Review (First Exam)

Opinion: A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof.

Belief: A mental state of acceptance.

Subjectivism: The truth of moral judgments is dependent upon people's beliefs.

Objectivism: The truth of moral judgments is independent of people's beliefs.

Relativism: Truth is relative to point of view (subjectivism), culture (cultural relativism).

Moral relativism: same as above, but now concerning moral judgments. So, moral judgments are not true independent of people's point of view or culture.

Justification: something, such as facts or reasons given to hold a belief.

Grounds for justification: In Ethics it means the elimination of bias, of subjective or relative elements.
1. We verify them or falsify them over time.
2. Someone else (regardless of her cultural biases) can verify or falsify the.
3. The justification withstands rational criticism.

Kantian Respect: treat people as ends in themselves, not as means to an end.

The idea of respect is symmetrical: We have an obligation to treat people with respect since we'd like to be treated with respect.

Knowledge: Justified true belief. Ethics involves non-relative claims.

Ethics: The study of moral norms and systems.

Human rights/// Positive Rights: Positive rights usually oblige action, for example: welfare rights. Negative Rights: Negative Rights oblige inaction, for example: private property, freedom of speech, etc.

Culture: The arts, beliefs, customs, institutions, and other products of human work and thought considered as a unit, especially with regard to a particular time or social group. Subculture: A particular group within the more general group.

 Reasons and "good reasons": A reason is a consideration that justifies or explains. Not all reasons given are equally good. Good reasons are those that are generally binding to members across cultures.

 Neutrality: We should consider the claims of all persons as equally biding.

Ethical perspective: ethical empathy means imagining oneself as victim: being stolen to, being cheated, being the victim of discrimination, etc.

Difference between "being ethical" and "being practical" ---> what "we ought to do" vs. what "we'll probably do."

More on rights and respect HERE.