WEEK_4

Ethics - Week 4

Topic: Slavers Revenging Their Losses

Subjectivism in Ethics

Key Concept

David Hume, an influential philosopher of the Enlightenment, discusses the idea that moral judgments, such as the condemnation of murder, originate from personal sentiments and emotions rather than objective facts or universal truths. He posits that moral values are inherently subjective and can vary widely among individuals, being discovered through introspection and personal reflection. This perspective challenges traditional notions of morality being universally applicable and opens the debate on the nature of ethical decision-making.

The Basic Idea of Ethical Subjectivism - Proponents of Drug Legalization

Arguments for Legalizing Recreational Drugs

• Individual Rights: Advocates argue that adults should have the autonomy to choose what substances they wish to consume, paralleling freedoms related to other personal choices such as lifestyle and health decisions.

• Criminalization: Legalization proponents assert that regulating instead of criminalizing drugs might significantly reduce harm to marginalized communities, which often bear the brunt of drug enforcement laws.

• Regulation Benefits: By legalizing and regulating recreational drugs, governments can ensure safer products, diminish black-market crime, and potentially generate substantial tax revenues, creating new economic opportunities and funding for public health initiatives.

The Basic Idea of Ethical Subjectivism - Opponents of Drug Legalization

Concerns About Drug Legalization

• Addiction & Health: There are substantial concerns regarding potential increases in addiction rates and mental health issues as a result of broader access to recreational drugs, particularly for vulnerable populations.

• Public Health: Opponents fear that legalization could lead to heightened healthcare costs, placing a disproportionate burden on public health systems while negatively impacting groups already at risk.

• Social Impact: Critics argue that drug legalization could have detrimental effects on communities, including decreased productivity and increased instances of drug-related harm and crime.

The Ethical Debate

Moral Values in Conflict

The ongoing debate surrounding drug legalization highlights a fundamental conflict between prioritizing individual autonomy and recognizing the need for social responsibility. It raises critical questions about the limits of personal choice, especially within the context of community welfare and public health interventions aimed at mitigating potential risks associated with drug use.

Perspectives on Drug Use

Varied Opinions

The morality of drug use varies widely across different factions:

• Some view drug use as fundamentally immoral and harmful, advocating for strict prohibition.

• Others argue for legalization as a means of addressing personal and societal issues, maintaining that personal disapproval should not dictate public policy.

• Non-moral perspectives emphasize legal and recreational viewpoints that support or oppose legalization without engaging directly in ethical discussions.

Understanding Ethical Subjectivism

Core Beliefs

Ethical Subjectivism is rooted in the belief that moral opinions are derived from personal feelings, suggesting that there are no objective moral truths applicable universally. Hume emphasizes that morality is more grounded in human sentiment than in rational thought. The discussion around drug use serves as an example, wherein societal norms and individual's moral frameworks shape perspectives on its ethical implications.

Ethical Subjectivism and Language

Linguistic Turn in Ethics

Under this framework, philosophers have focused on the meaning and implications of moral language, particularly how terms like "good" and "bad" are understood within social contexts, representing subjective emotional responses rather than binary truths.

Simple Ethical Subjectivism

Definition

This principle asserts that when someone claims something is morally good, they are expressing approval, while a claim of something being bad reflects disapproval. This framework suggests that moral discourse is inherently subjective and often lacks universal applicability.

Criticism of Simple Subjectivism

Flaw: Moral Disagreement

One notable criticism of simple subjectivism is its inability to adequately explain moral disagreements. When individuals have differing moral views, it suggests that those viewpoints emerge from deeper foundational beliefs rather than simple expressions of feelings, challenging the validity of purely subjective moral claims.

Example of Disagreement

Christos vs. Andreas

This case illustrates how moral claims often convey deeper disagreements in beliefs instead of mere expressions of attitude. The contrasting moral judgments highlight the complexities of ethical discourse.

Emotivism

Overview of Emotivism

Emotivism, a mid-20th-century variant of Ethical Subjectivism, emphasizes the linguistic use of expressing attitudes in moral discussions. It proposes that ethical statements function primarily as expressions of emotional responses rather than assertions of objective truths.

Forms of Language in Emotivism

Language Types

• Fact Statements: Statements that convey information and are objective in nature.

• Commands: Attempts to influence or dictate behavior through directive statements.

• Expressions of Attitude: Convey the speaker's emotional state (e.g., exclamations of approval or disapproval).

Moral Language According to Emotivism

Dual Functions

Under Emotivism, ethical judgments serve two main functions: they are both persuasive and expressive, indicating that moral claims do not convey objective truths but rather reflect individual emotions and attitudes.

Addressing Moral Disagreement in Emotivism

Forms of Disagreement

Moral disagreements can occur in two key forms:

• Disagreement in Belief: Conflicts regarding differing beliefs about facts or situations.

• Disagreement in Attitude: Conflicts over desired outcomes or moral stances that arise from personal feelings rather than factual disagreements.

Clarification on Disagreement

Example of Attitude Disagreement

The question of whether ending a pregnancy at six weeks is morally right or wrong exemplifies differing attitudes among individuals, showcasing that moral discussions often involve deeper emotional responses rather than purely factual claims.

Arguments Against Emotivism

Critique

Critics of Emotivism argue that it dismisses objective claims about moral beliefs that transcend personal attitudes, thereby trivializing significant moral discussions and the depth of ethical inquiry.

Ethical Subjectivism and Nihilism

Nihilism Explained

Nihilism posits that values lack any objective existence, suggesting that feelings alone dictate morals, resulting in a framework devoid of true right or wrong.

Counterexamples to Nihilism

Examples Like the Atlantic Slave Trade and Rwandan Genocide

The existence of profound moral violations, such as the Atlantic Slave Trade and the Rwandan Genocide, poses significant challenges to the nihilistic perspective. These heinous acts are widely regarded as objectively wrong, indicating that moral actions extend beyond mere subjective feelings and highlight the need for concrete ethical truths.

The Rwandan Genocide

Summary

The Rwandan Genocide serves as a poignant case study for examining moral implications surrounding historical atrocities. It emphasizes the critical necessity for identifying truths within ethics and moral philosophies.