Ethics

Ethics Study Guide

©2018 Achieve Page 108 of 116 is the concept that what is morally right or wrong may vary fundamentally from person to person or culture to culture. It is supported by the absence of one universal morality in the modern culture. There are two types of ethical relativism: 1. Descriptive relativism notes that there are differences among ethical practices and standards of different cultures, without evaluation of their justification. It is based on empirical fact. 2. Prescriptive relativism goes further and claims that people ought not to apply standards of one culture to evaluate the behavior of another culture. Ethics of care is a normative ethical theory that was developed by feminists in the second half of the twentieth century during the women’s movement. While consequentialist and deontological ethical theories emphasize universal standards and impartiality, ethics of care is a communitarian approach that emphasizes the importance of relationships. Ethics of care is also a basis for care-focused feminists theorizing on maternal ethics. Feminist theorists suggest caring should be performed and care givers valued in both public and private sectors. This proposed paradigm shift in ethics encourages that an ethic of caring be the social responsibility of both men and women. Emotivism is a non-cognitive theory where value judgments, including moral judgments, do not state facts, but are expressions of emotions or attitudes. It analyzes moral judgments as expressions of unfavorable or favorable emotion. Entitlement is guarantee of access to benefits because of right or by agreement through law. It is also casually used to refer to the belief that one deserves some particular reward or benefit. Epictetus (55-135 C.E.) was an educated, freed slave of Greek origin, who accomplished fame as a Stoic philosopher. Stoicism was a school of philosophy during the Roman Empire that emphasized reason as a means of understanding the natural state of things, or logos. It was a means of freeing oneself from emotional distress. No direct known writings of Epictetus survived. The beliefs and thoughts of Epictetus were chronicled by his pupil Arrian, in the famous works, The Discourses and The Enchiridion, or the The Handbook. Epicurus (341-270 B.C.E.) believed in managing one’s desires for a balanced life. Focusing on the present and not on an unfortunate occurrence of the future, such as death, will lead to a better life. Epicurus believed the good feelings that come with life are, naturally, the most immediately noticeable; yet, not every pleasure is one in which action is taken. Those actions in which pains occur are not all taken either. There is a balance of times when a painful road is taken in order to later experience a higher level of happiness, which occurs after experiencing pain. Epicurus fully believed prudence is derived from virtues which tie directly with pleasure and one cannot exist without the other. Ethical Relativism