Moral Philosophy Subject-Specific Vocabulary - Definitions of Key A-Level Terms

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Ophelia

Subject specific vocabulary for A-level Philosophy, organized as clear definitions of key moral philosophy terms from major traditions. Covers consequentialist views such as act and hedonistic utilitarianism, together with Kantian ethics topics including duty, the categorical imperative, contradictions in conception and will, and competing duties/virtuous clashes. Includes Aristotelian virtue ethics concepts like eudaimonia, doctrine of the mean, character traits/dispositions, and habituation, plus ethical language theories including cognitivism, emotivism, and error theory, supporting student familiarity with required terminology and their moral implications.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Subject specific vocabulary

Key term definitions

Kant, Aristotle, and ethical language

Subject specific vocabulary: Moral philosophy The following subject specific vocabulary provides definitions of key Moral philosophy terms used in our A-level Philosophy: 7172 specification. Your students should be familiar with, and gain understanding from all these terms. Act utilitarianism An action is morally right if and only if [we can reasonably expect/predict that] it maximises utility. This is decided on a case-by-case basis, such that it is possible for the same type of action (e.g. a lie) to be morally right on one occasion and not on another. Acting (merely) in accordance with duty (Kant) Acting as duty demands, but motivated by something other than a recognition of your rationally-determined duty. For example, a shopkeeper treating a customer honestly because it is good for business. Acting out of duty (Kant) Acting as duty demands and motivated by a recognition of this rationally-determined duty. For example, a shopkeeper treating a customer honestly because it is his duty to do so. Categorical imperative (Kant) It is an imperative: a statement commanding a course of action; it is a statement about what one ought to do. It is categorical: it applies to all agents regardless of their specific ends/goals. It normally has the form "Do X". Character traits/dispositions (Aristotle) A tendency an agent has to act or feel particular ways, displayed over time. Aristotle thinks of a person’s virtues (and, indeed, vices) as being character traits/dispositions. Version 1.0 April 2025 Clashing/competing duties A perfect duty clashes with another (different) perfect duty when fulfilling one perfect duty means that you cannot fulfill the other. A perfect duty clashes with itself when fulfilling that duty in one sense (or to one person) means that it cannot be fulfilled in another sense (or to another person) . Note that for Kant if a perfect duty clashes with an imperfect duty, you must fulfil the perfect duty. Clashing/competing virtues A virtue clashes with another (different) virtue when exhibiting one means that you cannot exhibit the other. A virtue clashes with itself when exhibiting it in one sense (or to one person) means that it cannot be exhibited in another sense (or to another person) . Cognitivism about ethical language The view that moral utterances (e.g. "murder is wrong") are true or false, they express propositions/beliefs. Consequences of actions determine moral value The objection that consequences are important in determining the morality of an action and that Kantian ethics, due to its focus on intention/motive alone, cannot account for this importance of consequences. Contradiction in conception (Kant) A maxim leads to a contradiction in conception if acting on that maxim is not conceivable (/possible) in a world in which all people acted as you propose to act. Contradiction in will (Kant) A maxim leads to a contradiction in the will if a world in which all people acted as you propose to act would conflict with other things that you must rationally will. Deontological ethics Ethical theories that are based on the existence of duties/rights. They focus on acts/motives conforming to particular rules. Doctrine of the mean (Aristotle) The idea that virtue (e.g. courage) exists between a vice of deficiency (e.g. cowardice) and a vice of excess (e.g. rashness) . This applies to actions and to feelings. Eating animals Using animals/parts of animals as food. Emotivism (about ethical language) (Ayer) The view that the function of moral utterances is (merely) to express the emotions of the person. Often referred to as the “boo-hoorah!” theory of morality – “X is morally wrong” is best understood as an expression of emotion such as “X boo!”. This involves both (1) moral noncognitivism (moral utterances (e.g. "murder is wrong") are not true or false, they are doing something other than expressing propositions/beliefs) and (2) moral anti-realism (there

FAQs

What is act utilitarianism in moral philosophy terms?

An action is morally right if and only if it maximises utility, which is assessed case by case because the same type of action (e.g. a lie) can be right or not right depending on expected utility.

How does the categorical imperative work for Kant?

It is an imperative that commands what one ought to do, applies to all agents regardless of their ends, and typically has the form “Do X”.

What do emotivism and error theory claim about ethical language?

Emotivism says moral utterances function (merely) to express the speaker’s emotions and includes noncognitivism and anti-realism. Error theory says there are no mind-independent/objective moral properties, so moral utterances are false because they wrongly assume such properties exist.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Ophelia