Maritime Ethics Orientation & Man of Existence

•           Course Overview: Introduces ethical behavior in personal, societal, and environmental contexts within the maritime profession.

•           Existence of Man: Explores what it means “to be human” through philosophical insights:

•           Socrates: Advocates self-knowledge and the unity of body and soul.

•           Plato: Describes the tripartite nature of the soul.

•           Aristotle: Emphasizes man as a rational, political being in pursuit of happiness (eudaimonia).

II. Ethics as a Science

•           Definition & Origins: Ethics is the systematic study of morality, derived from Greek “ethos” and Latin “mos/mores”.

•           Approaches:

•           Atheistic: Views morality as a human construct.

•           Theistic: Sees morality as based on divine or eternal principles.

•           Classification of Actions: Human actions are categorized as moral (good), immoral (bad), or amoral (neutral), with ethical dilemmas resolved by analyzing facts, intentions, and consequences.

III. Ethical Norms & Applications to Seafaring Life

•           Ethical Norms: Provide standards of right and wrong, guiding behavior in both society and the maritime workplace.

•           Workplace Ethics:

•           For Employees: Stresses commitment, loyalty, honesty, and respect.

•           For Employers: Requires transparent hiring, equality, and humane management practices.

•           Outcomes: Enhance communication, teamwork, and overall organizational effectiveness.

IV. Nature of Morality

•           Key Determinants:

•           Object: The inherent nature of the act.

•           Circumstances: Contextual factors that influence the moral tone.

•           Intention: The motive behind the action.

•           Moral Development: Illustrated by Kohlberg’s stages (pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional), showing how ethical reasoning evolves.

•           Perspectives: Integrates individual, religious, and social viewpoints on morality.

V. Utilitarianism

•           Core Principles:

•           Principle of Utility: Actions are right if they maximize pleasure and minimize pain.

•           Greatest Happiness Principle: Emphasizes the benefit for the greatest number of people.

•           Key Thinkers:

•           Jeremy Bentham: Developed the “felicific calculus” to measure consequences.

•           John Stuart Mill: Highlighted qualitative differences between higher (intellectual) and lower (sensory) pleasures.

•           Maritime Application: Assists in decision-making by evaluating the overall benefits versus harms to the crew and community.