LONG QUIZ #1

 

 

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 the Greek and the Latin terms refer to notions of custom, habit, behavior, and character. Morality can be defined as a system of rules for guiding human conduct and principles for evaluating those rules.

 

 

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 comprise a moral system?

    

 

The rules of conduct in a moral system are evaluated against standards called the greatest good for the greatest number, can be used as a “litmus test” for determining whether the policy “proprietary of software should not be copied without permission” can  be justified a moral grounds. Rules of conduct is an action guiding rules, in the form of either directives or social policies while 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 “public system”? Why is the notion of “personal morality” and oxymoron?

    

 

As Gert said, he claims, because everyone know what rules are define it. Gert uses the analogy of a game, which has a goal and corresponding set of rules.

 

 

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

    

 

Morality is also informal because as he points out, a moral system has no formal authoritative judges presiding over it.Unlike gamw in professional sports that have rules enforced by referees 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 or baseball, but even in the absence of a formal official referees to enforce the game’s rules, players generally adhere to them.

 

 

5. Describe how the ideals of “rationality” and “impartially” function in Gert’s moral system.

    

 

 It is rational in that it is based on principles of logical reason accessible to ordinary persons. Morality cannot involve special knowledge that can only be understood by privileged individuals or groups. And moral system is impartial in the sense that the moral rules are ideally designed to apply equitably to all participants in the system.

 

6. What are values, and what are some of the key differences between moral values and non-moral values?

    

 

Values are objects of our desires or interests. Moral values are derived from core non moral values by using the notion of impartiality.

 

 

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

    

 

Principle for evaluating rules of conduct on the other hand are typically grounded in one of three systems or sources which is religion, law and philosophy.

 

 

8. What is the method of philosophical ethics and what is a philosophical study? How is a philosophical study used in an analysis of moral issues?

    

 

The philosophical method and saw how it could be used to analyze cyber ethic issue. We also saw that the method philosophers use to analyze moral issues is normative, in contrast to the descriptive method that is used by social scientist.

 

 

9. How does a philosophical study differ from a descriptive study? Why are sociological and anthropological studies of morality usually descriptive rather than normative in nature?

    

 

Descriptive study is essentially a type of scientific study. It differ from the following way: Whereas scientists typically conduct experiments in a laboratory to test ethical theories and claims. Instead of philosophers confirm or reject the plausibility of a certain claim or thesis by testing it against the rules of logical argumentation, these rules are both rational an impartial. Normative investigation into morality is the use of ethical theory in the analysis and deliberation of the issue.

 

 

10. Summarize the four different kinds of “discussion stoppers” in ethical discourse that we examined.

     

                 

 

                  That people disagree to moral issue, second is Who am I to judge others,                          third is ethics is nit simply a private matter, lastly morality is simply a                            matter for different culture to decide.     

 

 

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

     

 

                        Because often they close down prematurely what otherwise might be a                              useful discussion.

 

 

 

 

 

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

     

 

                        Moral relativism is the position that moral or ethical propositions do not                               reflect objective and/or universal moral truths, but instead make claims                             relative to social, cultural, historical or personal circumstances. Moral                          relativists hold that no universal standard exists by which to access an                             ethical proposition's truth; moral subjectivism is thus the opposite of moral                         absolutism.

 

                       

 

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

     

                       

 

                        Ethical theory , like scientific theory provides us with a framework for                                  analyzing moral issues via scheme that is internally coherent and                                           consistent as well as comprehensive and systematic. 

 

                       

 

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

     

 

                        For these ethicists, the consequences of actions and policies provide the                          ultimate standard against which moral decisions must be evaluated. So if                            one must choose between two courses of action, most desirable outcome.

 

 

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

     

 

Act utilitarianism is a utilitarian theory of ethics which states that the morally right action is the one which produces the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. Act utilitarianism is opposed to rule utilitarianism, which states that the morally right action is the one   that is in accordance with a moral rule whose general observance would            create the most happiness. Act utilitarianism makes no appeals to general rules, but instead demands that the agent evaluate individual circumstances. Rule utilitarianism can be formulated in the following way: An act x is morally permissible if the consequences of following the general rule y of which act x is an instance would bring about the greatest number.

 

 

16. Which feature distinguishes duty based ethical theories from alternative types of theories?

     

 

Overall these theories would favor consideration of age-appropriateness.  Kant believed correct action should be based on universal maxims that do not take consequences into account.  His duties are expressed as categorical imperatives that are applicable          to everyone.  Using Kant’s theory categorical imperatives could be ‘Adults have a duty to educate children’ and ‘Adults ought to keep     children from harm’.  Kant also states people should be treated as an end, not as a means of achieving goals.  In this way the result of your actions is what gives the imperatives their ethical morality.  Both of these duties are concerned with the end result of ensuring children grow into well-adjusted, independent adults.

 

 

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

     

 

Act deontological ethics says that an act is right because conscience seeks that it is right without following any rules. Rule deontological ethics can be either one rule deontological ethics or many rule deontological ethics.

 

 

18. What is meant but expression “contract based” ethical theories?

     

 

The rights, it provides a motivation for morality.

 

 

19. What features distinguish “character based” or virtue base ethical from alternative schemes morality?

     

 

A character based ethics would seem to have a better chance of taking                             hold in a society that is homogeneous rather than in one that is                                             heterogeneous or pluralistic.

 

 

20. How does Jame Moor’s “just consequentiality” theory incorporate aspects of utilitarian and deontological theories into one comprehensive framework?

     

 

Moor begins by considering what kind of conduct we want ethics to                                    regulate. He believes first and foremost everyone wants to be protected                                   against suffering unnecessary harms. We do not want to be killed or suffer                    great pain or have our freedom taken away.

 

 

Discussion Question:

 

 

1.      Recall the four types of discussion stoppers that we examined in this chapter. Is that a collection of stoppers complete? Can you think of any additional discussion stoppers that might also block or shutdown moral discourse? Why is it so easy to fall victim to one more those stoppers when discussing moral issues in general, as well moral issues involving the use of cyber technology in particular?

 

 

No, there are many issues or discussion that can be a stopper. One of the myths of ethics which is myth four, Business ethics is relative, that this myth holds that no right or wrong way of believing or acting exists. Right and wrong are in the eye of the beholder. That some agreed in this myth, because it is depends on the human eyes and belief. Some are not; that we have different perspective in our lives and we do what we think is good that can’t harm others.