Review Questions:

 

1. What is ethics, and how can it be distinguished from morality?

 

Ethics is derived from the greek ethos, and the term morality has its roots in the latin mores. Both refers to notions of custom, habit, behavior, and character. ethics and morality are often interchangeably in everyday discourse.

 

2. What is meant by a moral system? What are some of the key differences between the "rules of conduct" and the "principles of evaluation" that compromise a moral system?

 

Moral system is there to prevent harm and evils. It aims at promoting human flourishing.

 

Rules of conduct are action guiding rules, in either directives or social policies while the Principles of evaluation is the evaluative standards used to justify rules of conduct.

 

3. What does Bernard Gert mean when he describes morality in terms of a "public system"? Why is the notion of "personal morality" an oxymoron?

 

The system is public, he claims, because everyone must know what the rules are that define it.

 

4. Why does Gert believe that morality is an "informal" system? How is a moral system both similar to, and different from, a game?

 

Morality is informal because, Gert points out a moral system has no formal authoritative judges presiding over it. Unlike games that have rules enforced by references in a manner that approaches a legal system, morality is less formal. A moral system is more like a game of cards or like a "pick up game" in basketball.

 

5. Describe how the ideals of "rationality" and "impartiality" function in Gert's moral system.

 

A moral system is rational in that it is based on principles of logical reason accessible to ordinary persons. A moral system is impartial in the sense that the moral rules are ideally designed to apply equitability to all participants in the system.

 

6. What are the values and what are some of the key differences between moral values and nonmoral values?

 

Value means having worth or being of worth. Values are objects of our desire or interest. Moral values need to be distinguished from the broader set of nonmoral values.

 

7. How do religion, law, and philosophy each provide different grounds for justifying a moral principle?

 

Religion (based on mine, yours, ours, etc.) is the beliefs we believe and are the moral principles of how to live your life religiously. Law is based on legal/illegal or right/wrong according to the law (depending what counrty your in). Philosophy is based on ethical theories and logical arguments.

 

8. What is the method of philosophical ethics and what is a philosophical study?

 

Philosophical study requires a consistent methodological scheme be used to verify hypothesis and theories and these schemes must satisfy criteria of rationality and impartialy.

 

9. How does philosophical study differ from a descriptive study?rather than normative in nature?

 

The Philosophical study is based on a philosopher's own logical argument. The others are based on people. That is what differentaites philosophical study from the two.

 

10. Summaraize the four diff. kinds of "discussion stoppers" in ethical discourse.

 

1.     People disagree on solutions to moral issues

2.     Who am I to judge others?

3.     Morality is simply a private matter

4.     Morality is Ssmply a matter for individual cultures to determin

 

11. Why are these discussion stoppers problematic for the advancement of dialogue and debate about ethical issues?

 

It stops discussions on ethical issues and resolving it.

 

12. What is moral relativism? How is it different from cultural relativism?

 

Moral relativism asserts that one should not make moral judgements about the behavior of people who live in cultures other than their own. On the other hand, cultural relativism asserts that one should believe based on the his or her beliefs.

 

13. What is ethical theory, and what important functions do ethical theories play in the analysis of moral issues?

 

Ethical theories are there to help us figure and know more about things in life. It is really important because it lessens the flaws of the Golden Rule and one's conscience.

 

14. What are the distinguishing features of consequence-based ethical theories?

 

Consequence-Based ethical theories shows what is correct or wrong with the given situation. It is said that the greater the desire, the greater it is right.  Likwise, the more facts you have, the more correct it is.

 

15. Describe some of the key features between act and rule utilitarianism.

 

Act Utilitarianism - the rightness or wrongness of one's actions is depended on its expected outcome.

Rule Utilitarianism - the rightness and wrongness of one's actions is depended on whether it follows the general rule.

 

16. Which feature distinguish duty-based ethical theories from alternative tyes of theories?

 

The main feature which distinguishes duty-based ethical theories is the duty that it has that no other alternative types has. "we have a duty to treat fellow humans as ends"

 

17. Describe some of the main differences bet act deontology and rule deontology.

 

Rule is based on  ethical rules in making ethical descisions. On the other hand, act is denying what matters in an action's consequence. what matters is the solution to that problem.

 

18. WHat is meant by the expression contract-based ethical theories?

 

During the premoral state, no rules or morals exist yet. That explains premoral. In this state individuals are free to do watever they want to satisfy them. Eventually, rules and morals came and Thomas Hobbes believed that we are willing to surrender some of our absolute freedoms to a sovereign.

 

19. What freatures distinguish character based ethical theories from alternative schemes of morality?

 

This ethical theory ignores the special roles that consequences, duties, and social contracts play in moral systems, especially with respect to determining the appropriate standard for evaluating moral behavior. Rather, it focuses on criteria having to do with character development and their acquisition of good character traits from the kinds of habits they develop.

 

20. How does James Moor's "Just consequentialist" theory incorporate aspects of utilitarianism and deontological theories into one comprehensive framework?

 

They incorporate in two step framework. The first is Deliberate over various policies from an impartial point of view. The second is Selecting the best policiy from the set of just policies arrived at in the deliberation stage.

 

Discussion Questions:

 

1. No. I couldn't think of anymore additional discussion stoppers as I honestly admit that I am not a fan of being a philosopher and exploiting things. All I can say is that, we fall victims to these stoppers because these are included in our daily lives. I don't think its pissoble to sort of erase them.

 

2. As we have discussed, Act utilitarianism is a matter of doing a solution to the problem. This means, as BOD, when I make a the decision, its going to be act utilitarianism becuase I acted in it and used a solution. On the other hand, rule utilitarianism and rule deontologist is by following the rule. For me, the best solution would be option 2, which is laying off 5 % becuase it has less damage and I think that it would benefit more people and the company as well.

 

3. It would be nice to protect your friend but imagine keeping your friend in your house is just the same as in the internment camp. What's negative about hidding the person is that nothing will ever happen as compared in a camp where things can change for the better. Just as long as the government isn't corrupted or evil, the it would be best I think to trust the feds. In addition, you shouldn't have made a promise to your friend. Instead, I think the best is to tell her that you'll find a way to make her life better in whatever way.

 

4. Yes, there is still room for improvement and as a matter of fact, I think there always is a room for improvement. So basically, think that the 4 ethical theories aren't enough to handle all the moral issues. A new one would lessen moral issues.