Ethics
Page 1: Brotherhood or Violence?
Learning Objectives
Identify the details of a report on fraternity hazing.
Reflect on fraternity hazing as a real-world issue.
Recognize real-world issues as context for studying ethics.
Introduction to Ethics
Ethics is not just an academic exercise; it's about responding to real-world situations.
Fraternity hazing is a pressing issue relevant to ethical discussions.
Case Study: Cris Anthony Mendez
In August 2007, Cris Anthony Mendez, a twenty-year-old student at UP, died from injuries likely caused by hazing.
Reported with bruises, no one with him provided information about the incident.
Sigma Rho fraternity members avoided cooperation with the authorities.
UP students and the public demanded justice; the case remains unresolved.
Page 2: Ethical Reflections
Questions Raised
What is the value of a person's life?
What were the wrongs done to Cris?
Is there any benefit to fraternities?
Broader Context: Bullying
The discussion can extend to bullying in schools.
Questions for reflection:
What wrongs can you identify in the case?
Discuss the forms and consequences of hazing.
What are the pros and cons of maintaining fraternities and their traditions?
Did class discussions reveal areas of agreement or disagreement?
Page 3: Beyond School
Issues in Society
Violence and intimidation can exist outside of schools, in workplaces and communities.
Discussions on how to protect against such experiences and how to promote societal changes to address these problems.
Page 4: Lesson 2 - Valuation
Learning Objectives
Identify ways of discussing and thinking about values.
Assess the complexities of distinguishing different valuations.
Ethics and Application
Ethics can reinforce rules or promote ideals.
Discuss the relationship between value judgments and ethics.
Page 5: Value Judgments
Distinction in Ethics
Not all values are ethical; some pertain to aesthetics or technique.
Understanding that personal preferences (e.g., taste in music) do not contribute to ethical discussions.
Contextual Examples
Right actions vs. technical rules in cooking or sports.
Social etiquette judgments that don't rise to moral issues.
Page 6: Ethical Concerns
Characteristics of Ethical Valuations
Ethics involves questions of human well-being and gravity, including life and death issues.
Recognizing that the boundary between ethical and non-ethical can be complex.
Page 7: Everyday Value Judgments
Questions to Consider
How do your opinions affect your ethical judgments?
What responsibilities emerge from disapproving of certain artistic expressions or media?
Page 8: Lesson 3 - Thinking of Ethics
Learning Objectives
Employ technical terms properly in ethics discussions.
Distinguish between descriptive and normative ethics.
Understand the role of reasoning in ethics.
Clarifying Terms
Discussion of 'ethics' vs. 'morals'; 'ethical' vs. 'unethical', etc.
Importance of clarity in ethical discourse.
Page 9: Exploring Ethics
Moral Issues and Dilemmas
Definition of moral terms: moral issue, judgment, decision, dilemma.
Understanding moral reasoning's role in resolving dilemmas.
Page 10: Ethical Reasoning
Necessity for Moral Valuation
The importance of moral reasoning beyond immediate motivations (reward, fear).
Page 11: Theoretical Frameworks
Basis for Ethical Theory
The role of moral theories in establishing ethical principles and judgments.
Page 12: Building Ethical Principles
Future Exploration
Ethical frameworks from philosophers and their relevance in today's ethical discussions.
Page 13: Lesson 4 - Sources of Authority
Learning Objectives
Recognize the limitations of law as an ethical determinant.
Understand the complexity of using religion as a moral guide.
Assess cultural influences on ethical thinking.
Authority and Ethics
The impact of law, religion, and culture on moral decisions and valuations.
Page 14: Ethical Law
Procedural Ethics
The tension between legality and morality.
The notion that laws do not always align with ethical imperatives.
Page 15: Religion and Ethics
Divine Command Theory
Challenges of grounding ethics solely in religious doctrine.
Page 16: Cultural Influence
Cultural Relativism
The diversity in moral practices across cultures and the implications for ethical standards.
Page 17: Critique of Relativism
Philosophical Concerns
Addressing key criticisms against cultural relativism and its implications for ethical discernment.
Page 18: Ethics and Subjectivity
Subjectivism and Its Challenges
The difficulties with subjectivist approaches to ethics and individual claims of moral authority.
Page 19: Psychological Egoism
Self-Interest in Ethics
Examination of psychological egoism and its implications for understanding ethical behavior.
Page 20: Ethical Egoism
Ethical Egoism Explained
Differentiation of ethical egoism from psychological egoism.
Page 21: Utilitarianism Overview
Introduction to Utilitarian Ethics
Overview of utilitarian principles and the basic tenets of utilitarianism.
Page 22: Utilitarian Calculus
Application of Utilitarianism
Examination of pleasure and pain in ethical calculations, including the impact on societal well-being.
Page 23: Higher and Lower Pleasures
Mill's Revision of Utilitarianism
Explaining the distinction between higher intellectual pleasures and lower base pleasures.
Page 24: Justice and Rights
Intersection of Rights and Utility
Mill's perspective on rights as they relate to general happiness and justice.
Page 25: Summary
Consolidation of Key Concepts
Recap of the foundational ideas presented throughout the unit focused on ethical valuation and utilitarianism.