Doing Ethics

Problem with divine command theory

-given rise to fanaticism -only works with some believers -people are divided on whether it gives an accurate account of the source of morality

3 approaches to ethics

-maximizing general welfare -respecting individuals freedom to make choices -cultivating virtue

Value

A standard for judging goodness or badness of an action (typically shared by community)

Principle of impartiality

All people treated as equals, everyone's needs are equal. When making moral decision make it unbiased

Dogmatism

Because I say so

Universal Perspective

Belief held by many, of reasons apply in one specific case they must apply in all related cases. Ex.) lying is wrong

Morality

Beliefs concerning right and wrong, good and bad; they can include judgments, rules, principles, and theories. They help guide our actions, define our values, and give us reasons for being the people we are

Norms

Common ways of doing things upon which everyone agree, common rules that allow you to predict what another person is likely to do in typical situation

preeminence of reason

Critical reason, deep thinking, looking at details and facts, thinking for yourself, logical arguments to solve moral issues

What is the scientific study of moral beliefs and practices

Descriptive ethics

Subjective relativism implies

Everyone is morally infallible

All objectivists are absolutionists

False

Legal norms dominate moral norms.

False

There is a necessary connection between tolerance and cultural relativism.

False

What does value do

Give purpose to our lives

Divine command theory

God is maker of moral law, God defines right and wrong

Utilitarianism

Greatest good for the greatest number, cost benefit analysis

Duty driven/ absolute rules

Kant-respect for others

Logical argument helps to

Keep feelings at bay and show whether a moral judgement is justified or not through facts

What must you do to be free

Make your own decisions, don't accept something just bc someone told you to

What is ethics concerned with

Moral values

Moral Objectivism

Morality is universal. Some moral principals are valid for everyone. We know with certainty that some actions are morally wrong.

Some argue that a core set of moral values must be universal otherwise cultures would

Never survive

Is doing the right thing enough

No you must think about why it is right

The three philosophically based divisions in eithics

Normative, meta, and applied

Values

People's character traits, motives, and intentions

The three primary elements of ethics

Preeminence of reason, universal perspective, principle of impartiality

Flawed reasoning in cultural relativism

Premise 2, that people's judgements about right and wrong differ from culture to culture so there are no moral principles. One culture believing genocide is ok doesn't mean it's morally correct. And it's nearly impossible to use bc we all belong to several societies

Obligations

Refer to actions or duties we should do

Who is a major figure of ethics

Socrates

Why is it difficult to apply religion to specific cases sometimes

Some religious codes and conducts are vague

What do ethical values always imply

Standards of worth, we measure goodness of our lives by them

Relativist theories of ethics (3)

Subjective, cultural, and moral objectivism

What did Socrates believe about society

That it caused ethical conflicts, and that it can hold us to certain duties that may conflict

Applied Ethics

The application of moral norms to specific moral issues or cases, particularly those in a profession such as medicine or law, what is right and wrong in real life situations

Logical argument

The backbone of critical reasoning. consists of a statement to be supported and the statements that do the supporting. Use it to justify or refute a moral judgement

Ethics

The philosophical study of morality.

Descriptive Ethics

The scientific study of moral beliefs and practices. Describes how people actually behave and think with moral issues and concepts. "Describes what people think is right"

Metaethics

The study of the meaning and logical structure of moral beliefs. Questions meaning of moral ethics

Normative Ethics

The study of the principles, rules, or theories that guide our actions and judgments. Assumes certain things about meaning of moral terms, and judge moral theories

Subjective relativism

The view that an action is morally right if one approves of it. Ethical disagreements are impossible bc what you believe cannot be right it is only an opinion. You cannot be wrong , individuals make right and wrong based on feeling

Cultural relativism

The view that an action is morally right if one's culture approves of it. No culture could be wrong, and everyone in culture or those visiting must conform to it and be tolerant of others. Can't judge other cultures. Social reformers can never be morally right, moral progress is impossible, disagreements between people in culture amount to whether they agree or not with their culture

Cultural relativism implies

There is no moral objectivism

How do people identify you as an individual

Through the values for which you stand

extrinsically valuable

Valuable as a means to something else. Ex.) gas to power car Pen so you can write a letter

Intrinsically valuable

Valuable in itself, for its own sake. Ex.) happiness, pleasure, virtue, and beauty

critical reasoning

Very important in ethics, must look deep into details and examine all facts so you can make your own beliefs and opinions and be able to support them

ethical dilemma

When you have to make a moral choice, you must defend with rational argument

Do religious commandments conflict

Yes, also within the same religion people disagree

If you have different non moral beliefs you will have

ethical disagreements