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Ethics Test 1
Definitions for Test 1
63
Other
Undergraduate 4
10/05/2009

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Term
Ethics
Definition
a branch of philosophy that examines the principles of right and wrong. It is a study of action.
Term
Applied Ethics
Definition
The application of ethical principles to specific issues
Term
Meta Ethics
Definition
The dispipline that investigates the meaning of ethical systems and whether they are relative or are universal, and are self-constructed or are independant of human creation.
Term
Normative Ethics
Definition
Determines what people ought to do and defines moral duties based on ethical systems or other means of analysis
Term
Professional Ethics
Definition
specific type of applied ethics relating to the behavior of vertain professions or groups.
Term
Morality
Definition
The practice of ethical principles in every day life
Term
Duty
Definition
Duties are actions that an individual must perform to be considered moral
Term
Superogatorie
Definition
Actions that are commmendable but not required
Term
Values
Definition
Elements of desirability, worth or importance
Term
Laws
Definition
statutes and ordinances that tell us what to do
Term
Morals
Definition
behavioral practices of right and wrong
Term
Elements of a crime
Definition

Actus reus- criminal act

Mens rea- intent

Causation- motive

Term
Ethical issue
Definition
broad social questions, often concerning the government social control mechanisisms and impact on those governed
Term
ethical dillema
Definition
situations in which one person must make a decision about what to do. Either the choice will be unclear or the right choice will be difficult because of the costs involved
Term
Ethical system
Definition
the source of moral beliefs. The underlying premises from which people make judgements and are beyond argument
Term
deontological system
Definition
focuses on teh act itself or ints intent when determining if an action is good or bad. The consequences are irrelevant
Term
Teleological systems
Definition
focus on the consequence of an act when determining if it is good or bad. The consequences are what is judged
Term
Kant
Definition

1.Believed in logic, not emotion.

2. A good will is the only thing that is intrinsically good.

3. Moral truths should be logically consistent and universal.

4. Categorical Imperatives

Term
Categorical imperatives
Definition
command action that is necessary without any reference to intended purposes of consequences.
Term
Utilitarianism
Definition
An act is right or moral if it is useful in bringing about a desireable or good ent. Everyone should perform the act of follow that moral rule that will bring about the greatest good for everyone concerned.
Term
Bentham
Definition
The morality of an action should be determined by how much it contributes to the good of the majority. Human nature seeks to mazimize pleasure and minimize pain; a moral system must be consistent with this natural fact
Term
psychological hedonism
Definition
the theory that all action aims at attaining pleasure for the agent
Term
act utilitarianism
Definition
everyone should perform the act that will bring about the greatest amount of good over bad for everyone affected by the act. There are no absolute rules.
Term
rule utilitarianism
Definition
rules are based on experience and careful reasoning and that everyone should always establish and follow that rule or those rules that will bring about the greatest good for all concerned.
Term
natural law
Definition
there is a universal set of rights and wrongs that is similar to many religious beliefs, but without reference to a specific supernatural figure. There is no difference between physical laws and moral laws.
Term
golden mean
Definition
virtue is the median between two extremes of character
Term
ethics of care
Definition
emphasises human relationships and needs
Term
egoism
Definition
states that it is ok as long as it benefits the person doing it, therefore bringing about the desired effect.
Term
psychological egoism
Definition
humans are naturally egoists and it is natural for them to be that way. All species have instincts for surbical and self-preservation and self interest are merely part of that instinct
Term
enlightened egoism
Definition
human's objective is long term welfare
Term
relativism
Definition
there is an exception to every rule, cynical about absolutes, nothing is proven conclusively and there are no absolute rules
Term
absolutism
Definition
rigis rules, moral absolutes that must be adhered to, moral truths and believes in Kant and the stances on religion
Term
situational ethics
Definition
every rule can be broken under cirumstances and still be moral
Term
biological theory
Definition
we commit good or bad acts because of biological predispositions. This is evidence of traits that are selected for species survival for our evolution.
Term
learning theory
Definition
we learn morals and values that take place through modeling or reinforcement
Term
modeling
Definition
learning values and moral beliefs by mimicking the bejavior of those we admire
Term
reinforcement
Definition
behaviors and beliefs that are rewarded will be repeated (operant conditioning)
Term
development theory
Definition
individuals mature physically, cognitively, and emotionally
Term
preconventional level
Definition
motivated purely by person interests. The major concern is the consequence of the action for the individual
Term
conventional level
Definition
people perceive themselves as members of society, and living up to role responsibilities is paramount in believing oneself to be good. Children enter this level when they are capable of playing with other children according to the rules.
Term
post conventional level
Definition
a person moves beyond the norms and laws of a society to determine universal good- that is, what is good for all societies. Few people reach this level, and their actions are observable different from the majority.
Term
justice
Definition
fairness, equality, impartiality, appropriateness, proportionality
Term
eglaitarian theory
Definition
divide everything amongst everyone
Term
marxist theory
Definition
everyone should do everything they can, but only take what they need
Term
libertarian theory
Definition
no government intrusion, free market system, capitalism. Do whatever you want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else
Term
utilitarian theory
Definition
seeks out whatever maximizes happiness for all
Term
corrective justice
Definition
administers punishments across the board
Term
distributive justice
Definition
the allocation of burdens and services to create oppurtunity
Term
substantice justice
Definition
punishment is set in relation to the degree of harm incurred
Term
procedural justice
Definition
system of rules for human relations, the whole field of the principles laid down, the decisions reached in accordanance with them and the procedures whereby the principles are applied to individual cases.
Term
retributive justice
Definition
one of balance. The criminal must suffer pain or loss prportional to what the victim was forced to suffer
Term
utilitarian justice
Definition
restore a natural balance by righting a wrong or neutralizing criminal vain with an equal amount of loss or pain and benefits society by administering punishment to deter offenders from future crime
Term
mercy
Definition
a moral virtue that tempers or seasons justice. It is never owed to anyone as a right or a matter of desert of justice
Term
exclusionary rule in justice
Definition
ensures that teh state follows the correct procedures before exacting punisment by excluding illegal evidence from trial
Term
consensus paradigm
Definition
law is representitive, strengthens social solidarity and is value neutral
Term
consensus paradigm
Definition
law is a coersive tool used by the power eliete to maintain the status quo. Law is restrictive, not representative
Term
pluralist paradigm
Definition
law serves the purpose of the interest groups. The law fluctuates depending upon the balance of power between interest groups
Term
repressive law
Definition
maintenance of social cohesion
Term
restitutive law
Definition
mediates the differences that may come about because of the division of labor
Term
mechanical solidarity
Definition
we define an action as wrong because the majority of the population holds the opinion that it is wrong
Term
legal paternalism
Definition
protects people from their own behavior
Term
legal moralism
Definition
acts as the agent of society in areas where there is no moral agreement
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