Notes on Normative Ethics, Values, Theories, and Responsibility

Case Study: The Ford Pinto
- Introduced in the end of the 1960s.
- Incident on Jan 10, 1978, resulted in the death of 3 teenagers due to a gas tank puncture.

Ethics: Systematic reflection on what is moral.
- Derived from Greek word Ethos (custom, morals, conviction).
- Involves evaluation of good and bad actions.
Morality: Totality of opinions and actions expressing what is considered good or right.
- Includes both:
- Descriptive Morality: Describes existing morality (customs, habits).
- Prescriptive Morality: Formulates normative recommendations on how to act.

Descriptive vs Normative Judgments:
- Descriptive: What is the case in the past/present/future; e.g., Challenger met safety standards.
- Normative: Evaluates if something is good/bad; e.g., Challenger should not have launched.

Values: Lasting convictions that help individuals lead good lives, e.g., Justice, Equality.
- Intrinsic Values: Valued for their own sake, like Health.
- Instrumental Values: Serve as means to ends, e.g., Privacy.
Norms: Rules guiding required, permitted, or forbidden actions, e.g., traffic safety.
- Moral Norms: Indicate responsible actions to realize values.
Virtues: Traits or qualities considered morally good, e.g., Justice, Honesty.

Normative Relativism: Claims all moral points of view are equally valid.
- Issues: contradictions lead to unworkable situations.
Absolutism: No exceptions to moral rules; universal norms apply to everyone.
- Issues: Conflicts arise in practical situations (e.g., whistleblowing).

Jeremy Bentham's View:
- Actions judged by the pleasure/pain they produce (Utility Principle).
- Consequentialism: Consequences are central to moral judgment.
- Hedonism: Pleasure is the only intrinsic good.
Issues of measurement of pleasure lead to subjective moral judgments.
- Cost-Benefit Analysis: Utilitarian actions need to be evaluated for their net utility.

Freedom Principle: Individuals should strive for pleasure unless it harms others.
- Addresses qualitative differences in pleasures.
No Harm Principle: Freedom exists as long as it does not harm others.
- Issues with protecting individual rights among many.

Deontological Ethics: Morality based on adherence to rules/norms regardless of consequences.
- Categorical Imperative: Universally applicable moral principles (e.g., honesty).
Two Formulations:
- Act only if you'd want that action as a universal law.
- Treat humanity as an end, never as a means.
Issues:
- Ambiguity in laws; conflicting moral principles (e.g., whistleblowing and loyalty).
- Prima Facie Norms: Norms that hold unless overridden by more vital concerns.

Focuses on character development and desirable traits for ethical living.
- Aristotelian Perspective: Eudaimonia as the ultimate goal (realizing human potential).
Practical Wisdom: Essential for choosing the right actions (finding a mean between extremes).

Emphasizes relational responsibilities and the importance of connection.
- Challenges traditional moral principles in favor of care-based considerations.
In Engineering: Recognizes the significance of relationships in professional settings, emphasizing competence and teamwork.
- Engineers are encouraged to be caring and responsible toward all stakeholders (people, communities).

Key Norms:
- Expertise, clear communication, cooperation, objectivity, creativity, integrity, etc.
Engineers need to uphold professional standards while maintaining moral integrity in their actions and decisions.