What Is Morality?

What Is Philosophy? Love of wisdom Three Aspects Epistemology Study of knowledge What is knowledge? How many humans attain knowledge? Belief? Metaphysics Study of the nature of reality What exists in reality and what is the nature of what exists? Is there freedom in reality? Ethics Study of morality What constitutes any person or action being good?

Ethical, Moral, Unethical, Immoral Ethical and moral interchangeable Moral (relationships) for sexuality and ethics (individual) for business and professional communities Ethics from Greek ethos or character Morality from Latin moralis or manners Ethics practically for human conduct or values Usually discussing right or wrong Good or bad

Characteristics of Good, Bad, Right, Wrong, Happiness, or Pleasure What involves ‘good’ involves happiness and pleasure – ‘bad’ unhappiness or pain What is ‘good’ called hedonism Pleasure is the most important goal Sometimes may sacrifice short-term for long-term Example? Good requires context, satisfaction Some malicious pleasures, may be harmful to someone else

Excellence Important addition to pleasure Like a concert Appreciation deepened if there are other excellent people involved So always some elements of pleasure, happiness and excellence present

Defining Further Terms Two other attributes of good and right Harmony and creativity Creation of trust, confidence and integrity, capacity to cooperate Amoral Having no moral sense, being indifferent to right and wrong Certain criminals Monumental irresponsibility Nonmoral Out of the realm of morality altogether Inanimate objects Mathematics problem may be nonmoral, but may turn moral if other issues are considered

Approaches to Morality Scientific Approach Descriptive Empirical, use of data Humans act in their own self-interest Few value judgments Philosophical Approach Normative or prescriptive What humans should do Act in self interest (egoism) Act in interest of others (altruism) Act in interest of all (utilitarianism) Metaethics Analyzes ethical language, foundations of ethical systems

What is Morality? Two areas of values and value judgments Ethics What is good, bad, right or wrong in a moral sense Aesthetics Study of art and the artistic Overlap may occur once again Guernica

Good, Bad, Right and Wrong in a Nonmoral Sense Same words that are used in a moral sense If a car is good, it is still nonmoral Aristotle argued that moral has to do with the function of the human being Anything is good or bad because it functions well or poorly Thought function of humans was to reason Some other possibilities

Morals and Manners, or Etiquette Distinctions between morals and manners Some behavior is simply social Matter of taste rather than right or wrong No necessary connection with morals

Four Aspects of Morality

Religious Morality Human being relationship to a supernatural being or beings i.e. Ten Commandments Not other human beings

Morality and Nature Human being in relationship to nature Prevalent in primitive cultures, Native Americans, Far East Is nature only valuable for humanity or is it good in itself

Individual Morality Relationship to themselves and individual code of morality that may or may not be sanctioned by any society or religion Higher morality within the individual Not doing something because he himself thinks it is right or wrong

Social Morality In relation to other human beings Most important aspect of morality Must affect someone else Conflict in social groups Very concerned with utilitarianism Nonconsequentialist theories

Who is Morally or Ethically Responsible? Morality generally pertains to human beings Must be on faith if attributed to supernatural beings Must ignore science if considering plants or animals Research suggests animals may learn morality though So ethical and moral apply to humans only

Examples of Good

Examples of Bad

Examples of Good or Bad

Are humans good or bad?

Creating a Student Moral Code