Normative theories

• What is the branch of philosophy that explores questions of right and wrong?

  Ethics
• What does the term morality refer to in the context of ethics?

  Morality is sometimes used instead of ethics.
• What are the three areas of moral philosophy?

  1. Normative ethics
  2. Applied ethics
  3. Meta-ethics
• What does normative ethics explore?

  Normative ethics explores what makes for morally good and bad behavior in general.
• What is the purpose of applied ethics?

  Applied ethics applies the answers from normative ethics to specific dilemmas.
• What does meta-ethics focus on?

  Meta-ethics focuses on moral discussion itself.
• What kind of questions does meta-ethics ask?

  Meta-ethics asks questions such as whether morality is a human construction.
• How do the three areas of ethics relate to each other?

  • Normative ethics provides general principles of good and bad.
  • Applied ethics uses these principles to address specific cases.
  • Meta-ethics examines the nature and meaning of these moral discussions.
• What is the first area of moral philosophy discussed?

  Normative ethics
• What is the second area of moral philosophy discussed?

  Applied ethics
• What is the third area of moral philosophy discussed?

  Meta-ethics
• What are the three main normative theories of ethics?

  Utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, and virtue ethics
• What does utilitarianism emphasize in ethical decision-making?

  It emphasizes the consequences of any action
• What is the focus of Kantian ethics?

  Kantian ethics emphasizes the motive for actions
• What does virtue ethics focus on?

  It focuses on the person who acts on the world
• What is the main idea behind act utilitarianism?

  The moral value of an act is measured by its consequences
• How is the worth of an act determined in act utilitarianism?

  By the pleasure it brings
• If an act brings pleasure, what does act utilitarianism say about its moral value?

  It is considered morally valuable
• What is the criticism of act utilitarianism?

  It may overlook long-term consequences
• What are the two types of utilitarianism discussed?

  • Act utilitarianism
  • Rule utilitarianism
• What is the focus of rule utilitarianism?

  It focuses on the long-term consequences of following rules
• What is a potential criticism of rule utilitarianism?

  It may not account for exceptions in specific situations