#1

KEY TERMS #1 discretion: The authority to make a decision between two or more choices.

duties: Required behaviors or actions, that is, the responsibilities that are attached to specific role.

ethical dilemmas: Situations in which it is difficult for an individual to make a decision, either because the right course of action is not clear or because the right course of action carries some negative consequences.

ethical issues: Difficult social or policy questions that include controversy over the right” thing to do.

ethics: The discipline of determining good and evil and defining moral duties.

imperfect duties: Moral duties that are not fully explicated or detailed.

morals: Principles of right and wrong.

superogatories: Actions that are commendable but not required in order for a person to be considered moral.

values: Judgments of desirability, worth, or importance.

ethical system: A structured set of principles that defines what is moral. ethics of virtue: The ethical system that bases ethics largely upon character and possession of virtues. eudaimonia: The Greek term denoting perfect happiness or flourishing, related to the way to live a “good life.” principle of the Golden Mean: Aristotle’s concept of moderation, in which one should not err toward excess or deficiency; this principle is associated with the ethics of virtue. natural law: The idea that principles of morals and rights are inherent in nature and not human- made; such laws are discovered by reason but exist apart from humankind. religious ethics: The ethical system that is based on religious beliefs of good and evil; what is good is that which is God’s will. ethical formalism: The ethical system espoused by Kant that focuses on duty; holds that the only thing truly good is a good will, and that what is good is that which conforms to the categorical imperative. deontological ethical system: The study of duty or moral obligation emphasizing the intent of the actor as the element of morality. hypothetical imperatives: Statements of contingent demand known as if-then statements (if I want something, then I must work for it); usually contrasted with categorical imperatives (statements of “must” with no “ifs”). categorical imperative: The concept that some things just must be, with no need for further justification, explanation, or rationalization for why they exist (Kant’s categorical imperative

refers to the imperative that you should do your duty, act in a way you want everyone else to act, and don’t use people). utilitarianism: The ethical system that claims that the greatest good is that which results in the greatest happiness for the greatest number; major proponents are Bentham and Mill. teleological ethical system: An ethical system that is concerned with the consequences or ends of an action to determine goodness. act utilitarianism: The type of utilitarianism that determines the goodness of a particular act by measuring the utility (good) for all, but only for that specific act and without regard for future actions. rule utilitarianism: The type of utilitarianism that determines the goodness of an action by measuring the utility of that action when it is made into a rule for behavior. ethics of care: The ethical system that defines good as meeting the needs of others and preserving and enriching relationships. peacemaking justice: An ancient approach to justice that includes the concepts of compassion and care, connectedness, and mindfulness. egoism: The ethical system that defines the pursuit of self-interest as a moral good. psychological egoism: The concept that humans naturally and inherently seek self-interest, and that we can do nothing else because it is our nature. enlightened egoism: The concept that egoism may appear to be altruistic because it is in one’s long-term best interest to help others in order to receive help in return. imperative principle: The concept that all decisions should be made according to absolute rules. utilitarian principle: The principle that all decisions should be made according to what is best for the greatest number. generalization principle: The principle that all decisions should be made assuming that the decision would be applied to everyone else in similar circumstances. cultural relativism: The idea that values and behaviors differ from culture to culture and are functional in the culture that holds them. principle of forfeiture: The idea that one gives up one’s right to be treated under the principles of respect for persons to the extent that one has abrogated someone else’s rights; for instance, self-defense is acceptable according to the principle of forfeiture. situational ethics: The philosophical position that although there are a few universal truths, different situations call for different responses; therefore, some action can be right or wrong depending on situational factors. moral pluralism: The concept that there are fundamental truths that may dictate different definitions of what is moral in different situations.