Normative Ethics Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Normative Ethics?

Normative ethics is a branch of philosophy that focuses on ethical standards, principles, and theories. It explores the nature of moral value and examines how people should act in various situations. The main goal of normative ethics is to determine what kind of behavior can be considered morally right or wrong.The most commonly used approaches to normative ethics are deontology, consequentialism and virtue ethics. Deontological theories assert that certain actions are inherently right or wrong regardless of their consequences; for example, one might argue that lying is wrong no matter what the context or outcome may be. Consequentialist theories focus on the outcomes produced by an action rather than its intrinsic nature; for example, one might argue that an action can only be judged as morally right if it produces good results rather than bad ones. Virtue ethics emphasizes character traits such as honesty, courage and piety as essential components of morality; for example, one might argue that it’s more important to cultivate virtues like compassion and empathy than it is to follow a set of rules or laws. Normative ethical theories can help us understand the moral implications of our actions and decisions in everyday life. They provide guidance on how we should behave in difficult situations where there may not be a clear-cut answer as to what’s right or wrong. By reflecting on different moral systems and thinking through their implications, we can gain insight into our own values and convictions about morality so that we can make better decisions moving forward.