Someone who uses 

specific criteria to 

evaluate reasoning, 

form positions, and 

make decisions.

A conclusion 

about an issue that is 

supported by reasons

A position 

taken about an issue, also 

called a claim or an opinion; 

in deductive reasoning, the 

inference drawn from the 

major and minor premises; 

in research, the meaning and 

significance of the data as 

interpreted by the researcher. 

The question or 

subject under discussion.

Statements of 

evidence given to support 

conclusions

Beliefs,

usually taken for 

granted, that are based 

on the experiences, 

observations, or desires 

of an individual or 

group

Beliefs, ideals, or 

principles that are considered 

worthy and held in high 

regard

Beliefs

about what is good and 

important that form the basis 

of an individual’s opinion on 

issues

Disagreements about the 

priority different values should 

have in decision making. 

The process of choosing the 

most important values in an 

issue.

Principles that 

distinguish right from wrong 

behavior; see also ethics. 

A belief 

system in which behavior is 

considered ethical when it 

allows for one’s individual 

freedom and does not restrict 

the freedom of others. 

1.    UTILITARIANISM

A belief 

system in which behavior is 

considered ethical when it 

promotes the greatest general 

happiness and minimizes 

unhappiness.

A belief 

system in which behavior 

is considered to be ethical 

when equal opportunities and 

consequences apply to all 

people.

An ethical 

system based on spiritual truth 

and the principles of loving 

God and loving one’s neighbor. 

 A

system of universal ethical 

principles, such as honesty 

and respect for others, that 

are considered to be self-

evident and obvious to rational 

individuals of every culture.

 A value 

considered to be right 

and good. 

A value 

considered to be right and 

good that is acted upon in 

one’s life. 

A test 

for ethical decision making 

that involves empathizing 

with the people affected 

by an action that is being 

considered

A test for ethical 

decision making that focuses 

on the general consequences 

of an action under 

consideration.

 A test for 

ethical decision making that 

asks whether a decision is 

consistent with decisions that 

would be made in similar, 

harder cases. 

An ethical test by which one 

determines if the principle 

on which one is acting is 

consistent with a higher or 

more general principle that 

one accepts.