ETHICS
NORMATIVE MORAL THEORY:
Introduction:
What is Philosophy?
Philo – Love & Sophos – Wisdom: The love of Wisdom.
In philosophy, there are no empirical answers, that is, answers that have been
reached through experiment.
Philosophy starts with asking questions, but ultimately it seeks to provide the most
rigorous answers to the questions.
What is ethics?
Ethics Morals
- Synonymous -
- The study of morality - Norms of behavior
- A formal code of behavior
(can change)
- Ethics can refer to character
Moral meanings of right and wrong:
1) Required (Must) E.g. You must help someone you hit with a car.
Or in the case of wrong, prohibited (Must not).
2) Permissible (You may). Neither required nor prohibited, e.g. Playing chess.
3) Desirable (Better). Unlike chess where playing it or refraining from it doesn’t
matter, things which fall under this category are better to do, however you don’t
have to. Or in the case of wrong (Better not) *This is controversial.
If something is right in the required sense, then by refraining from doing it you are
acting immorally, however this does not apply for the permissible sense.
One must always be clear about which sense of the word ‘right’ one is referring to
when using it in a philosophical context.
Reasoning about ethics:
Is morality a matter of opinion? There seems to be a general agreement amongst
philosophers that it is not - they generally believe there are some objective truths
concerning morality.
Moral claims often rest on scientific beliefs, and if you could disprove the relative
scientific theory, you would disprove the moral theory.
Another way we can progress in ethics is to be consistent with our views. If there are
contradictory beliefs there must be a problem in the belief system. However one may
, be consistently wrong. (Note: valid but unsound) Therefore consistency in beliefs is
necessary but not sufficient for a good ethical or moral theory.
Impartiality: May we be partial to, or favour, our own families, and ifso, to what
extent?
Why ethical theory?
An analogy with scientific theory:
Ethical theory:
- Explains moral judgments
- Provides basis for accepting or
rejecting claims
- Prescribe (tell you what you ought to
do).
- Offers retrospective judgment.
Scientific theory:
- Explains phenomena (or sense
experiences).
- Helps predictions. Generally we
can use inductive logic to predict,
but scientific theory’s can help for
new circumstances.
NORMATIVE MORAL THEORY:
Introduction:
What is Philosophy?
Philo – Love & Sophos – Wisdom: The love of Wisdom.
In philosophy, there are no empirical answers, that is, answers that have been
reached through experiment.
Philosophy starts with asking questions, but ultimately it seeks to provide the most
rigorous answers to the questions.
What is ethics?
Ethics Morals
- Synonymous -
- The study of morality - Norms of behavior
- A formal code of behavior
(can change)
- Ethics can refer to character
Moral meanings of right and wrong:
1) Required (Must) E.g. You must help someone you hit with a car.
Or in the case of wrong, prohibited (Must not).
2) Permissible (You may). Neither required nor prohibited, e.g. Playing chess.
3) Desirable (Better). Unlike chess where playing it or refraining from it doesn’t
matter, things which fall under this category are better to do, however you don’t
have to. Or in the case of wrong (Better not) *This is controversial.
If something is right in the required sense, then by refraining from doing it you are
acting immorally, however this does not apply for the permissible sense.
One must always be clear about which sense of the word ‘right’ one is referring to
when using it in a philosophical context.
Reasoning about ethics:
Is morality a matter of opinion? There seems to be a general agreement amongst
philosophers that it is not - they generally believe there are some objective truths
concerning morality.
Moral claims often rest on scientific beliefs, and if you could disprove the relative
scientific theory, you would disprove the moral theory.
Another way we can progress in ethics is to be consistent with our views. If there are
contradictory beliefs there must be a problem in the belief system. However one may
, be consistently wrong. (Note: valid but unsound) Therefore consistency in beliefs is
necessary but not sufficient for a good ethical or moral theory.
Impartiality: May we be partial to, or favour, our own families, and ifso, to what
extent?
Why ethical theory?
An analogy with scientific theory:
Ethical theory:
- Explains moral judgments
- Provides basis for accepting or
rejecting claims
- Prescribe (tell you what you ought to
do).
- Offers retrospective judgment.
Scientific theory:
- Explains phenomena (or sense
experiences).
- Helps predictions. Generally we
can use inductive logic to predict,
but scientific theory’s can help for
new circumstances.
