WEEK 1-2: Nature of Ethics and Moral Reasoning

Ethics

It is the study of morality or the reflection of a good life. It is also the examination of beliefs and personal & practical thoughts.

Emphasizes the sense of social expectation.

What is the LATIN definition of MORAL ?

Favors that of individual character.

What is the GREEK definition of MORAL ?

Ought

It implies “can” and freedom.

Dialogical

What is the term when you have an open conversation with others ?

Deliberative

What do you call the careful discussing before making a decision (ex. considering the pros & cons) ?

Normative

What do you call the following of rules and values (what is considered right).

Moral Reasoning

It is the process of thinking about what is right or wrong, good or bad, in order to make decisions.

1. Personal Reasons, 2. Explanatory Reasons, 3. Normative Reasons

What are the 3 kinds of reasoning ?

Audi (2004), Korsgaard (2008)

Who created the categories or the kinds of reasoning ?

Motivational Reasons

These are the PERSONAL REASONS (beliefs, desires & intentions), the reasons a person could (what’s on their mind).

Ex. “I want to be healthy" (desire)

Explanatory Reasons

It explains why an agent acted that way or these are the reasons that actually explain why they acted that way.

ex. “I exercised today because I want to be healthy.” (the actual reason for the action)

Normative Reasons

If the reasons for this is good or bad.

Objective & Justificatory

Normative reasons are both ?

Objective

It is in the sense of being independent of what the agent wants.

Justificatory

These are the reasons that agents use to justify their acting in a particular manner.

1. The Moral Judgment of the Child (1932), 2. Kohlberg’s Moral Stages (1938)

What are the 2 emperical studies of ethical thought and moral awareness ?

Jean Piaget

Who is the creator of The Moral Judgment of the Child ?

Subjective & Perception-bases

What personality traits are found in the early childhood stage ?

Objective, Principal, & Abstract

What personality traits are found in the late childhood stage ?

Heteronomous Egocentricity to Rational Autonomy

What are the reflections of “The Moral Judgnent of the Child” ?

a. Pre-conventional Morality, b. Conventional Morality, c. Post-conventional Morality

What are the stages of Kohlberg’s Moral Stages ?

Pre-conventional Morality

This is the obedience & punishment stage and the self-interest stage.

Conventional Morality

Consisting of the INTERPERSONAL ACCORD/CONFORMITY stage (“I want to be liked because…”) and SOCIAL-ORDER maintaining stage (“I want to follow laws…)

Post-conventional Morality

It consists of the SOCIAL CONTRACT stage (“laws are importabt but peoples rights matter…”) and UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES stage (“I follow my own moral principles”)

1. Deductive Model of Reasoning, 2. Reflective Equilibrium Model

What are the 2 competing models of the PROCESSES of MORAL REASONING ?

Deductive Model of Reasoning

Starts from general moral rules to specific case to result into a conclusion.

Reflective Equilibrium Model

It is the process of making adjustments to one’s moral belief or by adjusting the rules till moral is consistent.