Unit 2 Religion and Society:

AOS 1 Ethical Method in Pluralist Society

Key terms and definitions:
Constitution - a statement of ethical principles, laws and a structure for the government of a state
Ethics - study of decisions involving laws, values, morality, norms, duties and ideals
Ethical principles - dealing with morals or the principles of morality; pertaining to right and wrong conduct.
In accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice
Goal values - ideals that a society wants its members to internalize through socialization and strive to attain
and which motivate individuals to achieve certain approved benchmarks over the course of their lives and
careers: Eg. Own your own home
Mores - customs and conventions and rules of a society or social group, not generally enforced by laws
Natural law - system of moral principles thought to be common to all human beings as a basis of conduct,
thought to relate to human instincts or nature
Normative theories - theories relating to an ideal standard or model, or being based on what is considered
to be the normal or correct way of doing something
Norms - Behaviors approved by a particular culture or community
Objective - not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased:
dealing with things external to the mind rather than with thoughts or feelings; relating to something that can
be known; existing independent of thought or an observer as part of reality
Pluralist society - a society in which there are many diverse views, beliefs and cultures represented; no one
single view prevails
Precedent - any act, decision, or case that serves as a guide or justification for subsequent situations
Principle - rule of conduct or overall standard or idea from which ethical decisions begin
Relativist theories - theories holding that criteria of judgment are relative, varying with individuals and their
environments (No one way of seeing right or wrong)
Stakeholder - a person or group that has an interest in or will be affected by a decision
Subjective - existing in the mind of the individual
Theocratic society - society in which a religious tradition or religious leaders have a central place in the
government and legal system