PHI 205 - Moral Philosophy

Ethics

the branch of philosophy that inquires into the nature of right and wrong as well as into the nature of good and bad

Moral Philosophy

understanding the logical arguments that pertain to the fundamental moral issues of life (what you ought to do, what is right and wrong)

Normative Ethics

the scientific study of moral concepts, reasoning, and behavior (how people think about right and wrong)

Meta-Ethics

the branch of moral philosophy that is concerned with issues about the meaning of moral terms

Practical Ethics

a branch of moral philosophy that is concerned with applying moral theory to real world problems

Is/Ought Distinction

David Hume - Science versus morality, fact versus ideal. A connecting principle must link a fact and a moral statement

Moral Weirdness

The issue that you cannot directly observe moral facts

Ethical Egoism

What is right or wrong for you to do is really just a matter of what will be good for you/self-interest. False Stereotype.

Ethical Egoism Supporting Arguments

Against Discrimination, Psychological Egoism

Ethical Egoism Criticisms

Counterexamples, Inconsistency Problem

Moral Relativism

What is right or wrong for one depends on the ethical norms one's culture happens to accept. Individual or Social. 

Moral Relativism Supporting Arguments

Cultural Differences, The Reasons and Obligations

Moral Relativism Criticisms

The Incoherence Argument (Boghossian), The Moral Reformer

Divine Command Theory

bases ethics on God’s commands

DCT Supporting Arguments

Moral Weirdness Explanation, Objective Moral Law

DCT Criticisms

Socrate’s/Euthyphro Problem, Circular Reasoning, Does it explain God?

Utilitarianism

Rightness or wrongness depends entirely on how they affect human welfare or happiness, based on the outcome not the reasoning. Act and Rule

Utilitarianism Supporting Arguments

Substantial Explanation of Right/Wrong, Cases of Necessity

Utilitarian Criticisms

The Predictability Problem, The Trolley Problem

Kant’s Ethical Theory

You can derive ethical rules by seeing if they are generalizable and applicable to everyone - Categorical Imperative

Kants Supporting Arguments

Rational Equality, Consistency

Kants Criticisms

Problem of Exceptions, Counterexamples

Kantian Alternative - NeoKant

Rawls - Veil of Ignorance