Chapter 5 definitions
The categorical Imperative I
Conformity to a universal Law
The Categorical Imperative II
Persons as Ends in Themselves
prima facie duty
a duty that is morally binding unless it conflicts with a more important duty
actual duty
a duty that we are morally obligated to perform in a particular situation after we have taken all the circumstances into account
right
a justified claim to something, usually implying that other people have certain duties with respect to the possessor of the right
Hypothetical Imperatives
a rule that tells us only what means to use to achieve a desired end
Consequentialism
any ethical theory that judges the moral rightness or wrongness of an act according to the desirability or undesirability of the action's consequences; also called teleological ethics
Deontological ethics
any ethical theory that judges the moral rightness or wrongness of an act in terms of the intrinsic moral value of the act itself
Virtue Ethics
any theory that sees the primary focus of ethics to be the character of the person rather than that person's actions or duties
instrumental value
desirability of something in terms of other ends it achieves
Categorical Imperative
in Kant's theory, a moral law that tells us what we ought to do but does not depend on any prior conditions or subjective wants and wishes, and contains no qualifications
feminist ethics
the attempt to correct male biases in traditional ethical theory by emphasizing relationships over abstract principles and compassion over analytical reason
absolutism
the claim that not only are moral principles objective but also they cannot be overridden and there cannot be any exceptions to them
psychological hedonism
the claim that the only causes operating in human behavior are the desires to obtain pleasure and avoid pain
Altruism
the claim that we should be unselfishly concerned for the welfare of others and should act for the sake of other people's interests and needs
Conventional Ethical Relativism
the claim that what is really right or wrong is relative to each particular society; also called ethical conventionalism
Ethical Subjectivism
the claim that what is really right or wrong is relative to each particular society; also called ethical conventionalism
subjective ethical relativism
the doctrine that what is right or wrong is solely a matter of each individual's personal opinion
Ethical Egoism
the position that people ought always to do only what is in their own self interest
ethical relativism
the position that there are no objective or universally valid moral principles, because all moral judgments are simply a matter of human opinion
Anarchism
the position that there is no conceivable justification for government
intrinsic value
the property that something has if it is good or desirable in itself
theoretical anarchism
the theory that government has no legitimate authority even though we may have to tolerate its existence as a matter of practical necessity
Psychological Egoism
the theory that people always act so as to serve their own interests, or at least what they believe to be their interests
social contract theory
the theory that the justification of a government and its exercise of power is based on an explicit or implicit agreement made between the individuals who live under that government or between the citizens and the government
ethical hedonism
the theory that the moral rightness or wrongness of an action is a function of the amount of pleasure or pain it produces
Utilitarianism
the theory that the right action is the one that produces the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people
divine command theory
the theory that the rightness or wrongness of an action is intrinsically related to the fact that God either commands it or forbids it
Kantian ethics
the theory that we have absolute moral duties that are determined by reason and that are not affected by the consequences
ethical objectivism
the view that there are universal and objectively valid moral principles that are relative neither to the individual nor to society
Relativism and Toleration
they say that there are no principles that everyone should adhere to but they recommend toleration of other's views