Moral Reasoning Lecture Notes

Importance of Moral Reasoning

  • Milgram's Experiments on Obedience:

    • Highlighted that ordinary people can commit harmful acts under authority.

    • Those who resisted used well-reasoned arguments.

Three Main Moral Resources

  • Virtues: Character excellences (e.g., Courage, Justice).

  • Moral Values: Guiding principles (e.g., Respect for life, Integrity).

  • Moral Reasoning: Critical examination of moral issues using logic and sensitivity.

Three Levels of Thinking

  1. Inquiry: Quality and plausibility of interpretations.

  2. Meaning/Judgment: Interpretations shape experiences and worldviews.

  3. Worldview: Overall sense of life influences further interpretations.

Challenges to Worldview

  • Challenges lead to emotional responses, often resistance.

  • Barriers impede analysis and understanding.

Praxis

  • Definition: Practice of a skill; requires knowledge base.

  • Emphasizes theory in practice to enhance moral sensitivity.

Importance of Analysis and Praxis

  • Social Significance: Questioning popular opinions to challenge the status quo.

  • Philosophical Significance: Testing and developing understanding.

  • Personal Significance: Uncovering biases leads to growth.

Defense Mechanisms in Moral Reasoning

  • Coping: Healthy adjustment to challenges.

  • Resistance: Immature maintenance of worldview to avoid change.

Pitfalls: Poor Defense Mechanisms

  • Ignorance, Avoidance, Denial, Clichés, Conformity, Anger, Distraction can impair moral reasoning.

A Better Way: Logic

  • Focus on evaluating and making arguments based on structured reasoning.

  • Distinction between Is (objective reality) and Ought (guidance on what should be).

Informal Fallacies

  • Recognize fallacies (e.g., Ad Hominem, Hasty Generalization) that undermine arguments.

  • Awareness of rhetorical persuasiveness vs. quality reasoning.

Moral Dilemmas

  • Defined as conflicts between moral values, not between moral and non-moral values.

  • Resolving requires praxis and a solid knowledge base.

6 Steps of Moral Reasoning

  1. Know the Facts

  2. Use Various Perspectives

  3. Identify Moral Issues

  4. Explore Moral Implications

  5. Clarify Ways to Resolve Issues

  6. Choose the Best Moral Option