Normative Ethics
This branch of ethics focuses on how people should act in a moral sense.
What is Normative Ethics? (Normative Ethics lecture notes)
This ethical theory is the study of the nature of duty and obligation.
What is deontology? (Deontology lecture notes)
The doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority.
What is utilitarianism? (Normative ethics lecture notes)
This ancient Greek philosopher is considered the father of virtue ethics, emphasizing character in ethical leadership.
Who is Aristotle? (in-class discussion)
This term deals with individual character and the moral rules that govern and limit our conduct.
What are ethics? (p. 3)
In business, this normative approach evaluates actions based on whether they conform to moral norms.
What is conformity to moral norms? (p. 27-28)
Kant's unconditional moral law that applies to all rational beings and is independent of all personal desires and motives.
What is the categorical imperative? (Deontology lecture notes)
Two moral philosophers who developed modern utilitarian philosophy.
Who are Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill? (Normative ethics lecture notes)
Aristotle essentially believed that we are what we repeatedly do.
What is a habit? (Virtue lecture notes)
A rule or principle of action.
What is a maxim? (Deontology lecture notes)
According to this normative theory, the moral rightness of an action is determined solely by its results.
What is consequentialist theory? (p. 56)
In deontology, this principle holds that people should never be treated merely as means to an end, relevant to employee exploitation in supply chains
What is the principle of humanity? (Deontology lecture notes)
Essentially, utilitarians strive for maximizing this feeling over the feeling of pain.
What is pleasure? (Normative ethics lecture notes)
This ethics approach critiques rule-based systems by focusing on the moral character of the agent, such as a virtuous entrepreneur fostering innovation ethically.
What is a person's character? (Virtue lecture notes)
This term denotes a situation where moral obligations conflict, like a manager facing loyalty to the company versus whistleblowing on fraud.
What is an ethical dilemma? (in-class discussion)
Normative ethics in business often debates the balance between profit maximization for shareholders and ethical obligations to stakeholders.
What is shareholder vs. stakeholder? (in-class discussion)
This categorical imperative means that human beings are endowed with equal human rights simply by virtue of being human.
What is the principle of universality? (Deontology lecture notes)
A self-centered philosophy that supports good for the individual over good for the community.
What is egoism? (Normative ethics lecture notes)
In virtue ethics, this concept advises moderation, the sweet spot between the extreme of excess and the extreme of deficiency.
What is the "Golden Mean?" (Virtue lecture notes)
The ancient assumption that humans have a fixed nature and that the way we flourish is by adhering to that nature.
What is Virtue theory? (Virtue lecture notes)
This normative theory contends that right and wrong are determined by more than the likely consequences of an action.
What is non consequentialist theory? (p. 56)
This principle holds that you should act in such a way that you treat humanity never merely as a means, but always at the same time as an end.
What is the principle of humanity? (Deontology lecture notes)
This version of utilitarianism, considered classical utilitarianism, has another name.
What is Act Utilitarianism (Normative ethics lecture notes)?
This theory developed by Thomas Aquinas essentially states that the things we love tell us who we are.
What is Natural Law theory? (Virtue lecture notes)
A cool Greek word that doesn’t have a simple English translation. You might say it means “a life well lived.”
What is eudaimonia? (Virtue lecture notes)