PHIL242: MEDICAL ETHICS SUM2014, M-F, 9:40-10:40, SAV 156 INSTRUCTOR: BENJAMIN HOLE OFFICE HOURS: M-F, 10:40-11  EMAIL: BVHOLE@UW.EDU

Agenda 1. Clicker Quiz 2. Ethical Theory Natural Law Theory 3. Ethical Theory, Culture, & Religion Divine Command Theory and Relativism Next week “Writing Philosophy” (PDF), Mark Woodhouse “The Principle of Utility” (PDF), Jeremy Bentham “Utilitarianism,” John Stuart Mill (52-54) “The Moral Law,” Immanuel Kant (55-60)

QUIZ Please set your Turning Technology Clicker to channel 41 Press “Ch”, then “41”, then “Ch”

Kant says that through reason and reflection we can derive our duties from The categorical imperative The duration of human history Experience A calculation of consequences

Natural law tradition resolves dilemmas through the principle of utility. True False

Which view holds that the moral law is constituted by the will of god? Kantian Deontology Rule Utilitarianism Divine Command Theory Moral Absolutism Virtue Ethics

Aquinas’s version & the Doctrine of Double Effect Natural Law Theory Aquinas’s version & the Doctrine of Double Effect

Natural Law Theory The view that right actions are those that conform to moral standards discerned in nature through human reason. “An action is right if and only if (and because) in performing the action one does not directly violate any of the basic values” (Timmons, MTP) Human Life Human Procreation Human Knowledge Human Sociability

How is NLT action-guiding in moral dilemmas?

Doctrine of Double Effect “An action that would bring about at least one evil effect and at least one good effect is morally permissible if (and only if) the following conditions are satisfied: Intrinsic permissibility Necessity Non-intentionality Proportionality”

Natural Law Theory Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral Somewhat Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Divine Command Theory Euthyphro Dilemma

Common “shortcuts” around ethical theorizing 1. Divine Command Theory 2. Cultural Relativism

DCT: An act is right if and only if God commands that we do the action

Horned Dilemma Argument If A, then B or C. B is absurd C is absurd Therefore, A is absurd

Dilemma Horn One: If it is a good thing because God loves it: Then is there no reason for God to love it? Isn’t it capricious, or random? What if God commanded the torture of all left-handers? If it is right because God commands it, then there is no basis for the word of God.

Dilemma Horn Two: If God loves it because it is a good thing: Then isn’t God constrained by some moral order, so that we might look directly at that order? If God commands it because it is right, then there is some standard for rightness besides the word of God.

Different thinkers have answered differently… St. Thomas Aquinas: God has a reason for what he says, and this reason constrains Him. William of Ockham: God could indeed make murder mandatory.

The Euthyphro Dilemma Divine Command Theory: An act is right iff God commands it. The Dilemma: Either it right because God commands it or God command it because it is right. Horn One: If it is right because God commands it, then there is no basis for the word of God. Horn Two: If God commands it because it is right, then there is some standard for rightness besides the word of God.

Which horn of the dilemma is easier for you to accept? True False

Relativism

Ethical Relativism Subjective Relativism—The view that right actions are those sanctioned by a person Cultural Relativism—The view that right actions are those sanctioned by one’s culture (CR) “An act (performed by members of group G) is right if and only if the moral norms that are accepted by G permit the performance of the action.” (Timmons, 32) THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM by JAMES RACHELS

Cultural Ethical Relativism “An act (performed by members of group G) is right if and only if the moral norms that are accepted by G permit the performance of the action.” THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM by JAMES RACHELS

Cultural Differences Argument If people’s moral judgments differ from culture to culture, moral norms are relative to culture and there are no objective moral standards. Judgments differ from culture to culture. Therefore, norms are relative to culture and there are no objective moral standards. THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM by JAMES RACHELS

Criticize the Argument If people’s moral judgments differ from culture to culture, moral norms are relative to culture and there are no objective moral standards. Judgments differ from culture to culture. Therefore, norms are relative to culture and there are no objective moral standards. THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM by JAMES RACHELS

Criticize the Argument If people’s moral judgments differ from culture to culture, moral norms are relative to culture and there are no objective moral standards. Judgments differ from culture to culture. Therefore, norms are relative to culture and there are no objective moral standards. Objection Judgments might not differ much from culture to culture, just the expression of those judgments. Context Sensitivity “The rightness or wrongness of an action may depend in part on facts about the agent and her circumstances, where her circumstances may include facts about the norms for what counts as constituting insults, a person’s privacy, proper respect for others, and so forth” THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM by JAMES RACHELS

Criticize the Argument If people’s moral judgments differ from culture to culture, moral norms are relative to culture and there are no objective moral standards. Judgments differ from culture to culture. Therefore, norms are relative to culture and there are no objective moral standards. Objections Undermines tolerance Undermines internal criticism Undermines external criticism Undermines moral progress THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM by JAMES RACHELS