Chapter 1: Ethics and Ethical Reasoning Why Study Ethics? There are differing views of moral rights and wrongs Matters are not always easy to judge What is Ethics? The set of values or principles held by individuals or groups A study of the various sets of values that people do have Ethics is a branch of philosophy; moral philosophy Normative Ethics Metaethics Philosophical questions can be asked about many subjects Ethics and Religion

Chapter 1 continued Ethics and Religion Ethics and religious grounding Religion as a motivation for morality Ethical and Other Types of Evaluation Descriptive judgments Normative judgments Differences between the two Ethical Terms Right/Wrong Good/Bad Ought/Ought not

Chapter 1 continued Ethics and Reasons Ethical Reasoning and Arguments Rational or Emotional Inituitionism or emotive Ethical Reasoning and Arguments Reasons Conclusions Premises Evaluating and Making Good Arguments Soundness Value assumptions Conceptual matters Factual assertions

Chapter 1 continued The connection of Ethical Theory, Ethical Principles, and Ethical Judgments Can Ethics Be Taught? A matter of knowledge A matter of motivation

Chapter 1 continued Plato’s Euthyphro The First Definition of Piety The Second Definition of Piety Is the pious holy because it is loved by the gods or is it loved by the gods because it is holy?

Chapter 1 continued Stevenson - The Emotive Meaning of Ethical Terms How can ethical questions be made clear? - The question of relevance - The question of goodness The Traditional Interest theories - Ethical terms are instruments - Emotive meaning and the dynamic use of words