Ethics Analysis & Application

Ethics As a Branch within Philosophy Meta-Ethics Descriptive Ethics Normative Ethics Applied Ethics

Where do our ethics come from? Innate Evolutionary Development Socialization Normative Moral Philosophy Spiritual Sources

How Far Do Ethical Responsibilities Reach? All Matter All Life All Animals All People People in US Family & Friends Eco-Ethics Vitalism Animism Humanism Nationalism Tribalism

Who Should be Bound by an Ethical Code? Each individual should have her own ethical code. Ethical Subjectivism Each society or cultural group should have its own ethical code. Ethical Relativism There should be one ethical code for all people on the planet. Ethical Universalism

Descriptive Ethics Can we identify some behaviors that Rigoberta Menchu’s community thought were ‘good’ and ‘bad’? __________ Can we identify some behaviors that the CSUMB community thinks are ‘good’ and ‘bad’? __________

Alternative Approaches to Ethical Reasoning Pleasure Principle (Hedonism) What will give me the greatest pleasure? Conformity to Social Norms & Intuition How does society expect me to act? What do my feelings tell me? -------------------Normative Ethical Theories--------------------------- IIIa. Consequentialist Ethics What behavior will lead to the best results or consequences? IIIb. Duty Ethics What actions do the laws or teachings command me to do? IIIc. Virtue Ethics How would I best be a virtuous character in this situation?

Let’s Discuss An Ethics of Care Which orientation to ethics does the “ethics of care” best reflect? Consequentialism Duty Ethics Virtue Ethics What does Rita Manning say is the guiding question in the ethics of care?

Let’s Discuss An Ethics of Care How does the ‘ethics of care’ grow out of a fundamentally different notion of human nature or human life compared to more traditional approaches to ethics?

Let’s Discuss An Ethics of Care If we open ourselves to caring, were do we draw the line in a world with seemingly endless needs for care at every level?

Let’s Discuss An Ethics of Care How do you think about calling this a “feminist perspective on ethics”? What are your overall thoughts/feelings about this ‘ethics of care’?

Ethical Dilemma 1 Your friend has just given you a lovely ivory necklace that she purchased on a trip to Africa. You are aware that African elephants are being slaughtered for their ivory tusks and are now an endangered species. Would you? • accept the necklace and wear it often • accept the necklace but keep it in a drawer • explain to the friend why you do not wish to accept her gift • other (specify)

Ethical Dilemma 1 Pleasure Principle (Hedonism) What will give me the greatest pleasure? Conformity to Social Norms & Intuition How does society expect me to act? What is my intuition telling me? -------------------Normative Ethical Theories--------------------------- IIIa. Consequentialist Ethics What behavior will lead to the best results or consequences? IIIb. Duty Ethics What actions do the laws or teachings command me to do? IIIc. Virtue Ethics How would I best be a virtuous character in this situation?

Ethical Dilemma 2 Alan works in the claims department of a major hospital. Paperwork on a recent admission shows that a traumatic incident caused the patient to require an adjustment in the medication she is prescribed to control her anxiety and anger bursts. Alan is struck by the patient’s unusual last name and upon checking her employment information realizes she is one of his daughter’s grade school teachers. Alan’s daughter seems very happy in her school and he cannot violate patient confidentiality by informing the school of a teacher’s mental illness, but he is not comfortable with a potentially unstable person in a position of influence and supervision over his eight year old daughter. Can Alan reconcile these issues in an ethical manner?

Ethical Dilemma 3 You are the buyer for a retail-clothing store. Your store has a policy of not accepting gifts. However, over the years, clothing companies have offered, and other employees have accepted, free lunches and theater and baseball tickets. You arrive home from the office and find a new TV and DVD player on your doorstep with a note that says: “A personal gift for our long standing friendship. Enjoy it with your family in good health. The Jones Clothing Company” What do you do?

Ethical Dilemma 4 An office supervisor at a state university discovered in a routine audit that her dedicated and trustworthy assistant had inflated the hours on her time sheets over the past several months to the tune of about $800. When she asked the assistant about it, the assistant was genuinely ashamed and heart-broken about the deception. She explained that her husband’s unemployment and mounting family bills had made her frightened and desperate. What should the office supervisor do about this situation?

“A Theory/Doctrine of Just War”  Because war is so horrific, humans have struggled for centuries in their efforts to justify such an action. Below are criteria that are commonly included in “Just War” theories. These criteria can frame how we think about and decide if the wars in Iraq or Afganistan are ethical or just wars. Is there a legitimate cause for fighting the war? Is going to war truly a last resort? Is there legitimate authority to wage war? Is there a probability of success? Is it clear that the war will not trigger an even greater evil than the one the war intends to eliminate? Would the war spare innocent civilians and children?