consequentialism

type of moral theory according to which the rightness and wrongness of actions is to be
explained entirely in terms of the intrinsic value of the consequences associated with either
individual concrete actions or rules associated with actions
utilitarianism
a consequentialist moral theory according to which happiness has positive intrinsic value in
terms of which actions are right or wrong
hedonistic utilitarianism
an act that maximizes happiness and minimizes suffering to the greatest number of humans
is a right act
perfect consequentialism
version of consequentialism that accepts a perfectionist theory of value
act consequentialism
any version of consequentialism according to which it is the net intrinsic value of the
consequences of particular alternative actions open to an agent in some situation that
determines the rightness or wrongness of those alternative actions
rule consequentialism
any version of consequentialism according to which the rightness or wrongness of some
particular action that is (or might be) performed in some situation depends on the
acceptance value of the rule corresponding to the action in question. A right action is one
falling under a rule with at least as high an acceptance value as any other rule governing the
situation in question
natural law theory
The theory that morality is a function of human nature and reason can discover valid moral
principles by looking at the nature of humanity and society
four basic intrinsic goods of natural law theory
human knowledge, human procreation, human life, human sociability
doctrine of double effect
composed of a set of provisions under which it is morally permissible to knowingly bring
about evil in the pursuit of the good
kantian moral theory
moral theory that features the notions of respect for persons and universality
golden rule
do unto others as you would have them do unto you
categorical imperatives
fundamental moral principle in kantian moral theory that is employed in reasoning about
moral issues, taking the forms Universal Law and the Humanity formulations; you have to do
this in order to do your duty
hypothetical imperatives
a means to another end
Universal law formulation
a formulation of Kant's categorical imperative which states that an action is morally
permissible if and only if the maxim associated with the action is universalizable
realm of ends
hypothetical state of existence that is derived from Kant's categorical imperative composed
entirely of rational beings capable of moral deliberation
right
an entitlement to be free to engage in some activity, to exercise a certain power, or to be
provided with some benefit
rights-based moral theory
a moral theory according to which moral rights (claims) are the basis for explaining the
rightness and wrongness of actions
virtue ethics
type of moral theory that makes considerations of virtue and vice the basis for explaining the
rightness and wrongness of actions
virtues and vices
honesty/dishonesty, courage/cowardice, justice/injustice, temperance/intemperance,
beneficence/selfishness, humility/arrogance, loyalty/disloyalty, gratitude/ingratitude
ethics of prima facie duty
moral theory developed by W.D. Ross that features a plurality of moral principles that
express prima facie duties
four basic intrinsic goods of prima facie duty
knowledge, pleasure, pleasure in proportion to virture, virtue
prima facie duties
Fidelity, Reparations, Gratitude, Justice, Beneficence, Self Improvement, Non-maleficence,
veracity, enhancement, respectfulness
social contract theory
moral theory according to which (roughly) correct or justified moral rules or principles are
ones that result from some sort of social agreement-whether the agreement in question is
conceived of as having actually taken place or (more likely) is hypothetical
cosmopolitan
the idea that all human beings, regardless of political affiliation, are part of a single human
community, which should be cultivated
rights addressee
individual or group with regard to whom the rights holder is entitled to certain treatment
rights holder
the party who has or "holds" the right
right content
refers to whatever action, states, or object the right concerns
right strength
corresponds to how strong the moral or legal justification must be in order for the right to be
override the right
rights infringement
an action that goes against the rights of a rights holder but which in the circumstances is
justified
negative right
an entitlement of noninterference and thus involves a claim by the rights holder that others
refrain from interfering with her or his engaging in some activity (not doing something)
positive right
involves the holder being entitled to something and thus having a valid claim that some other
party do or provide something, like some service or some good, to the rights holder (doing
something)
rights-focused approach
an approach to moral issues that focuses primarily on moral rights that need not be
committed to a rights-based moral theory
practical aim
To offer practical guidance for how we might arrive at a correct or justified moral verdicts
about matters of moral concern.
value-based moral theory
any moral theory according to which the concept of intrinsic value is more basic than the
concept of right action, and so right action is characterized or defined in terms of intrinsic
value. Contrasted with duty-based moral theories and with rights-based moral theories.
Consequentialism is one clear example of a value-based moral theory
intrinsic value
goodness or badness derived from inherent features of thing
extrinsic
value depends on how it relates to other things
reparation
making up for past wrongs
verocity
one not ought to lie
moral theory
an attempt to provide well argued for answers to general moral questions about the nature of
right action and value
duty-based moral theory
moral theory that takes the concept of duty to e basic and so characterizes or defines right
action independently of considerations of intrinsic value and moral rights ex prima facie duty
theoretical aim
To discover those underlying features of actions, persons, and other items of moral
evaluation that make them right or wrong, good or bad, and thus explain why such items
have moral properties they have. Features of this sort serve as moral criteria of the right and
the good.
principle of greatest equal liberty
each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with a
similar liberty for others
the difference principle
social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both (a) reasonably
expected to be to everyone's advantage and (b) attached to positions and offices open to all
conservative
a political ideology that maintains that it is proper for a government to advocate and
sometimes enforce a particular conception of the good life.
liberalism
a political ideology that puts strong emphasis on liberty and equality of individuals,
maintaining in particular that proper respect for the liberty and equality of individuals requires
that governments remain as neutral as possible over conceptions of the good life
moderate
moral position on some issue which is less restrictive than a conservative position and more
restrictive than a liberal position
liberty-limiting principles
principle that purports to set forth conditions under which a government may be morally
justified in passing laws that limit the liberty of its citizens
harm principle
a government may justifiably pass laws to limit the liberty of its citizens in order to prohibit
individuals from causing harm to other individuals or to society
offense principle
a government may justifiably pass laws that interfere with individual liberty in order to prohibit
individuals from offending others
anticosmopolitanism
the denial of cosmopolitanism