CRM/LAW C163 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Kantian Ethics, Rulemaking, Hypothetical Imperative
26 Apr 2016
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o Define “ethics” and describe what it aims to provide.
Ethics → the study of what is right or wrong (in a given situation what ought i do)
-->what action -->provides us with a framework to make decisions and to to live
our lives
Morality → general, big, broad (doesn’t tell you what to do) it just tells you
something is wrong → descriptive
What does the term “ethical dilemma” describe?
Ethical dilemma → has to be some sort of problem where there is a should element, a
right or wrong
dilemma (torn in some way- not dilemma if it’s clear what to do, either because
we have 2 outcomes that both look good or 2 outcomes that look bad
o Define “values” and explain the difference between instrumental and intrinsic
values.
Value (something thats important)
Instrumentally important→ important because of its utility (money)
Intrinsically -->value in itself
Describe the focus of and relationship between meta-ethics, normative ethics, and
applied ethics as levels or realms of ethical inquiry.
Meta-ethics: set of rules that must be true before when can make ethical claims
it’s about itself (the kind of ground rules before we even get to ethics we have to
figure out some basic rules → it’s about setting up rules, requirements (pre-
conditions that are necessary (before we can play the game we have to make
sure we met all of the requirements → Requirement for ethics (we have to be the
kind of beings that have free will to be able to make choices (what are the kinds
of things that need to be true before we talk about ethics
For example: Before we can determine if something is good, (meta-ethics) says
that we need to determine what is goodness
Example 2: we are not robots (we think we have the ability to make decisions
(thing you have to first talk about)
Normative-ethics: it’s about what ought to be “things we should do”
-->prescriptive (a set of principles that allow us to make decisions about what we
should do)
3 schools of normative ethics: Utilitarianism, Deontology (study of moral
obligation, having to do with a duty and obligation- things that are right and
wrong, regardless of consequences, Virtue ethics- its about developing a
character, balancing virtues ---person strive to be through habitual acts which
results in practical wisdom
( ways of making decisions of what we should do)
Applied-ethics: taking a general a thing and we are applying it to a particular
situation (what should I do in a specific context → are very situational ethics-
business, medical ethics, student handbook
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Which meta-ethical perspective argues that, given the reality of cultural variability,
there is no objective sense in which right and wrong can be discussed?
Relativism: things are right or wrong according to the culture or context
(according to a particular culture) -->meta-ethical claim (if we believe in
relativism than we can’t judge other people) -->at best I can judge people within
my own context → things are right or wrong based on their particular
circumstances (thus no objective truth) I can only evaluate stuff on their
perspective → this is meta-ethical because (if there is no objective morality (right
or wrong) truth you can’t judge
Is → Meta-ethics (a level of description) vs should (ethical) claim
Absolutism → one eternal unchanging moral law, intertwined with objectivism
(different -from relativism)
Relativism, Objectivism → meta-ethical (discuss what each mean
Consequential → normative ethics - what we should do (we outweigh
consequences) → not a relativists
Describe the problem of ethical minimalism and describe an example (e.g., a
specific form, or source)
Ethical minimalism: it’s about doing the minimum required, but we should have as few
rules as possible. Have set of rules to ensure the continued survival of that society.
Problem: something that is not specifically forbidden should be allowed → theft
for survival
o Explain the difference between:
Egoism and altruism
Psychological egoism and ethical egoism
Egoism vs altruism
The form of motivation where the decisions you make are by self interest vs
altruism where acts are solely to benefit others
Egoism isn’t saying people are bad (but at heart but ultimately motivated by self
interests) (you feel better or you feel powerful when charity)
Donate money
Psychological egoism: it’s not an ethical claim but a meta-ethical claim (as a
species human beings are motivated by self-interests (not making claim of good
or bad but what actually is) → we are describing things (tables exist
This is how we behave (is -meta-ethical claim) → that’s what kinds of beings we
are not an ethical claim
o Explain the meaning of and at least one problem with the following:
Ethical objectivism
Ethical relativism
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find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Define ethics and describe what it aims to provide. Ethics the study of what is right or wrong (in a given situation what ought i do) ->what action -->provides us with a framework to make decisions and to to live our lives. Morality general, big, broad (doesn"t tell you what to do) it just tells you something is wrong descriptive. Instrumentally important important because of its utility (money) Describe the focus of and relationship between meta-ethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics as levels or realms of ethical inquiry. For example: before we can determine if something is good, (meta-ethics) says that we need to determine what is goodness. Example 2: we are not robots (we think we have the ability to make decisions (thing you have to first talk about) Normative-ethics: it"s about what ought to be things we should do . ->prescriptive (a set of principles that allow us to make decisions about what we should do)
