CRIM 306 Chapter 2

ethical system

A structured set of principles that defines what is moral.

Egoism

Egoism postulates that what is good for one's survival and personal happiness is moral. Many applied ethicists reject egoism because it is logically inconsistent in that self interests will inevitably conflict.

Ethical Formalism

Ethical formalism is a deontological ethical system, concerned solely with the inherent nature of the act being judged. It defines good as that which conforms to the categorical imperative, which includes the universalism principle, the principle to treat each person as an "end" and to choose moral acts from a free will.

Religion

In a religious ethics system, the authority of the god figure is the root of all morality; basic conceptions of good and evil or right and wrong come from interpretations of the gods figures will. Three sources used to determine what is right are religious authorities, scripture or religious writings, and faith.

Which element is not a key characteristic of an ethical system?

It is based on facts

Which philosopher believed that moral worth comes from doing one's duty?

Kant

Natural Law

Natural Law holds that there is a universal set of rights and wrongs that is similar to many religious beliefs, but without reference to a specific supernatural figure. It presupposes that what is good is what is natural, and what is natural is good. The fundamental issue is how to determine whether a moral rule is based on a true natural law or on a mistaken human perception.

eudaimonia

The Greek term denoting perfect happiness or flourishing, related to the way to live a "good life."

principle of forfeiture

The idea that one gives up one's right to be treated under the principles of respect for persons to the extent that one has abrogated someone else's rights; for instance, self-defense is acceptable according to the principle of forfeiture.

natural law

The idea that principles of morals and rights are inherent in nature and not human-made; such laws are discovered by reason but exist apart from humankind.

cultural relativism

The idea that values and behaviors differ from culture to culture and are functional in the culture that holds them.

In a teleological system, the ________ determines whether an act is ethical or not.

consequences of an action

Imperative principle

directs a decision maker to act according to a specific unbending rule.

Aristotle's catalog of virtues includes all of the following characteristics except

education

Which system determines what is moral based on what is good for an individual's survival and personal happiness?

egoism

Which system is deontological and judges but not consequences?

ethical formalism

Which characteristic is not part of Braswell and gold's peacemaking process.

merit

Psychological egoism

presumes that we are, by nature, purely self interested, and therefore, to pursue our self interest is good.

Which concept holds that individuals forfeit their rights and well-being to the extent they take it away from others?

principle of forfeiture

The ethics of care depends largely _________

relationships and needs

Which system acknowledges universal truths but also recognizes that different experiences call for different responses?

situational ethics

Harris defines ethical systems as a _____

systematic ordering of moral principles

According to the concept of ethical formalism, the key factor in determining whether an act is moral is _______

the actors motive or intent

Which doctrine claims that a person's actions should maximize happiness for the greatest number of people?

utilitarianism

Which principle is not part of Krogstand and Robertson's principles of ethical decision making

virtue principle

Using ethical systems to resolve dilemmas

To resolve ethical dilemmas, one should determine the facts, thenthe relevant concepts or values, then determine all of the various ethical dilemmas faced by all actors, then use the ethical systems to solve the most immediate dilemma.

Identify what is good according to each of the ethical systems discussed in the chapter.

Under ethics of virtue, what is good is that which conforms to the Golden Mean. Under natural law, what is good is that which is natural. Under religion, what is good is that which conforms to God's will. Under ethical formalism, what is good is that which conforms to the categorical imperative. Under utilitarianism, what is good is that which results in the greatest utility for the greatest number. Under ethics of care, what is good is that which meets the needs of those concerned. Under egoism, what is good is that which benefits me.

According to Immanuel Kant, a person can control his or her _______

actions

An important characteristic of an ethical system is that the system is _______

authoritative

The generalization principle

based on the question, "what would happen if all similar persons acted this way under similar circumstances?"

peacemaking justice

An ancient approach to justice that includes the concepts of compassion and care, connectedness, and mindfulness.

teleological ethical system

An ethical system that is concerned with the consequences or ends of an action to determine goodness.

Of the following, who is best known as an egoist

Ayn Rand

An ethical system based on religious beliefs of good and evil or what is God's will can be defined as __________

Religious ethics

hypothetical imperatives

Statements of contingent demand known as if-then statements (if I want something, then I must work for it); usually contrasted with categorical imperatives (statements of "must" with no "ifs").

imperative principle

The concept that all decisions should be made according to absolute rules.

enlightened egoism

The concept that egoism may appear to be altruistic because it is in one's long-term best interest to help others in order to receive help in return.

psychological egoism

The concept that humans naturally and inherently seek self-interest, and that we can do nothing else because it is our nature.

categorical imperative

The concept that some things just must be, with no need for further justification, explanation, or rationalization for why they exist (Kant's categorical imperative refers to the imperative that you should do your duty, act in a way you want everyone else to act, and don't use people).

ethics of virtue

The ethical system that bases ethics largely upon character and possession of virtues.

Describe how other ethical systems define what is moral—specifically, ethics of virtue, natural law, religion, and the ethics of care.

Under the ethics of virtue, goodness is determined by the virtues. Aristotle and others have identified what are considered to be moral virtues. Those who possess such virtues will make the right decision when faced with a moral dilemma. Under natural law, good is determined by what is natural. Moral rules are considered similar to other natural laws, such as gravity. Even if humans have not discovered these moral rules, or disagree about what they are, they still exist. Under Judeo-Christian religion, what is good is determined by God's will. One can know God's will through one's religious leaders or the Bible. Other religions also have statements of good and evil and sources to use to determine what is good. The ethics of care is based on the emotions of relationships. Caring is the basis of this morality.

Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is a teleological ethical system, in which the consequences of an act determine its morality, what results in the greatest good for the greatest number is a good. In act utilitarianism, only the basic utility derived from one action is examined, whereas in rule utilitarianism, one looks at the precedent and long term utility of the rule set by that action.

Even absolutist moral systems have some exceptions; for instance the principle of forfeiture

holds that people who treat others as a means to an end forfeit the right to the protection of their own freedom and wellbeing.

Ethical Systems

Ethical systems provide guidelines and principles to make moral decisions and reflect fundamental truths or propositions. They explain why an act is right or wrong and provide a rationale for moral rules. These systems often are more complex to apply than to explain, but they form the basis for our moral judgements.

Define deontological and teleological ethical systems and explain ethical formalism and utilitarianism.

A deontological ethical system is one that is concerned solely with the inherent nature of the act being judged. If an act or intent is inherently good (coming from a good will), it is still considered a good act even if it results in bad consequences. A teleological ethical system judges the consequences of an act. The saying "the end justifies the means" is a teleological statement. Kant's ethical formalism defines good as that which conforms to the categorical imperative, which includes the universalism principles, the idea that we shouldn't use people, and the stricture that we must do our duty through a free will in order to be considered moral. Utilitarianism, associated with Jeremy Bentham, defines good as that which contributes to the greatest utility for the greatest number.

Explain the controversy between relativism and absolutism (or universalism).

Absolutist ethics allow no exceptions to moral rules for exceptional circumstances. Relativism seems to allow individuals to define anything as morally acceptable, even acts that would be considered wrong under universal moral rules. The compromise is situational ethics, which propose a very few absolute rules that will support different decisions in different circumstances.

principle of the Golden Mean

Aristotle's concept of moderation, in which one should not err toward excess or deficiency; this principle is associated with the ethics of virtue.

Which system is deontological and judges acts but not consequences?

Ethical Formalism

Discuss the argument as to whether egoism is an ethical system.

Most who write in the area of applied ethics reject egoism as an ethical system because it is self-serving and logically inconsistent. It doesn't make sense to have a universal rule that everyone should pursue self-interest, because our self-interests will inevitably conflict. Proponents of ethical egoism also believe in psychological egoism, the idea that we are, by nature, purely self-interested. Under this view, we are egoists and, therefore, to pursue our self-interest is good.

moral pluralism

The concept that there are fundamental truths that may dictate different definitions of what is moral in different situations.

ethical formalism

The ethical system espoused by Kant that focuses on duty; holds that the only thing truly good is a good will, and that what is good is that which conforms to the categorical imperative.

utilitarianism

The ethical system that claims that the greatest good is that which results in the greatest happiness for the greatest number; major proponents are Bentham and Mill.

ethics of care

The ethical system that defines good as meeting the needs of others and preserving and enriching relationships.

egoism

The ethical system that defines the pursuit of self-interest as a moral good.

religious ethics

The ethical system that is based on religious beliefs of good and evil; what is good is that which is God's will.

Which element is an important component of the six pillars of character?

citizenship

The ethics of care

The ethics of care is founded in the natural human response to care for those who are vulnerable. What is good is that which meets the needs of everyone. Peacemaking justice is an ancient process that includes the concepts of compassion and care, connectedness, and mindfulness. In both systems, decisions arise from compassion rather than attention to abstract rights or duties.

The claim "virtue is always the median between two extremes" is known as ___________

The golden mean

situational ethics

The philosophical position that although there are a few universal truths, different situations call for different responses; therefore, some action can be right or wrong depending on situational factors.

utilitarian principle

The principle that all decisions should be made according to what is best for the greatest number.

generalization principle

The principle that all decisions should be made assuming that the decision would be applied to everyone else in similar circumstances.

deontological ethical system

The study of duty or moral obligation emphasizing the intent of the actor as the element of morality.

act utilitarianism

The type of utilitarianism that determines the goodness of a particular act by measuring the utility (good) for all, but only for that specific act and without regard for future actions.

rule utilitarianism

The type of utilitarianism that determines the goodness of an action by measuring the utility of that action when it is made into a rule for behavior.

Ethics of Virtue

Under the ethics of virtue, developed by Aristotle, what is good is that which conforms to the principle of the golden mean, which states that virtue is always the median between two extremes of character. Those who possess moral virtues will make the right decision when faced with a moral dilemma.

Which idea claims that there is an inherent universal set of rights and wrongs in the world?

natural law

Ethical formalism emphasizes that individuals must not _________

be used as a means to an end

Who was a major proponent of utilitarianism

bentham

Enlightened egoism

notes that each persons objective is long term welfare and it may be in ones own interest to help others in the short term.

Relativists believe that ________ determines what is right.

cultural values

Cultural Relativism

defines good as that which contributes to the health and survival of society.

The principle of forfeiture is what kind of system

deontological

Which ethical system is concerned solely with the inherent nature of acts being judged?

deontological

Utilitarian principle

determines the ethics of conduct by the good or bad consequences of an action.

"Restorative justice" is most consistent with __________

ethics of care

Which ethical system emphasizes human relationships and needs

ethics of care

Barry stated that people can know god's will through ________.

individual conscience, religious authorities, and the holy scriptures.

Relativism

is a position that there are no absolute truths about morality

Universalism

is similar to absolutism in that what is considered wrong is wrong for all people for all time and if one wants to preform a certain act, one must agree it is acceptable for all.

Towards a resolution: situational ethics

situational ethics provides a middle ground between absolutism and relativism with moral pluralism, in which a few absolute rules support different decisions under different circumstances. Interestingly, situational ethics appears to be consistent with the ethics of care.