Axiology
The branch of philosophy that studies values, including moral value (good vs. bad) and aesthetic value.
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Axiology | The branch of philosophy that studies values, including moral value (good vs. bad) and aesthetic value. |
| Relativism | The ethical view that moral truths depend on cultural, social, or personal perspectives rather than existing universally. |
| Logic | The study of correct reasoning; in ethics it helps evaluate whether moral arguments are valid or sound. |
| Meta-ethics | The branch of ethics that examines the nature, meaning, and foundations of moral concepts and judgments. |
| ethics | The philosophical study of morality, including what actions are right or wrong and why. |
| The Good | A fundamental ethical concept referring to what is morally valuable, desirable, or worthy of pursuit. |
| egoism | The view that moral actions are those that serve one’s own self-interest. |
| Altruism | The view that moral actions should prioritize the well-being of others, sometimes even at a cost to oneself. |
| syllogism | A formal logical structure in which a conclusion follows necessarily from two premises; used in ethical reasoning. |
| Objectivism | The ethical stance that moral truths exist independently of human beliefs or feelings. |
| subjectivism | the philosophical view that moral judgments are based on individual feelings, opinions, and perspectives rather than objective truths. |
| argument | A set of statements in which premises are offered to support a conclusion. |
| conclusion | The statement that an argument’s premises are intended to support. |
| Tsugiri | In ethics, discussed as a historical example of immoral behavior: a samurai practice of testing a new sword on a random passerby, highlighting extreme violations of moral duty and human rights. |
| philosophy | The discipline that uses reason to study fundamental questions, including those about morality, knowledge, and existence. |
| Normative Ethics | The field that develops and evaluates moral standards to determine what people ought to do. |
| consistency | A requirement in ethical reasoning that similar cases be treated similarly and that one’s moral beliefs do not contradict each other. |
| Deductive Reasoning | Reasoning where the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises; if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true. |
| Inductive Reasoning | Reasoning that draws general conclusions from specific observations; conclusions are probable rather than certain. |
| Ad Hominem | A fallacy where one attacks the character of a person instead of addressing their argument. |
| Virtue Theory | An ethical theory that focuses on developing moral character traits (virtues) rather than following rules or calculating consequences. |
| Cardinal Virtue | A fundamental moral virtue such as prudence, justice, temperance, or courage. |
| Religious Virtue | A virtue rooted in religious teachings, such as faith, hope, or charity. |
| Social Virtue | A virtue that promotes harmony and cooperation in society, such as generosity, honesty, or respect. |
| Deontological Theory | An ethical theory that emphasizes duties and rules; actions are morally right based on the nature of the act, not its consequences. |
| Religious Duties | Moral obligations derived from religious beliefs, teachings, or commandments. |
| Rights Duties | Duties that correspond to others’ rights—such as the duty not to harm others because they have a right to safety. |
| Duties | Moral obligations that individuals are required to fulfill, regardless of personal desires. |
| Consequentialist Theory | An ethical theory that judges actions based on their outcomes; good consequences make actions morally right. |
| Ethical Egoism | The ethical theory that individuals ought to act in their own self-interest. |
| Ethical Altruism | The ethical theory that individuals ought to act for the benefit of others. |
| Utilitarianism | A consequentialist theory stating that the right action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or well-being for the greatest number. |