Need to Make a Presentation

The Study of Introductory Ethics

Two main branches:

 Normative Ethics (Moral Philosophy)

Normative ethics investigates moral questions

ambling, tattoos, lying, adultery, violence, fighting in a war, abortion, murder, idol or animal worship, envy, illegal drug use, stealing, slander, universal health

Metaethics

Metaethics is the attempt to understand the metaphysical, epistemological, semantic, and psychological, presuppositions and commitments of moral thought, talk, and practice

metaphysics  is that that portion of philosophy which treats of the most general and fundamental principles underlying all reality and all knowledge.

epistemology  is the study of knowledge and justified belief. As the study of knowledge, epistemology is concerned with the following questions: What are the necessary and sufficient conditions of knowledge? What are its sources? What is its structure, and what are its limits?

 Metaethics may be thought of as a highly abstract way of thinking philosophically about morality

                                Answers questions about morality

                                                What precisely is a moral value in the first place?

                                                Where do moral values come from?

                                                What is their source and foundation?

                                                Are some things morally right or wrong for all people at all times?

                                                 Does morality instead vary from person to person, culture to culture?

                                                Is morality more a matter of taste than truth?

                Moral Theory

                                                Moral theory investigates the ethical frameworks from

                                                which we make our decisions for live our lives

                                                Consequentialism

Consequentialist ethics holds the view that the correct moral response is related to the outcome, or consequence, of the act. The central aim is the premise of 'maximizing the greatest good for the greatest number'. The 'good' referred to can be expressed in a variety of ways and may refer to values or 'utility' such as happiness, being pain or symptom free or another life enhancing outcome.

                                                Deontology

Deontology is based on duties and rights and respects individuals as ends in themselves. It places value on the intentions of the individual (rather than the outcomes of any action) and focuses on rules, obligations and duties. Deontology requires absolute adherence to these obligations and acting from duty is viewed as acting ethically. One of the key criticisms in healthcare is that applying a strictly deontological approach to healthcare can lead to conflicts of interest between equally entitled individuals which can be difficult or even seemingly impossible to resolve.

                                                Virtue Ethics

The key difference between consequentialism, deontology and virtue ethics is that the latter emphasizes the moral character, or virtues of the individual. Virtue ethics has emerged due to the perceived deficits in ethical theories such as consequentialism and deontology for healthcare.  The virtues are embedded character traits which are held to be societally valuable such as truth-telling, trustworthiness, honesty and kindness.  Practical wisdom relates to how the virtues are applied or enacted.  Virtue ethics is about an individual of good character doing the right thing.