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OCR AS Ethics
OCR AS Ethic terms to know - (Absolutism, Relativism, Natural Law, Kant, Utilitarianism, Christian Ethics, Applied)
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01/15/2011

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Term
A posteriori
Definition
A statement which is knowable after experience
Term
A priori
Definition
A statement which is knowable without reserence to any experience
Term
Absolute
Definition
A princible which is universal. There are no exceptions to this moral rule.
Term
Utilitarianism
Definition
Teleological - do to others what you want in return
Term
Analytic
Definition
Statements which are true by definition (linked with deductive arguments)
Term
Apparent Good
Definition
KANT Something which seems good but the person does not have a good intention for doing it (E.g. give money to charity to look good rather than doing it because it is good)
Term
Autonomy
Definition
KANT The freedom to make moral decisions, they have their own responicibility
Term
Categorical imperative
Definition
KANT An imperative is a statement of what should be done. A fundamental ethical principle intended as a guide for determining whether any contemplated action is morally right
Term
Deontology
Definition
The action itself is the only thing that counts as morality, not the consequences
Term
Divine Command Theory
Definition
Actions are right or wrong depending on whether they follow God's commands or not E.g. The Bible
Term
Doctrine of double effect
Definition
NATURAL LAW An action where the main intention is to do good, but may have a bad side-effect. The good intention makes the action right
Term
Duty
Definition
KANT A motive for acting in a certain way which shows morality
Term
Consciousness
Definition
Awareness of self as an independent being, the ability to feel pain and pleasure
Term
Ensoulment
Definition
The moment when a soul enters the body - in traditional Christian thought this was at 40 days for boys and 90 days for girls. The Church now believes in life at conception.
Term
Eternal Law
Definition
The principles by which God made and controls the universe which are only fully known by God
Term
Euthyphro Dilemma
Definition
NATURAL LAW The dilemma first identified by Plato - is something good because God commands it or does God command it because it is good?
Term
Foetus
Definition
An organism in the womb from 9 weeks until birth
Term
Good Will
Definition
KANT Making a moral choice expresses a good will
Term
Hedonic Calculus
Definition
UTILITARIANISM Bentham's method for measuring the good and bad effects of an action
Term
Hippocratic Oath
Definition
An oath made by doctors to practice medicine in an ethical way - abortion
Term
Instrinsic value
Definition
NATURAL LAW&UTILITARIANISM Something's value lies in itself
Term
Intrinsically good
Definition
NATURAL LAW Something which is good initself, without reference to consequences
Term
Involuntary euthanasia
Definition
When someone's life is ended to prevent their suffering without their consent, even though they are capable of consenting
Term
IVF
Definition
The procedure by which sperm and eggs from a couple are fertalised in a laboratory dish
Term
Kingdom of Ends
Definition
KANT A world in which people do not treat others as means but only as ends
Term
Maxim
Definition
KANT A general rule in accordance with which we intend to act
Term
Meta-ethics
Definition
The analysis of ethical statements and theories
Term
Moral Objectivism
Definition
Truth is objectively real regardless of culture
Term
Moral Relativism
Definition
There are no universally valid moral principles and so there is no one true morality
Term
Natural Law
Definition
The theory that an aternal, absolute moral law can be discovered by reason
Term
Normative Ethics
Definition
A term to describe different moral codes of behaviour; rules by which we make moral decisions (E.g. the theories that we've studied)
Term
'Ought implies can'
Definition
KANT The idea that someone cannot be blamed for what he could not do, but only for what he was capable of doing but did not do
Term
Passive Euthanasia
Definition
Treatment is either withdrawn or not given to the patient in order to hasten death. This could include turning off the life-support machine
Term
Primary Precepts
Definition
NATURAL LAW The fundamental principles of Natural Law
Term
Qualitative
Definition
Looked at the quality
Term
Quality of life
Definition
The belief that human life is not valuable in itself; it depends on what kind of life it is
Term
Quantitative
Definition
Looking at the quantity
Term
Real Good
Definition
KANT The right thing to do - it fits the human ideal
Term
Relativism
Definition
Nothing may be said to be objectively right or wrong; it depends on the situation, the culture, etc
Term
Sanctity of life
Definition
The belief that human life is valuable in itself
Term
Secondary Precepts
Definition
NATURAL LAW These are worked out from the Primary Precepts
Term
Situation Ethics
Definition
The morally right thing to do is the most loving in the situation - depends on the situation
Term
Stem cell
Definition
A cell that can develop into any other cell - it is a versatile cell
Term
Subjectivism
Definition
Each person's values are relative to that person and so cannot be judged objectively
Term
Synthetic statements
Definition
Statements that may be true or false and can be tested using experience or senses (Inductive)
Term
Teleological
Definition
Moral actions are dependent on their outcome or TELOS (end) - similar to CONSEQUENTIALISM
Term
Consequentialism
Definition
Someone decides whether an action is good or bad by its consequences
Term
Utilitarianism
Definition
Only pleasure and the absence of pain have utility or intrinsic value
Term
Voluntary euthanasia
Definition
When the person who wants to die gives permission for the termination of their death
Term
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Definition
Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274)
Term
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Definition
Aristotle (384 - 322 BC)
Term
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Definition
Jeremy Bentham (1748 - 1832)
Term
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Definition
René Descartes (1596 - 1650)
Term
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Definition
David Hume (1711 - 1776)
Term
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Definition
Immanuel Kant (1724 - 1804)
Term
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Definition
John Mill (1645 – 1707)
Term
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Definition
Plato (428/427 – 348/347 BC)
Term
Summum Bonum
Definition
The ultimate good
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