Enumeration ethics

• Benefits of rules


  • Protect social beings by regulating behavior
  • Produce a sense of justice among social beings
  • Help to guarantee each person a certain right and freedom
  • Are essential for a healthy economic system
• Characteristics of moral standards


  • Deal with matters we think can injure or benefit humans, animals, and the environment
  • Not established/changed by the decisions of authoritative individuals/bodies
  • Take precedence over other standards/considerations
  • Based on impartial considerations, it is fair and just
  • Associated with special emotions and vocabulary
• 7 steps in making ethical decisions

  1. Gather the facts

  2. Determine the ethical issues

  3. Determine what virtues/principles have a bearing on the case

  4. List the alternatives

  5. Compare the alternatives with the virtues/principles

  6. Consider the consequences

  7. Make a decision
• Developing will and moral courage (tips and suggestions)

  • Develop and practice self-discipline
  • Do mental strength training
  • Draw inspiration from people of great courage
  • Repeatedly do acts that exhibits moral courage and will
  • Avoid deeds that lack moral courage and will
• 6 stages of morality

  • Level 1: pre-conventional morality
  • Stage 1: obedience and punishment orientation
  • Stage 2: individualism and exchange
  • Level 2: conventional morality
  • Stage 3: good interpersonal relationships
  • Stage 4: maintaining social order
  • Level 3: post-conventional morality
  • Stage 5: social contract and individual rights
  • Stage 6: universal principles
• Requirements of morality


  • Reason
  • Impartiality
• Role of will (not sure)

  • Wish
  • Intention
  • Consent
  • Election
  • Use
  • Fruition
• Universal values


  • Truth telling
  • Valuing or respecting life
• Feelings based theories


  • Ethical subjectivism
  • Emotivism