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