. fair distribution of scarce resources)

Front 25

Veil of Ignorance
(who and what)

Back 25

John Rawls

What would someone choose if they didn't know what outcome they would have from their decision?

EX: Would I choose a system in which a few people had all of the wealth and power if I didn't know whether I would be one of those people or not?

Front 26

Key Insight for "Authority"

Back 26

We should seriously consider advice and rules of behavior given to us by a legitimate authority

We shouldn't necessarily blindly follow authority, we should be willing to question authority

Front 27

Novice Approach to Authority

Back 27

either ignores authority or blindly follows authority

Front 28

Well-Reasoned Approach to Authority

Back 28

Considers:

Is this authority legitimate?

What are the consequences of not following the advice or orders from this authority?

Does the advice or orders from this authority line up with the other eight key questions?

Front 29

5 Principles of Disobedience

Back 29

1. Only disobey laws that are unjust
2. Benefit society
3. Maintain respect for the rule of law
4. Your violation of the law should be open
5. You should attempt to convert your opponent by demonstrating the justice of your cause

Front 30

Key Insights for "Responsibilities"

Back 30

When we have responsibilities to other people, to countries, to institutions, and in some cases also to ourselves, we generally should act (or refrain from acting) in accordance with those responsibilities.

Front 31

Novice Approach to Responsibilities

Back 31

either ignores our responsibilities or blindly accepts any suggested responsibility without question

Front 32

Well-Reasoned Approach to Responsibilities

Back 32

Considers:

On what basis could we call something a responsibility?

What are the reasons for fulfilling those responsibilities?

Are there counter-balancing reasons for not fulfilling them?

Front 33

4 Reasons for Responsibilities

Back 33

Universal responsibilities of all humans:

1. Divine Command- comes from God
2. Natural Law- exist as a part of nature; reason can be used to identify them
3. Affirmative Duties- "Am I my brother's keeper?"
4. Duty not to harm

Social Contract:

1. Duty to uphold the law
2. Civil obligations

Keeping Promises:
1. Express individual promises made by others
2. Express or implied promises made by accepting a position (taking a job, for example)

Duty to Oneself

Front 34

Define Profession

Back 34

You must take an exam in order to be committed to that profession.

Examples of professions:
law, medicine, psychology, architecture, accountancy

Front 35

The Work Context

Back 35

1. Duty to employer
2. Duty to society/public
3. Duty to self
4. Duty to professional community
5. Duty to customer/client

Front 36

Key Insight for "Rights"

Back 36

There are certain basic human rights that should never be denied anyone at any time.

Front 37

Novice Approach to Rights

Back 37

Either ignores the rights of others, or throws the term around too casually, or fails to appreciate that rights have limits

Front 38

Well-Reasoned Approach to Rights

Back 38

Considers:

The difference between moral rights and legal rights.

The basis for calling something a moral right.

What are the limits of the right?

Front 39

Key Insight for "Liberty"

Back 39

We should allow others as much autonomy as possible, so long as their choices do not harm others.

Front 40

Novice Approach to Liberty

Back 40

Either fails to recognize our obligations to respect another's liberty (seeks to impose one's personal choices on others), or goes too far and claims an unrestricted right to liberty regardless of harms to others

Front 41

Well-Reasoned Approach to Liberty

Back 41

Considers:

The reasons for, and the importance of respecting autonomy (informed consent)

The limits of liberty

Front 42

Key Insight for "Empathy"

Back 42

Often, being ethical means acting on our intuition to care for others.

We should take seriously our inclination to empathy.

We should work to develop our sense of empathy, to become more caring individuals.

Front 43

Novice Approach to Empathy

Back 43

Characterized by:

Being unconcerned with the needs of others

Lacking the skills of recognizing or understanding the feelings of others

Being so empathetic as to fail to use reason

Front 44

Well-Reasoned Approach to Empathy

Back 44

Has genuine concern for the welfare of others, is able to understand others, and recognizes the limits to how much one person can do to help others.

This requires emotions!

Front 45

Sentimentalism

Back 45

what drives our moral decisions is our "feeling for humanity"

reason alone cannot be a motive for our actions, but rather reason is the "slave of the passions"

moral decisions are not made based on reason alone

emotions give us the motivation to want to be moral, then reason can help us decide what's the best way to do it

Front 46

Traditional Male Approach to Ethics

Back 46

abstract principles and propositions

justification for moral theories- it can't be right if it can't be logically proven

too much fixation on declaring acts as right or wrong

Front 47

Feminist Approach to Ethics

Back 47

practical solutions to real-world dilemmas

emphasis on relatedness, caring

legitimacy of feelings and impressions as a basis for moral decisions

Front 48

Key Insight for "Character"

Back 48

There are good character traits (virtues) that are ideals of good behavior to which one should aspire.

Through personal reflection and reasoning, one can identify those traits of character.

When faced with a moral dilemma, one should act as a virtuous person would act in that situation.

Front 49

Novice Approach to Character

Back 49

looks to others for answers to ethical decisions, or is short-sighted in deciding what's best for the individual

Front 50

Well-Reasoned Approach to Character

Back 50

gives careful thought to what it means to live a good, flourishing life

identifies traits of character that would be present in such a person (virtues)

attempts to live in accordance with these virtues