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Ethics & Morality

Ethics & Morality. An Introductory Exploration. Ethics As a Branch within Philosophy. How Far Do Ethical Responsibilities Reach?. Eco-Ethics Vitalism Animism Humanism Nationalism Tribalism. Who Should be Bound by an Ethical Code?. Ethics & Morality.

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Ethics & Morality

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  1. Ethics & Morality An Introductory Exploration

  2. EthicsAs a Branch within Philosophy

  3. How Far DoEthical Responsibilities Reach? • Eco-Ethics • Vitalism • Animism • Humanism • Nationalism • Tribalism

  4. Who Should be Bound by an Ethical Code?

  5. Ethics & Morality By what code or set of ethics should we live our lives? How should such a code be formulated or articulated? Ontology and Epistemology are Descriptive Ethics is Prescriptive

  6. Ethics is the study of the many, many different theories about how humans do or should form notions of right and wrong behavior. We will examine just a sample of these theories.

  7. Ethics TheoriesTwo Types of Questions What are right and wrong human behaviors? How should we think about and articulate right and wrong human behaviors?

  8. Types of Ethical Reasoning • The Pleasure/Pain Principle • Conformity with Social Norms • Normative Ethics • Consequentialist Ethics • Duty Ethics • Virtue Ethics

  9. I. The Pleasure/Pain Principle • Seek Pleasure and Avoid Pain Whatever is pleasurable, enjoyable, or fun is good. Whatever is painful, difficult, or stressful is bad.

  10. The Pleasure/Pain PrincipleExamples Ancient: Epicureanism The greatest good is to achieve a state of tranquility that is free of want, free of pain, and free of fear. Modern: Hedonism

  11. The Pleasure/Pain Principle “Sleep in. Stay up late. Give up counting calories. Have a drink before noon. Give up mineral water. Dine in shorts. Talk to strangers. Don't make your bed. Go skinny dipping. Don't call your mother. Let your hair down. Don't pay for anything. Don't leave a tip. Be your beautiful self in spectacular Negril or Runaway Bay, Jamaica.”

  12. Hedonism Hugh Hefner’s “Playboy Philosophy,” which he began formulating in the 1950s, consists of two main threads: sexual liberation, as Hefner calls it, and avid consumerism. From the start, his goal has been to challenge “the two greatest guilts our society has: materialism and sex.

  13. Thoughts on Hedonism? Why are these BAD? Why are these GOOD? Altruism Empathy Compassion Common Good Self-sacrifice Love or Kindness Frued’s Superego • Self-interest • Personal Pleasure • Personal Happiness • Personal Security • Self-indulgence • Look out for #1 • Frued’s Id

  14. II. Conformity to Social Norms Every culture has norms for right and wrong behavior, and every culture socializes its members to believe in and to observe those norms. Social peace, harmony, welfare, and stability depend on members conforming to those norms. • Go along to get along • Don’t rock the boat • Look, listen, and learn • Keep up with the Jones • Swim with the current • When in Rome, do as the Romans

  15. Conformity to Social NormsHow does society teach us values and norms? Family Media Peers School

  16. Can you list 10 ethical values that most of us have internalized thru socialization? One source offers 375 common values! Values we have internalized

  17. III. Normative Ethics

  18. A. Consequentialist Ethics ✥ The morality of an action is determined by its consequences. ✥The ends justify the means. Right actions are ones that lead to good consequences Wrong actions are ones that lead to bad consequences So, is stealing right or wrong?

  19. ConsequentialismCost-Benefit Analysis

  20. Consequentialism TheoriesExamples • Utilitarianism (Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Peter Singer) • ‘Act in such a way as to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number’ • Egoism (Ayn Rand’s Philosophy of Objectivism or Selfishness) • ‘Act in such a way as to achieve the greatest good for yourself’ • Ayn Rand’s thoughts on the Virtue of Selfisness • Liberation Theology (Many Catholic leaders in Latin America) • Act to resist oppression by the rich and powerful • Act to liberate the poor from exploitation and suffering

  21. B. Duty Ethics Duty ethics focuses on people’s obligation to engage in certain behaviors and to avoid certain behaviors, regardless of the consequences • Know the rules and obey them. • Do your duty.

  22. Duty EthicsExamples Confucianism • Ruler and Subject • Father and Son • Husband and Wife • Elder Brother and Younger Brother • Friend and Friend • Older Generation and Younger Generation

  23. Duty EthicsExamples Confucianism • He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it. • In serving one's ruler one deals reverently with the tasks involved and makes the livelihood involved a secondary consideration • Have no friends not equal to yourself. • Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses. • Respect yourself and others will respect you. • Few indeed are those who are naturally filial towards their parents and dutiful towards their elder brothers but are fond of opposing their superiors; and it never happens that those who do not like opposing their superiors are fond of creating civil disorder.

  24. Duty EthicsExamples • Beneficence: the duty to improve the conditions of others • Self-improvement: the duty to improve our virtue and intelligence • Nonmaleficence: the duty to not injure others W.D. Ross • Fidelity: the duty to keep promises • Reparation: the duty to compensate others when we harm them • Gratitude: the duty to thank those who help us • Justice: the duty to recognize merit

  25. Duty EthicsExamples • Islam: Qur’an ➠ Shiria Civil Law • Judaism Torah ➠ Kosher Food Rules • Judaism/Christianity/Islam Bible ➠10 Commandments

  26. Joe’s “Moral Duties” growing up… • Go to church every Sunday. • Attend the Stations of the Cross every Good Friday. • Avoid impure thoughts and deeds. • Abstain from meat every Friday. • Do not swear. • Visit the sick. • Contribute to the less fortunate. • Serve mass as often as possible. • Do not make fun of another person. • Abstain from all sweets for 40 days every lent. • Memorize catechism answers and Latin prayers. • Recite the rosary frequently.

  27. C. Virtue Ethics Virtue Ethics is more concerned with prescribing character traits or qualities that our lives should manifest. In any situation, a person must decide how to best do that. Lead a Virtuous Life

  28. Virtue Ethics Religions that prescribe” character qualities or traits”, not obligatory behaviors. Cardinal Virtues Temperance Prudence Fortitude Justice Faith Hope Charity Buddhist Divine States Loving kindness Compassion Altruism Equanimity Egyptian Ma’at Truthfulness Harmony Justice Dignity Reciprocity Integrity Compassion

  29. More Secular Forms of Virtue Ethics Boy Scouts Trustworthy Loyal Helpful Courteous Obedient Cheerful Thrifty Brave Clean Reverent YWCA Empowerment Balance Diversity Joy Openness Honesty Leadership Accountability Self-care Respect Kindness Compassion 4-H Club Head (thoughtful) Heart (loyal) Hand (serving) Health (healthy living)

  30. Virtue EthicsA Couple Examples

  31. Alternative Approaches to Ethical Reasoning Summary • Pleasure Principle What will give me the greatest pleasure? • Conformity to Social Norms How does society expect me to act? How do those around me behave? • Consequentialist Ethics What behavior will lead to the best results or consequences? • Duty Ethics What do the laws or teachings command me to do? • Virtue Ethics How would I best apply my virtues in this situation?

  32. “A Theory of Just War” • Because war is so horrific, humans have struggled for centuries in their efforts to justify such an action. Below are criteria that are commonly included in “Just War” theories. These criteria can frame how we think about and decide if the wars in Iraq or Afganistan are ethical or just wars. • Is there a just cause for fighting the war? • Is going to war truly a last resort? • Is there legitimate authority to wage war? • Is there a probability of success? • Is it clear that the war will not trigger an even greater evil than the one the war intends to eliminate? • Would the war spare innocent men, women, and children?

  33. “A Theory of Just War”Because war is so horrific, humans have struggled for centuries in their efforts to justify such an action. Below are criteria that are commonly included in “Just War” theories. These criteria can frame how we think about and decide if the wars in Iraq or Afganistan are ethical or just wars. • Is there a just cause for fighting the war? • Is going to war truly a last resort? • Is there legitimate authority to wage war? • Is there a probability of success? • Is it clear that the war will not trigger an even greater evil than the one the war intends to eliminate? • Would the war spare innocent men, women, and children?

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