 | Term | Definition |
| |
tabula rosa |
believed the mind at birth was a blank slate |
| |
state of nature |
a moral state into which we are all born as humans where we are endowed with god-given natural rights which are moral rather than instinctual |
| |
political state |
judged in terms of how well it protects the natural rights of people living in these states |
| |
social contract |
all citizens consent to be governed by an elected majority for as long as the government protects natural rights |
| |
Rights Ethicists |
focus on nature of consequences for actions, equally |
| |
Intrinsic |
a happy life is rich in higher pleasures such as mind, intellect, friendship, and love of art and beauty |
| |
Utilitarianism |
that which will produce the most good for the most people |
| |
Libertarians |
believe in rights to property and privacy, to live as we choose without interference from others |
| |
Positive rights |
believe in minimum government role such as national defense and legal systems to protect prosperity and safety |
| |
Liberty rights |
the right to be left alone by governments and citizen majority |
| |
racism |
immoral hostility to an entire group based on racial criteria;the belief that some races are inherently superior to others, and therefore, have the right to dominate them |
| |
ethnicity |
referred to by heritage; defined more by culture than biology |
| |
race |
the descendants of a common ancestor; a genealogical line or stock; a class of persons having interests or characteristics |
| |
individual prejudice |
bigotry manifested in attitudes, emotions, and conduct of certain individuals |
| |
institutional prejudice |
prejudice manifested in practices, laws, and institutions |
| |
Moral perspectives |
highlight the role of choice; racism is a response to "existential anxieties"; fear accepting responsibility for their lives, therefore choose to blame others for their problems |
| |
- Psychological-Sociological Perspective |
economic competition for limited resources encourages competition that shuts out groups that do not have the power; prejudice is linked to personality traits and is learned from the family |
| |
Biological Perspective |
Based on biological roots for group survival; "us versus them" served to strengthen group survival by identifying bonds of kinship; view prejudice as a natural rather than an abnormality |
| |
weak preferential treatment |
gives an automatic advantage to a woman or a minority who is equally as qualified as a white male |
| |
strong preferential treatment |
gives an automatic advantage to a woman or minority even when they are less qualified than a white male, although still competent to succeed |
| |
Affirmative action |
not controversial |
| |
Preferential treatment |
controversial |
| |
Racist humor |
disguises negative attitudes in the form of laughter; allows avenue for covert prejudice |
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