Welcome to Vocabulary

Key Vocabulary/Terminology that may show up on a quiz (duplications are on purpose):

Terms Prosocial Altruism Selfishness Hedonism Speciesism Virtue ethics Fallacies Happiness v. Eudaemonia (Aristotle) Teleology (Consequentialism) Telos (Aristotle) Natural purpose Vice Virtue Prudence Golden Mean (Aristotle) Intrinsic Good Page 1 of 6

Definitions Care, concern, empathy for the welfare and rights for others, acting in ways to benefit others Belief that acting for the benefit of others is good and right Concerned with personal wishes while ignoring others Doctrine that pleasure is the highest good or source of moral values; self-indulgent devotion Belief that the human race is superior to other species so that animals may be exploited Moral standard and conduct with a quality of goodness or righteous, beneficial quality Errors in reasoning, faults in argument Happiness or well-being as a universal goal, derived from a life of activity governed by reason, action of soul in accordance with virtue, practical, not theoretical Ethics in terms of ends or results. Choosing actions that will lead to good consequences & avoid bad ones An end or purpose (in a constrained sense) Purpose in its purest form, greater than humans or groups of people Flaw in character or behavior, immoral conduct Human excellence and character Careful, cautious, using forethought or good sense Doctrine of moderation, striving for the mean (inside a range of possibilities) between 2 extremes Basic and essential value that is morally good and right

Terms

Definitions for its own sake

Instrumental good

Worth having as a means toward getting something else that is good; only states of consciousness can be intrinsically good Courage is a mean, or medium somewhere between the extremes of cowardice and rashness, An action or pattern of repeated behavior that becomes typical

Courage is not the extremes of cowardice and rashness Habit

Consequentialism (Teleology) alls Ethics in terms of ends or results. Action considered well that ends well right/wrong depending on good/bad outcome Utilitarianism (Jeremy Bentham & John Stuart Mill) the Greatest Happiness Deontology duty for dutys sake Nonconsequentialism thats just plain wrong Jeremy Bentham (utilitarianism) Idea that the moral worth of an action is determined solely by its utility in providing happiness or pleasure; quantitative & reductionist (opposite of deontological Ethics in terms of duty to act out of universal principles, regardless of consequences (summed sentient beings) Action that is wrong in itself, not based on the consequences Exponent of utilitarianism, head of reformers call the philosophical radicals, an atheist,

Morality-first order beliefs for living Practices based on a claim about what is good/bad, a good life right/wrong which guide our behavior Ethics- second order beliefs Reflecting on the adequacy of moral beliefs Greatest Happiness-balance of pleasure, pain, for greatest number If you have to ask, you must not be living it! Rule Utilitarianism (restricted or indirect) Reflective consideration on the adequacy of our moral beliefs and practices. Utilitarianism; life stance of ultimate importance of happiness and pleasure; the good to be maximized Making a life plan incorporating common sense and set about living it in hopes of attaining la dolce vita Actions are moral when they conform to rules that lead to the greater good, best consequences if followed

Deontology-from Deon or binding Ethics in terms of duty, one has a duty to act out of obligation moral standards exist principle regardless of the consequences, universal Page 2 of 6

Terms Maxim Sentience Utility does not does not need an appeal to God Would God strive for utility because it provides the Greatest Happiness?

Definitions General rule or principle of truth Ability to have subjective perceptual experiences; ability to feel or perceive False; if everyone was out only for their own pleasure, nothing would work together for the greatest good; their would be no constraint without purpose for life No; if he created humans only to have them perform their utility or function they would not worship Him, so it would not provide the Greatest Happiness

Food-animals are treated cruelly in Speciesism; belief that animal exploitation is justified life Is lying wrong? (consequentialism) Only if it could save someone, otherwise always wrong Can lying create the Greatest Happiness? Sympathy Empathy Dignity Duty Rationality Ends/Means ends justify means Categorical Imperative (Kant) Consequentialism; deontologist: no, its a moral duty to tell the truth; utilitarianist: yes if its for the greatest good for the greatest number of people Ability to understand, enter into or share anothers feelings Ability to identify with and understand someone elses feelings or difficulties Self-respect, due respect, worthiness, proper sense of pride Obligation; task based on moral, legal or religious reasons A key method to analyze data gathered through systematically gathered observations (reason) Morality of an action is solely based on the outcome of that action Fundamental principle of our moral duties is a categorical imperative because its a command; absolute, unconditional requirement that asserts its authority in all circumstances, both required and justified as an end in itself

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Terms Hypothetical Imperative (Kant) Maxim Normative Cultural Relativism Epistemological Relativism (ethical relativist) Moral absolutism

Definitions Compels action in a given circumstance (conditionally) General or principle of truth Each culture has its own ideas about ethics and morality View that truth and falsity are relative, no statement is objectively true or false. Everything is a matter of opinion, including science Ethical view that certain actions are right or wrong regardless of other contexts such as intentions or consequences Notes certain sociological facts, moralities are relative View that nothing is moral or immoral, existential nihilism, moral statements lack truth value Form of congnitivism; ethical sentences express propositions about the attitudes of people, some of which are true finding happiness is a matter of choice -within guidelines of society Standard used by person/society to judge right or just (moral philosophy gives us a reference point to navigate through tough decisions) Normative position that moral agents ought to do what is in the own self interest (but not completely their own) Claims that people do only act in their self-interest, hedonism Theory that morality is relative to norms of ones culture, right/wrong depending on morals of that society Law of nature, a law whose content is set by nature and therefore is valid everywhere, governs the activities of the material universe Sacred religious verbal text of Islam Argument in defense of Gods goodness despite existence of evil

Descriptive Cultural Relativism Moral Nihilism (Ethical nihilism) nothing is morally wrong Moral/Ethical Subjectivism (broad moral relativism)

Moral Rules

Ethical Egoism Psychological Egoism Ethical Relativism Natural Law

Quran (Holy Quran) Theodicy Page 4 of 6

Terms Divine Command Theory Problem of Evil Innate Moral Sense (Sentimentalism) Four Noble Truths (basic expression of Buddhas teaching)

Definitions Theory that all of morality is dependent upon the will of God Challenge to the existence of a loving God, explores free will. True love requires the capacity for real evil. View that morality is grounded in moral sentiments or emotions; nature of moral facts or moral beliefs 1. Life means suffering, 2. Origin of suffering is attachment, 3. Cessation of suffering is attainable, 4. End of suffering is a gradual path to self-improvement may take many lifetimes of conditioning through karma Path to end suffering (4th noble truth) View, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration; practice leads to nirvana The science and methodology of interpreting text (esp. the Bible) The Hebrew Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible attributed to Moses), and the Talmud (Jewish religious law writings) The belief that things in nature have souls or consciousness Strict religious and social codes; Performance of duties of Hinduism; eternal truth of Buddhism Ability to understand, enter into or share anothers feelings Self-respect, worthiness, position of honor, esteem Obligation; task based on moral, legal or religious reasons Condition in which values, beliefs & techniques are believed to be based on logical, explicable principles; Distinctive qualities, reputation Aristotle was Platos student

The Eight Fold Path (Buddhism)

Hermeneutics Torah

Animism Dharma Sympathy Dignity Duty Rationality Character Aristotle and Plato relationship Page 5 of 6

Terms Virtue Ethics questions Nicomachean Ethics

Definitions Question of which character traits are the virtues Aristotles most well-known work on ethics; 10 books (scrolls); Nicomachas was Aristotles son; based on notes of lectures at Lyceum

Case Pleasesubmitthe file as FirstLastNameM4A3.doc Put yournameat the end so that I havea clue whoyou are. As you think and write keep this in mind: 1. Take responsibility, 2. Tell the truth, 3. Ask questions. Some of you have contacted me by e-mail. You are free to do so any time. Lets have some relaxed engaged, thoughtful, respectful discussions. Ralph J. Argen III, PhD (813) 334-2684 cell rargen@argosy.edu or rargen1@verizon.net

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