Moral Problems Chapter 1

Moral Problems What is Ethics?

Moral Problems Ethics is the study of morality. Ethics is a reasoned discourse about morality. See the sample ethical argument starting on page 2: Is it Right to Kill?

Choice Morality is concerned only with those areas of life that are open to our choice. Ought implies can. Freedom of Choice Negative freedom (freedom from) Freedom from coercion Positive freedom (freedom to) Freedom to do what you choose to do I.e., freedom of choice Freedom to what you choose upon rational insight I.e., rational freedom of choice

Morality Right and Wrong If I say that it is wrong to steal, then I am condemning the act. Most of us mean that not only do we condemn the act but that others ought to condemn it as well. If I think something is right and you think something is wrong than we disagree. It is different if I like red wine and you like white wine. We just have different tastes. It is not a disagreement.

Duty If I say: “You have a duty to visit your mother,” then I mean that you ought to visit your mother.

Non-moral uses We often use the words “right” and “wrong” in non-moral ways. For example, “Did I put the wrong ingredient in this recipe?” or “Did I grab the right textbook to take to class?” Words such as “good” and “bad” are often used in a non-moral sense. “That was a good race.” “The weather is getting bad out there.”

The words “Good” and “Bad” used in a moral sense 1. We speak of good or bad ideals. 2. We speak of good and bad consequences of action. 3. We speak of a person’s character as good or bad. 4. We speak of good or bad intentions and motives.

Morality We condemn someone’s actions or character by saying things such as, “What the Enron executives did was immoral,” or “ What the volunteer Red Cross worker did was the moral thing to do.” We use the term “moral” to mean that some issue belongs in the area of morality. Both moral and immoral actions belong in the area of morality.

Morality Continued What is a moral question? Many people disagree about this. Some believe that homosexuality is wrong, while others believe that it is a matter of preference. Is something a matter of morality only when it involves other people beside yourself?

Conscience “Follow your conscience.” Where does the inner voice come from? Why does one person’s conscience tell her to do “x,” and another person’s conscience tells her to do ”y?”

Conscience Continued 1. How do we know whether some inner voice we hear is the voice of conscience and not the voice of the devil? 2. If conscience is the ultimate standard, it is arbitrary, it acts for no good reason. But if there is a good reason for what it says, it is not ultimate after all. That reason (happiness?, respect for rights?) is ultimate.

Kidding Oneself Can people allow themselves to think that their conscience tells them something, when it actually doesn’t? Regarding individual consciences, can both be right? Problems with the vagueness of conscience.

Revelation Individual conscience is fallible – the sacred word is not. Problems with revelation: 1. Paradox of Religious Ethics: Either the will of God is based on no good reason and is arbitrary, or it is based on a good reason and is not the ultimate standard of right and wrong. 2. What is contained in the sacred books can be vague. For example, war or peace? EXO 15:3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. ROM 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Revelation continued 3. Religious ethics makes it difficult for non-religious people, or people of a different religion, to be ethical. Religious ethics requires some further non- religious ethics to govern relations with people who do not accept one’s religion. 4. No revelation is complete. For example, should there be censorship of the arts?

Reason Rely on reason. How do we reach ethical conclusions using reason? Is it reason that tells us to save our children? Reason or inclination? How are we supposed to know what the best reasons are in specific cases?

Why be Moral? Why be moral? Divine Command: Because God will punish me if I do wrong or reward me if I do right. Appeal to authority. Follow because God is powerful not necessarily because God is good. Obey God out of love, not out of hope for reward. You must believe that God is good. (Euthyphro)

Morality Pays Honesty is the best policy. Plato’s believes that goodness is it’s own reward. Is being moral sufficient for being happy? Is being moral necessary for being happy?

The “Fair Play” Argument We have rules that will operate to our mutual advantage. How will we all agree on what the rules should be?

“Because It’s Right” Someone might say that they gave money anonymously so that an unknown child could have a new pair of glasses. If she was asked why she did it, she might respond that she simply wanted to make sure that the child could see. Is this self interested behavior? Is it possible that she did it because it is the right thing to do?

Relativism Is morality relative? “Relativism” = “Subjectivism” Thinking something to be so makes it so for the person who believes it. Individual relativism (pp.34-35) = collective relativism Thinking an action to be right makes it right for the individual or society that thinks it to be right. Objectivism: beliefs are made true not merely by believing them but by their correspondence to the facts.

Relativism Continued Differences in Environment Some rules may depend on our standard of living. Differences in Belief Spanish Inquisition Differences in Temperament Attitudes about sex

Homosexuality Is homosexuality right for some people and wrong for others? Is there a human right to express one’s sexual orientation?

Relativism Continued If relativism is true, it is not objectively true: it is relatively true only for relativists, and its truth is in no way superior to objectivism, which is true for objectivists. Relativists think their belief can make statements objectively true: faith moves mountains. Thus they do not escape objective truth. If relativism is true everyone is already right, so that inquiry or the correction of error is impossible.