Ethical Theories and Concepts

Divisions of moral philosophy

• Descriptive ethics
• Normative ethics
• Meta-ethics
• Applied ethics

General classes of moral theories

• Consequential
  the consequences are what matter
• Deontological
  rules, duty, perhaps intentions/motives are what matter
• Virtue
  individual’s character is key: acting from classic virtues (wisdom, courage, moderation, justice) or other desirable traits (honesty, caring, generosity, mercy, etc.)

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Under Construction

Concepts

• Good and Evil
• Objective
• Subjective
• Moral realism
• Moral anti-realism
• Error theory
• Is-Ought problem
• Direction of fit
• Fact-Value distinction
• Normativity
• Moral Cognitivism vs. Non-Cognitivism
• External vs. Internal Motivation
• Emotivism
• Expressivism
• Prescriptivism
• Projectivism
• Relativism (Cultural Relativism)
• Divine Command Theory
• Duty
• Categorical vs. Hypothetical Imperatives
• Utilitarianism
• Naturalistic Fallacy
• Intuitionism
• Justice and Fairness
• Moral Prescription (Ought)
• Tolley Problems