Philosophy – Moral Philosophy ‘The Master said, The man of wisdom is never in two minds; the man of benevolence never worries; the man of courage is never afraid.’ Confucius

Our Learning NAB returns for Dyce Pupils (Resits arranged) Moral Stepping Stones – dilemmas To the notes – a brief history of moral thought…

Philosophy = Morality = Motive = Consequence = From the Greek ‘Philosophia’ meaning love of wisdom (ethics) the study of the concepts involved in practical reasoning – good, right, duty, obligation, virtue, freedom…. Intention, moral or goal that someone has for doing something The results or after-effects of an action…

Stepping Stones Game

Moral Stepping Stones Dilemma One Dilemma Two A pregnant woman leading a group of people out of a cave on a coast is stuck in the mouth of that cave. In a short time high tide will be upon them, and unless she is unstuck, they will all be drowned except the pregnant woman whose head is out of the cave. [But, fortunately, or unfortunately, someone has with them a stick of dynamite.] There seems no way to get the pregnant woman loose without using [that] dynamite which will inevitably kill her; but if they do not use it everyone will drown. What should they do? Dilemma Two Ronnie Smith, a quite competent swimmer, is out for a leisurely stroll. During the course of his walk he passes by a deserted pier from which a teenage boy who apparently cannot swim has fallen into the water. The boy is screaming for help.

To the Notes

(Moral) Relativism v Absolutism There is no objective standard of morality, that right & wrong are relative to time, place and person A Moral Command or prohibition that’s true for all time, in all places and in all situations. Absolutist Relativist

ABSOLUTISM v RELATIVISM Hands up for RELATIVISM! If you thought that all morals were relative, what is your view on Thomas Hamilton, Harold Shipman, the Twin Towers attacks, even Adolf Hitler? Do you see the difficulty?

ABSOLUTISM v RELATIVISM Hands up for Absolutism! If you thought that all morals were absolute (fixed), how do you explain that previously homosexuality was considered wrong, women voting wrong and slavery perfectly acceptable? We could add capital punishment, corporal punishment, child labour etc etc…. Do you see the difficulty?

TWO TYPES OF MORAL THEORY TELEOLOGICAL V DEONTOLOGICAL Teleological Theories look forward to the end of an act to decide what is right and wrong. Deontological Theories look backwards to decide right and wrong. TELOS = END MOTIVES / RULES

TWO TYPES OF MORAL THEORY TELEOLOGICAL / CONSEQUENTIALIST ACT DEONTOLOGICAL

GLOSSARY STOP! (MORAL) RELATIVISM (MORAL) ABSOLUTISM HEDONISM TELEOLOGICAL DEONTOLOGICAL INTRINSIC EXTRINSIC

Our Learning NAB returns for Dyce Pupils (Resits arranged) Moral Stepping Stones – dilemmas To the notes – a brief history of moral thought…