Vagueness

 a property of an expression in virtue of which it

can give rise to a borderline case. Not clearly

defined

Ambiguity

linguistic entity has multiple meanings

or interpretations

Borderline case

a situation in which the application of a

particular object does not apply

Emphirical claim

statement whose truth value is fixed through either scientific inquiry or the senses (matter of fact)

Formal claim

statement whose truth value is fixed by

meaning of the term, either as a stipulation

or the description of a relationship

(relation of ideas)

Explanatory power

a standard for evaluating a moral theory that requires that the theory (it's basic rules and principles)explain our morespecific moral beliefs, thus helping us understand why actions, persons, and other objects of moral evaluation are right or wrong, good or bad.

External support

Fallacy

a defect in reasoning, other than merely false

premises, which fails to provide support for

the conclusion

Meta-ethics

the study of the origin and meaning

of ethical concepts

Normative-ethics

development of moral standards to

regulate right and wrong conduct

Deontological theory

concerned with moral obligation (the right) rather than the ends or consequences. Moral obligation relates to duty, the ought, rightness, or appropriateness. Moral

obligation has priority over moral value.

Teleological theory

derives from Greek "telos" meaning an end or purpose.Seeking to manifest something in the

world,to bring about a certain state of affairs

that is superior to what currently exists, as

opposed to satisfying your own desires.

Practical aim of moral theory

a decision procedure that can be used to guide correct moral reasoning about matters of moral concern

Theoretical aim of moral theory

underlying features of actions, persons, and

other items of moral evaluation that make

the right or wrong, good, or bad

Perfectionism

With respect to value, the view that the good

of some kind of thing is a matter of its achieving perfection for things of that kind. Moral

perfectionism refers to those moral theories

that accept perfectionism about value in relation to human beings and considerations of human perfection

the basis for understanding right and wrong action

Consistency

a standard for evaluating a moral theory that

requires that its principles (rules) yield consistent

moral verdicts about the morality of actions,

persons, and other objects of moral evaluation

Determinacy

a standard for evaluating a moral theory that

says that the principles (rules) of moral theory

should yield determinate moral verdicts about the morality of actions, persons, and other objects

of evaluation in a wide range of cases

Intuitive appeal

a moral theory should develop and make

sense of various intuitively appealing

beliefs and ideas about morality

Internal support

a standard for evaluating a moral theory that

requires that the theory (its basic principles

and rules) together with relevant information,

logically imply our considered moral beliefs

Welfarism

the view that the only kind value that is

of fundamental relevance for ethical

evaluationis the welfare of individuals

Universalism

in ethics, the idea that all individuals

who will be affected by some decision

or action count in matters of morality

Absolutism

(moral) the view that there are certain

types of actions that are always wrong

regardless of the consequences of such actions

(ex: intentionally killing innocent humans)

Perfect duty

or narrow duties are called so because the

kinds of actions forbidden are fairly precisely

specified and presumably we are to refrain from

such types of action in all or most circumstances

Imperfect duty

or wide duties are called so because although

they require that agents adopt certain ends

as general guiding objectives in life, agents

have a great deal of leeway in deciding how

and when to act on those ends

Prima facie duty

an action that (1) possesses some morally relevant feature that counts in favor of one's doing the

act and (2) is such that if it were the only morally

relevant feature of one's situation, then the act in question would be one's all-things-considered duty

Prima facie duties

1. Fidelity-keeping promises, telling the truth;avoiding lying and deception
2. Reparation- requirement to make up past wrongs
3. Gratitude-paying back others for their beneficence to us
4. Justice-requirements to distribution of benifits among persons according to need
5. Beneficence- when in a position to help others we ought to
6. Self-improvement-requirement to develop our character and intelligence
7. Non-maleficence- we should avoid harming others

Fidelity

(duties) keeping promises and telling the truth;

avoid lying and deception

Beneficence

(duties) when in a position to help others we ought to

Caring for

liking, being attracted to something

Caring about

caring about someone or something involves

"being invested" in that person or thing,

being vested in the well-being of another

Valid

an argument in which it is impossible for

the conclusion to be false given that the

premises are true

Argument

a group of statements, one or more of which

(the premises) are claimed to provide support for,

or reasons to believe, one of the others (conclusion)

Modus ponens

1) if it is wrong to steal, then it is

also wrong to take things that do not

belong to you

2) it is wrong to steal

:. Thus,it is wrong to take things that do not belong to you

1) P->Q

 2) P       

:.  Q        

1) if P then Q

 2) P       

thus  Q    

Disjunctive syllogism

1) Either you should eat at the restaurant or eat at home

2) you should not eat at the restaurant

:. Thus, you should eat at home

1) P v Q

2) ~ P

:. Q

1) Either P or Q

2)Not   P

:. Thus Q