08/10 Evaluating Ethical Arguments Free Online FlashCards

What are the four components of an ethical argument?

An ethical argument contains premises, a conclusion, an inference connecting them, and background assumptions needed for the reasoning to work.

How do validity and soundness differ?

Validity means the conclusion follows from the premises. Soundness requires validity plus true or well-justified premises.

What kinds of hidden assumptions should an evaluator identify?

Hidden assumptions may concern empirical outcomes, values, scope, agency, or what the decision-maker knew or could reasonably have known.

What standard does consequentialism use?

Consequentialism assesses actions by their outcomes, asking which available action is expected to produce the best overall results.

What does universalization test?

Universalization tests whether a principle remains acceptable if roles are reversed or everyone acted on it. It can reveal inconsistency without proving every exception wrong.

What is a counterexample in ethical reasoning?

A counterexample challenges a general claim by showing that it produces an implausible result or fails to address an important possibility.

What are the three types of uncertainty in ethical decisions?

Factual uncertainty concerns what happened or will happen; moral uncertainty concerns which moral reasons or theories are correct; conceptual uncertainty concerns what a moral concept means in the case.

What is the is–ought error?

An is–ought error infers how people ought to behave solely from how they actually behave. A further normative premise is required.

How do explanation and justification differ?

Explaining why someone acted identifies causes such as fear or pressure; justifying the action gives moral reasons for considering it permissible or right.

What should a qualified ethical conclusion include?

A qualified conclusion states what should be done, gives the reasons, and identifies what information or changed circumstances could alter the judgment.

What does deontology emphasize?

Deontology evaluates actions through duties, rights, permissions, and prohibitions, sometimes judging an action wrong even when it produces better consequences.

What does virtue ethics assess?

Virtue ethics evaluates character, practical wisdom, motives, relationships, and context, asking what a good or practically wise person would do.