General and applied ethics course summary

 General and applied ethics course summary

Ethics is the branch of philosophy concerned with moral behavior, distinguishing between right and wrong, good and evil. It is the study of human actions from a moral standpoint, focusing on values, norms, virtues, and principles that guide behavior in society. Ethics evaluates standards by which human actions are judged as right or wrong, aiming to understand what ought to be done rather than what is the case.

Nature of Ethics:

• Normative Science: Ethics is a normative science concerned with what ought to be done, evaluating human actions based on values and standards.
• Science of Character: It focuses on judgments about human conduct, emphasizing the importance of character and virtues.
• Not Practical Science: Unlike practical sciences, ethics guides towards achieving specific goals rather than being a means to an end.
• Not an Art: Ethics is based on motives rather than results, emphasizing inner harmony over external achievements.

Four Spheres of Ethics:

1. Moral Sphere: Focuses on interactions between individuals, promoting a life of reason and virtue for good relations and societal benefit.
2. Social Sphere: Deals with societal institutions, customs, and their influence on individuals, emphasizing moral insight and reform.
3. Religious Sphere: Primarily concerned with religious aspects like the existence of God and salvation, linking ethics to religious disciplines.
4. Political Sphere: Mainly focuses on the moral conduct of office holders and politicians, ensuring that political considerations align with moral ideals and ethical principles.

Divisions of Ethics:

1. Descriptive Ethics:
• Focuses on what people believe to be right or wrong, evaluating human actions based on societal norms and customs.
• Compares ethics of the past and present, drawing insights from disciplines like Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology.
2. Normative Ethics:
• Deals with norms governing how individuals should act and behave in society.
• Also known as prescriptive ethics, emphasizing principles like the Golden Rule and rational justification for ethical behavior.
3. Meta-ethics:
• Explores the nature of ethical concepts and language, analyzing the foundations of ethical principles and moral judgments.
4. Applied Ethics:
• Addresses ethical dilemmas in specific domains like Decision ethics, Professional Ethics, and Business Ethics.
• Focuses on the practical application of ethical principles in real-life situations, ensuring rightness in social, economic, and cultural aspects.

Principles of Ethical Decision-Making:

1. Intuitionism:
• Relies on personal judgment and feelings of right or wrong, focusing on concrete ethical actions regardless of consequences.
2. Egoism:
• Advocates maximizing self-interest but acknowledges potential conflicts if everyone pursues personal gain.
3. Utilitarianism:
• Evaluates actions based on their consequences, aiming to maximize happiness and benefits for the greatest number of people.
4. The Golden Rule:
• Promotes treating others as one would like to be treated, emphasizing reciprocity and fairness in interactions.
5. Cultural Relativism:
• Views morality as a product of culture, judging actions based on social approval within a specific society.
6. Supernaturalism:
• Sees moral judgments as expressions of God's will, linking ethical actions to divine guidance.
7. Beneficence:
• Advocates doing good to others and helping them without causing harm, promoting reciprocity and passing on received goodness.
8. Non-maleficence:
• Emphasizes avoiding harm to others intentionally, prohibiting actions beyond one's competence or position.
9. Justice:
• Seeks fairness in society, advocating compensation for harm done and preventing exploitation based on social status.
10. Paternalism:
• Suggests acting in the best interest of others without their consent, akin to how parents act for their children's well-being.
11. Informed Consent:
• Requires individuals to be fully informed before consenting to any action or decision that may affect them.
12. Autonomy:
• Emphasizes the right of individuals to make their own decisions and choices without external influence.
13. Double Effect:
• Allows actions with both good and bad effects, as long as the intention is good and the bad effect is not the means to the good one.

Revision Questions on Ethical Decision-Making:

1. Define ethics and explain its historical development.
2. List and describe the nature of ethics as a subject of study.
3. Explain the four spheres of ethics.
4. Discuss the four branches of ethics.
5. Define methodology in ethics and discuss the 13 principles guiding ethical decision-making.
6. Explain the concept of intuitionism in ethical decision-making.
7. How does egoism influence ethical decision-making?
8. Analyze the principle of utilitarianism and its role in ethical choices.
9. Discuss the importance of the Golden Rule in ethical decision-making.
10. Compare and contrast cultural relativism and supernaturalism in ethics.
11. How does the principle of beneficence guide ethical actions?
12. Evaluate the concept of justice in ethical decision-making.
13. Discuss the ethical principle of paternalism and its implications.
14. Explain the significance of informed consent in ethical decision-making.
15. How does the principle of autonomy impact ethical choices?
16. Define the concept of double effect and its application in ethical decision-making.