Ethics Unit 1

why study ethics?

1. to answer the “why” of how we think and act- TO UNDERSTAND YOURSELF BETTER

2. morality under-writes civilization- TO UNDERSTAND CIVILIZATION

what are the three types of ethics?

1. meta-ethics

2. normative ethics

3. applied ethics

meta ethics

concerns general matters about moral principles

normative ethics

concerns moral principles and their justification

example:

• God = exists —> religion

• how do we know this —> meta religion

applied ethics

explains the application of morality to particular issues

examples

• business ethics, environmental ethics, medical ethics, sports ethics

logic

the study of correct forms of argument

1. conclusion: claim argued for

2. premise: reasons offered in support

3. reasoning: how 1&2 are related

conclusion words

therefore, to conclude, thus, so, as a result

premise words

because, since, the reason is, due to

inductive

the premises support the conclusion as a matter of probability (strong/weak)

deductive

when the premises make the conclusion of the argument necessary

define moral relativism

there is no single moral standard which is equally applicable to all persons

define moral absolutism

there is a single moral standard which equally applies to all persons

equivocation

using a word as having a different meaning

problems of equivocation

1. people in different cultures believe different moral standards

2. there is no moral standard which is equally applicable to all persons

subjectivism

the view that ethical judgement refers to an individual’s feelings of approval about an action

define egoism

the view that what’s morally good is the enhancement of my self-interest

psychological egoism vs. ethical egoism

psychological: concerns how people actually behave

ethical: concerns how people should behave

define cultural relativism

refers to not judging a culture to our own standards of what is right or wrong, strange or normal (eating dogs)

problems for cultural relativism

1. assumes that each person exists within a particular group

2. assumes that within each group, there is a single agreed upon moral standpoint

3. assumes that a persons moral beliefs are a direct consequence of the values of their group

problems of subjectivism

1. moral monster: anyone’s feelings about what’s right or wrong are correct

2. disagreement (ice cream flavor debate)

problems of egoism

1. it can harm society due to selfishness

2. no way to justify the belief since it only applies to one person