Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Philosophy and ethics for University

Core Concepts of Character and Vocation

Character: Character involves grasping ideas through daily experiences and facing life's challenges while clinging to existence.

Vocation: Vocation is a profound desire toward what one aspires to become—a future in which one wishes to spend the rest of their life.

The Role of Customs and Ethical Codes

Custom: Customs are rules that create a society for its continuity, providing a palpable legal framework with consequences when laws are violated. A professional is guided by their own ethical code but must also adhere to the framework of custom.

The Code of Ethics: The code of ethics for every professional frames a set of rules, rights, and duties. These limits prevent professional and moral failures while...

Ethical Frameworks and Moral Philosophy

Absolutism vs. Relativism in Ethics

Absolutism: Stealing is wrong.

Relativism: Stealing is wrong, but not nearly as wrong when someone is stealing to avoid starvation. So, it is often acceptable.

Example: If you plan to execute a murder in cold blood, your intent is most probably revenge, lust for power, or money. If you tell a white lie to spare someone’s feelings, your intent is kindness. It is still wrong to lie, but only a little bit wrong. There are different levels of wrong and right, such as greed, lust, arrogance, and envy.

Free Will and Moral Responsibility

Free Will: Our choices matter; an individual’s free will interacts with others, and there are outcomes with consequences. Possessing free will...

Machiavelli (1469-1527)

It is a Renaissance man as having a Renaissance mentality.

Works: "The Prince", "Discourses on Livy's first decade."

Political circumstances of his day, begin to form the first national States: France, Castile, England, but Italy (divided into several kingdoms and republics). Machiavelli seek independence and the city of Italy and expel the barbarians, but to no avail.

Major political ideas has brought us:

Notion of state, sovereign political organization of territory. However confused the figure of the prince of the state.

Empiricism: A method of work based on facts,

Reason of State: the state pursues its own ends (retained and expanded) so policy is independent of any other purposes. The policy is governed by the...

Understanding Key Social Principles

The principle of subsidiarity derives from the Christian notion of society. It also determines the State's obligation to take additional, exceptional, complementary, and supportive action in social sectors or functions when society is unable to achieve its goals independently. It aims to promote and assist society. Main characteristics include:

1. It is a principle of reason, not of faith, limiting the natural rights of individuals and social groups.
2. It comprehends both dimensions of social life: the relationship between vertical and horizontal dimensions based on respect for and promotion of social freedom.
3. It is a grave, immutable principle, universal in time and space.
4. It self-adapts to each country and circumstance

1. Justice and the Principle of Utility

Why is Justice a Problem for Utilitarianism?

The Principle of Utility often faces challenges regarding justice. One perspective suggests that it is acceptable for inequalities to develop if they meet two conditions:

1. They contribute to the overall good in the long run.
2. They can be achieved by anyone (fair opportunity).

4. Moral Issues Raised by Computers

Defining Analogical Reasoning in Ethics

Analogical reasoning serves as a crucial tool for comparing known moral baselines to situations where the morality is uncertain. By comparing similar cases that the observer already understands, conclusions can be drawn about a new, relatively similar topic.

Are Computer Ethics Truly New?

(See also Section 9 for further discussion...

The Evolving Family Model

Writers such as Octavio Estela Fernández Grassi and Mouján suggest that we are experiencing a profound transformation of the family model. This transformation may appear to be a sign of exhaustion, but there are many ways of being a family. This evolution can be considered a crisis, in the sense of concern or a terminal stage. The family is in an accelerated process of change, but it remains in good health when viewed from a contextual and evaluative framework different from that of our ancestors.

The Changing Role of Women

Some of these changes are related to the current modification of the role of women. Women can now enter the labor market, leading to higher expectations of personal satisfaction beyond marriage and...

Political Theory of the Modern State

Medieval political thought was modernized and adapted to the new scenario. The political theory of the modern state does not ignore the moral and theological components characteristic of the Middle Ages.

Machiavelli's work on ethical considerations about such things as legitimate power and good governance gives way to the stark description of the mechanisms of politics. We found two different perspectives: one ethical, centered on the origin, nature, and limits of political power; the other, more empirical, descriptive, and innovative, focused on what is portrayed and how it works.

Legitimate and Sovereign Power

The theory of power in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries is very rich. This results in the...

Commercial Distribution and Licensing Agreements

Obligations of the Licensee

• Buying a specific quantity of products from the grantor for a period of time.
• Complying with certain rules and safeguards regarding after-sales service.
• An obligation imposed on the commission brand.
• It is prohibited to set resale prices for third parties.

Obligations of the Client

• Commission sale or supply of products in agreed terms.
• Exclusivity clauses for which the principal cannot sell their products directly or through another dealer.

Franchise Agreements

4. Franchise. A contract whereby a person (the franchisor) agrees to convey to another (the franchisee) specific technical or business knowledge ("Know-how") for your business.

Franchisor's Obligations

• To enable the franchisee

Teaching History: An Open Approach

Teaching history should be based on an open conception of historical knowledge. This approach prioritizes the study of daily life, work, and relationships, alongside cultural, political, and artistic developments.

Core Historical Concepts

Content should be organized around key concepts or structured ideas, such as:

• Diversity and inequality
• Interdependence and relationships
• Conflict
• Change and continuity
• Timing and values

Didactic Areas for Historical Study

These concepts should be integrated into the following didactic units:

• Territory and environmental relations
• Habitat and population
• Resources and activities
• Social, political, and economic structures
• Culture and everyday life
• Interpersonal relations
• Cultural creation and

Understanding Leadership and Management Principles

This document presents a series of statements and questions related to leadership, authority, communication, and motivation. Each section identifies a "least appropriate" or "least correct" proposal, offering insights into various aspects of management and team dynamics.

1. Achieving Leadership Prestige and Power

A leader achieves necessary prestige and power (understood as a service, not a perk) when they are able to... Identify the least appropriate option:

• B. Decision making

2. Issues Upon a Chief's Appointment

When a leader is appointed, they address a number of issues. Identify the least appropriate proposal:

• b. Explaining how to do everything

3. Qualities of an Effective Leader

A leader is someone...