Power Point presentation VOCABULARY

1. Cultural Relativism.- describes  the simple fact that there are

different  cultures and each has different ways of behaving, thinking and
feeling as its members learn such from the previous generation.  
2. Descriptive ethical relativism.- describes the fact that in different
cultures one of the variants is the sense of morality: the mores, customs
and ethical principles may all vary from one culture to another
3. Normative ethical relativism.- is a theory, which claims that there are no
universally valid moral principles. theory says that the moral rightness and
wrongness of actions varies from society to society and that there are no
absolute universal moral standards binding on all men at all times.
4. Diversity Thesis.- The Diversity Thesis is nothing more than the
observation that not everybody agrees what the most important values are,
or what obligations humans have to one another, or what actions are
forbidden by moral law, etc.
5. The Dependency Thesis.-. It asserts that the validity of moral obligations,
moral values, etc. depends upon the beliefs of (a) moral agents
(subjectivism), or (b)cultural groups.

6. The Veil of Ignorance: a component of social contract theory that allows

us to test ideas for fairness.
7. Original position: The original position (OP) is a imaginary situation in
which we forget who we are and our personal circumstances in order to
make fair decisions.
8. Theory of justice: work of political philosophy and ethics by John Rawls,
in which the author addresses the problem of distributive justice.
9. Justice: what society regards as “right” based on their moral concepts of
ethics, rationality, law, religion, equity and fairness.
10. Fairness: impartial and just treatment or behavior without favoritism or
discrimination.
11. Liberty principle: justice principle that states that every individual has
equal rights to basic liberties.
12. First quality principle: justice principle that states that positions and
offices should be open to any individual regardless of the social
background, sex or ethnicity.
13. Difference principle: justice principle that states that inequalities in the
distribution of wealth and power are permissible only if they benefit the
least well-off positions of society.
14. Pragmatism: philosophy that argues the veracity of a belief depending on
the success of the practical application.
15. Existentialism: It is a philosophy that emphasizes individual existence,
freedom and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning
in life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational
universe.
16. Absurdism: It is a philosophical perspective which holds that the efforts
of humanity to find meaning or rational explanation in the universe
ultimately fail(and, hence, are absurd) because no such meaning exists, at
least to human beings
17. Alienation: A withdrawing or separation of a person or a person´s
affections from an object or position of former attachment.
18. Nihilism: Denial of the meaningful aspects of life.
19. Free will: The ability to choose between different possible courses of
action unimpeded.
20. Divergent: Tending to be different or develop in different directions.
21. Distress: Extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.
22. Dasein: Dasein to refer to the experience of being that is peculiar to
human beings.
23. Subjectivism: The doctrine that knowledge is merely subjective and that
there is no external or objective truth.
24. Personal Ethics: It determines what an individual believes about morality
and right and wrong.
25. Divine Command theory:  Is a meta-ethical theory which proposes that
an action's status as morally good is equivalent to whether it is
commanded by God.
26. Natural law theory: is an absolutist moral theory. It means that it is based
on principles to which there can be no exception under any circumstances.
Deontologically it requires people to follow a strict code of rules, duties
and obedience. Natural law supports the view that the way to human
happiness is for people to realize their full potential both as individuals
and as human communities, by following the principles of nature and
reason.
27. Kantian categorical imperative: the Categorical Imperative is supposed
to provide a way for us to evaluate moral actions and to make moral
judgments under the criteria of universality, impartiality, and rationality. It
refers to acting on the sake of duty only and viewing other people as
having an intrinsic value, not merely as a means to achieve one's end.
28. Rawl's theory of justice: dictates that society should be structured so that
the greatest possible amount of liberty is given to its members, limited
only by the notion that the liberty of any member shall not infringe upon
that of any other member, and inequalities, either social or economic, are
only allowed if the worst off will be better off than they might be under an
equal distribution.
29. Skepticism: theory that states that no one has any moral knowledge, also
the questioning or doubting of a certain belief or dogma.
30. Nihilism: theory that states that nothing is morally right or wrong.
31. Situationalism: ethic that states an act should not be judged according to
an absolute moral, it should be evaluated ethically.
32. Pluralism: ethic that states that there are many and different moral norms,
that can differ from our own moral.
33. Realism: it refers to objective features, that are independent to subjective
opinion, features implausible to refute.
34. Toleration: is the centerpiece of the values of political liberalism.
35. Universal Objectivism are objective principles that are applied
universally. The moral principles that are denied are independent of the
moral belief system. This follows from the Dependency Thesis, which
says that obligations derive from belief. The moral realism is the opposite
of moral relativism because it does not depend upon human recognition.
36. Egoism is the theory that one ’ s self is, or should be, the motivation and the
goal of one’s own action.
37. Rational Egoism.-The promotion of one’s  own interests is always in
accordance with reason. 
38. Ethical Egoism.-Is the normative theory that the promotion of one’s own good
is in accordance with morality.
39. Psycological and Psycological Egoism.-Describes human nature as being
wholly self-centered and self-motivated. Theory about selfinterested and not
really altruistic human behavior.
40. Normative Egoism.-The general theory of normative egoism asserts how
people ought to behave. It comes in two general forms: rational egoism and
ethical egoism.
41. Conditional Egoism.-This is the theory that egoism is morally acceptable or
right if it leads to morally acceptable ends.
42. GOOD WILL.-Only thing that is good without qualification. Other goods like
intelligence and health can be qualified, Good Will is good by virtue because it
is the will to follow the Moral Law.
43. THE NOTION OF DUTY.-Distinction between ¨I want¨ and ¨I ought¨. Moral
actions are not spontaneous, if I see someone in need of help, I may be inclined
to look the other way, but I will recognize that my duty is to help.
44. CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE.-The general form of DO. For Kant there is
only one imperative command and it is the Moral Law.
45. FIRST FORMULATION,LAW OF NATURE: (Universalizability) Act as if
the maxim of your action were to secure through your will a universal law of
nature¨, Meaning act as if in your will you were defining a maximum rule for all
to follow.
46. SECOND FORMULATION.-HUMANITY, Act so that you treat humanity,
whether in your own person or that of another, always as an end and never as a
 mean, See if your actions are using others or affecting others, in the meaning of
never using them as a mean to achieve but always as an end.
47. THIRD FORMULATION, AUTONOMY, This third formulation makes it
clear that the categorical imperative requires autonomy. It is not enough that the
right conduct be followed, but that one also demands that conduct of oneself. It
cannot be something which externally constraints each subject& activity, it must
be a constraint that each subject has set for himself.

VOCABULARY ACCORDING TO THE ETHICS

BOOK

48. MORAL.- of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior

(MERRIAM-WEBSTER)
49. Ethics.- We tend to think of ethics as the set of values or principles held
by individuals or group. Is a branch of philosophy. It is also called moral
philosophy. In general, philosophy is a discipline or study in which we ask
—and attempt to answer—basic questions about key areas or subject
matters of human life and about pervasive and significant aspects of
experience.
50. Non-moral.- having no relation to morality; neither moral nor
immoral:It was a completely nonmoral problem and involved only judgments as to
efficacy.
51. Inmoral.- conflicting with generally or traditionally held moral
principles(MERRIAM WEBSTER DICTIONARY)
52. Normative ethics.- Normative ethics is the study of ethical action. It is the

branch of philosophical ethics that investigates the set of questions that

arise when considering how one ought to act, morally speaking.
53. Meta-ethics.- study of moral concepts and the logic of ethical language.
54. Morally permissible.- emitted [means] behavior that is within the bounds of
the moral system. It is morally permitted to act in any way that does not cause others
unjustified harms. 
55. Morally obligated.-  is an obligation arising out of considerations of right and
wrong. It is an obligation arising from ethical motives, or a mere conscientious duty,
unconnected with any legal obligation, perfect or imperfect, or with the receipt of
benefit by the promisor of a material or pecuniary nature.
56. Ethical theories.-An ethical theory is a systematic exposition of a
particular view about what is the nature and basis of good or right. The
theory provides reasons or norms for judging acts to be right or wrong and
attempts to give a justification for these norms
57. Ethical judgments.-Are said to describe what the state of interests is,
was, or will be, or to indicate what the state of interests would be under
specified circumstances.
58. Moral skepticism.- the view that there are no valid moral principles at all
(or at least we cannot know whether there are any), and from all forms of
moral objectivism or absolutism.
59. Nihilism.- a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are
unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless (MERRIAM-
WEBSTER)
60. Emotivism.-metaethical idea that ethical propositions express emotional
states (associated with Stevenson).
61. Kolhber´s theory.- The theory holds that moral reasoning, the basis

for ethical behavior, has six developmental stages, each more adequate at

responding to moral dilemmas than its predecessor.
62. Relativism.-  theory that knowledge is relative to the limited nature of
the mind and the conditions of knowing(MERRIAM WEBSTER)
63. Cultural relativism.- idea that ethical claims are relative to a social or
cultural matrix.
64. Descriptive ethical relativism.-
65. Normative ethical relativism.- Normative ethics study of prescriptive
accounts of how we ought to behave
66. Pluralism.-(see value pluralism) the metaethical idea that there is more
than one objective value (associated with Ross); see also prima facie
duties.
67. Situationism.- a theory viewing human personality as a function of
response to situations(Merriam-webster)
68. Instrinsic value.- things that have value in themselves and not merely as
tools or means (vs. instrumental goods); see also inherent worth.
69. Consequentialism.- normative theories that focus on the consequences of
actions; examples include egoism, altruism, utilitarianism (vs. non-
consequentialism).
70. Theology.- : the study of religious faith, practice, and
experienceespecially : the study of God and of God's relation to the
world
71. Utilitarism.-that we ought to concern ourselves with the greatest
happiness for the greatest number of people (associated with Bentham
and Mill).
72. Libertarianism.- a political theory about both the importance of liberty in
human life and the limited role of government (associated with Rand) (vs.
liberalism and socialism).
73. Non-consequential theory.- normative theories that do not focus on
consequences of actions but instead on intentions, rules, or principles;
examples include deontology, divine command, and natural law (vs.
consequentialism). Psychological egoism.-
74. Ethical egoism.- normative or ethical egoism claims that we ought to
pursue our own self-interest; descriptive egoism (also called psychological
egoism) maintains that as a matter of fact we can pursue only our own
self-interest (vs. altruism).
75. Hedonism.-theory that holds that pleasure is the highest good; as a
normative theory tells us we ought to pursue pleasure; see also
Epicureanism.
76. Calculative concept.- The task of reason is to CALCULATE the relative
amount of pleasure and pain for the most number of people, presently and
in the future, which results from the prospective actions. 
77. Divine command theory.- idea that ethical norms are ultimately based
upon the authoritative decrees of God.
78. Natural law theory.- a theory of law that is grounded in claims about
nature; natural law ethics is a normative theory that holds that reason can
discover objective ethical norms by examining natural human functions
(associated with Aquinas).
79. Kantinan categorical imperative.- Kantian idea about the universal form
of the moral law, which is not based on hypothetical or conditional
interests; Kant’s formulation: “act only according to that maxim, whereby
you can will that it should also be a universal law” (vs. hypothetical
imperative).
80. Rawl´s theory of justice.- an idea used in John Rawls’s theory of justice
that asks us to imagine ourselves as original or founding parties to the
social contract; see also veil of ignorance.
81. Pragmatism.-final account of ultimate reality or absolute values. For
pragmatists such as Rorty, our judgments about things (including our
judgment about ideas such as relativism) are provisional and embedded in
contexts, cultures, and ways of life.
82. Existentialism.-  philosophical movement embracing diverse
doctrines but centering on analysis of individual existence in an
unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who must
assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any
certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or
bad(MERRIAM WEBSTER DICTIONARY)