Dr. Sahar Joakim, What are normative ethics, applied ethics, and metaethics?

Summary

This script delves into the three branches of ethical studies: normative ethics, applied ethics, and meta-ethics. Normative ethics focuses on establishing ethical standards, while applied ethics involves evaluating the morality of specific actions based on those standards. Meta-ethics explores the nature and origins of morality. The script emphasizes the interconnectedness of these branches and their role in understanding the contingent and possible actions within ethical frameworks.

Takeaways

• 😀 Normative ethics focuses on what is 'normal' or standard for ethical actions.
• 🤔 Applied ethics deals with making specific ethical judgments about what is permissible or impermissible.
• 🔍 Meta-ethics looks beyond ethical claims and asks foundational questions about the nature and meaning of ethical concepts.
• 🧐 Applied ethics is separate from normative ethics but still connects with it when applying ethical criteria.
• 💡 Meta-ethics explores where moral values come from and the source of concepts like right or wrong.
• ❓ Meta-ethics also examines whether ethical claims are objective or subjective, asking 'who is this wrong for?'
• 📚 In normative ethics, different theories provide standards for determining what actions are ethical.
• ⚖️ Normative ethics involves studying various ethical theories and understanding their criteria for ethical actions.
• 🛤️ All three branches of ethics (normative, applied, and meta) are interconnected in understanding ethical actions.
• 🔗 Ethical discussions often center on actions that are possible but not necessary, exploring whether they 'should' happen.

Q & A

What is the difference between normative ethics and applied ethics?

Normative ethics focuses on establishing moral standards or principles, while applied ethics involves applying these principles to specific situations or actions to determine their moral status.

Why is it significant to distinguish between calling an action 'wrong' and 'impermissible' in applied ethics?

Calling an action 'wrong' is a moral judgment about its inherent qualities, whereas 'impermissible' is a normative claim about what should or should not be done under certain rules or standards.

What does the term 'meta ethics' refer to?

Meta ethics is the branch of ethics that explores the meaning, origin, and scope of ethical claims. It goes beyond the actual ethical concepts to ask foundational questions about the nature and basis of morality.

How does meta ethics relate to normative ethics?

Meta ethics is connected to normative ethics in that it examines the nature and validity of the moral judgments and principles that normative ethics seeks to establish.

What is the significance of the terms 'contingency' and 'possibility' in the context of ethics?

In ethics, 'contingency' refers to actions that are not necessary but could happen, while 'possibility' refers to the potential for actions to occur. Ethics deals with evaluating whether such contingent and possible actions should or should not occur.

What is the role of objectivity and subjectivity in meta ethics?

In meta ethics, objectivity and subjectivity pertain to whether ethical claims are universal or context-dependent. It explores whether actions are wrong in every scenario or just in specific circumstances.

How does the concept of 'norms' play a role in normative ethics?

Norms in normative ethics are the standards or criteria that define what actions are considered ethical. They guide what is considered right, permissible, or righteous.

What is the relationship between normative ethics and the judgment of actions in applied ethics?

Normative ethics provides the theoretical framework and standards that are used in applied ethics to evaluate the morality of specific actions.

Why is it important to understand different theories in normative ethics?

Understanding different normative ethical theories helps to provide a comprehensive view of what might constitute ethical behavior, as different theories offer varying standards and criteria for moral actions.

Can you provide an example of a normative ethical theory mentioned in the script?

One example of a normative ethical theory mentioned in the script is utilitarianism, which focuses on maximizing overall happiness or minimizing suffering.

How does the concept of 'euthanasia' serve as an example in the discussion of applied ethics?

Euthanasia serves as an example in applied ethics because it raises questions about the morality of ending life to alleviate suffering, which can be analyzed through different normative ethical theories.