Ethics “Everything has been figured out- except how to live.” Jean Paul Sartre “Everything has been figured out- except how to live.” Jean Paul Sartre

What should I do? “Ethical axioms are found and tested not very differently from the axioms of science. Truth is what stands of experience.” - A Einstein How do we think about what is right or wrong, or good or bad? “Ethical axioms are found and tested not very differently from the axioms of science. Truth is what stands of experience.” - A Einstein How do we think about what is right or wrong, or good or bad?

How did you come to know what is right and wrong?  Write a brief (and solitary)reflection on how you learned, or developed your moral compass…

More than personal questions…  Social questions:  Should drugs be legalized?  Is abortion justified?  Are there limits to free speech?  Is there such a thing as ‘just war’?  Social questions:  Should drugs be legalized?  Is abortion justified?  Are there limits to free speech?  Is there such a thing as ‘just war’?

Can we talk about ‘moral knowledge’?  What works of ethics exist? Is it just criticism? Is anything produced?  Skeptics claim that most morals and judgments are matters of taste  ie: torture is acceptable/torture is unacceptable or I like spinach/I don’t like spinach  What works of ethics exist? Is it just criticism? Is anything produced?  Skeptics claim that most morals and judgments are matters of taste  ie: torture is acceptable/torture is unacceptable or I like spinach/I don’t like spinach

But…we do not ask for taste justifications  Obviously we take value judgments a bit more seriously-  Justifications for: suspension, plastic surgery, stealing, being rude, cheating…  Obviously we take value judgments a bit more seriously-  Justifications for: suspension, plastic surgery, stealing, being rude, cheating…

4 systems  Moral Principle  Or the idea that there is a universal right and wrong  Moral Principle  Or the idea that there is a universal right and wrong

Examples of ethical arguments/justifications  Cheating on a test is wrong Tom cheated on a test Therefore Tom is wrong What is the moral principle?  Cheating on a test is wrong Tom cheated on a test Therefore Tom is wrong What is the moral principle?

Other principles?  Paula shouldn’t have kept the money she found. It doesn’t belong to her.  Danny is malicious- he’s been spreading rumors about everyone.  Marco shouldn’t have told that joke- it wasn’t funny, it was racist.  Paula shouldn’t have kept the money she found. It doesn’t belong to her.  Danny is malicious- he’s been spreading rumors about everyone.  Marco shouldn’t have told that joke- it wasn’t funny, it was racist.

So, moral principles are one path to ethical decisions  Two problems-  Not always clear if we disagree on the principle, or on the facts and consistency of application  Two problems-  Not always clear if we disagree on the principle, or on the facts and consistency of application

When arguing about ethics, two common themes:  Consistency in judgments  Veracity of facts which support judgments  Consistency in judgments  Veracity of facts which support judgments

Consistency?  Anti-abortionist who supports the death penalty  Vegetarian who buys leather shoes  Socialist who educates his children at a private school  Politician who espouses family values but has an extra marital affair  Anti-abortionist who supports the death penalty  Vegetarian who buys leather shoes  Socialist who educates his children at a private school  Politician who espouses family values but has an extra marital affair

Values disputes are often about facts, more than values  What facts are relevant in assessing the following?  Child labor should be outlawed.  Marijuana should be legalized  Genetically modified food should be banned.  Rich countries should give more financial aid to poor countries.  What facts are relevant in assessing the following?  Child labor should be outlawed.  Marijuana should be legalized  Genetically modified food should be banned.  Rich countries should give more financial aid to poor countries.

Problem: We do not all share moral principles  Perhaps our values have no ultimate justification?  Moral Relativism, or Self Interest, as ultimates…  Perhaps our values have no ultimate justification?  Moral Relativism, or Self Interest, as ultimates…

Moral Relativism  Our values are determined by the society we grow up in. No universal. Just codified customs.  Arguments for:  Diversity ( sheer variety of principles…)  Lack of Foundation (No independent moral reality to test against- no perception or reason!!!)  Your arguments for?  Our values are determined by the society we grow up in. No universal. Just codified customs.  Arguments for:  Diversity ( sheer variety of principles…)  Lack of Foundation (No independent moral reality to test against- no perception or reason!!!)  Your arguments for?

Which of the following would you say are morally wrong, and which are matters of convention?  You should not burn your country’s flag.  A man should not go to work wearing a dress.  You should not torture the innocent.  You should not have sex with an animal.  You should not execute adulterers.  You should not execute murderers.  You should not eat meat.  You should not burn your country’s flag.  A man should not go to work wearing a dress.  You should not torture the innocent.  You should not have sex with an animal.  You should not execute adulterers.  You should not execute murderers.  You should not eat meat.

 “Tis not contrary to reason to prefer the destruction of the whole world to the scratching of my finger” -David Hume

Objections to moral relativism  Your objections?  Although it seems to deny cultural imperialism, tolerance may be a cultural value…  Tale of the thugs…  Your objections?  Although it seems to deny cultural imperialism, tolerance may be a cultural value…  Tale of the thugs…

What values do you think might be universal?  Think of the shared values of the world’s religions  Just as a color blind person cannot see red, is it possible to say that a values blind person cannot see right from wrong?  Think of the shared values of the world’s religions  Just as a color blind person cannot see red, is it possible to say that a values blind person cannot see right from wrong?

Self Interest theory  …we all know people are basically selfish!  Definitional: people always end up doing what they most want to do (tennis or help the old lady? Donald Trump or Mother Theresa?)  …we all know people are basically selfish!  Definitional: people always end up doing what they most want to do (tennis or help the old lady? Donald Trump or Mother Theresa?)

criticisms  Robs ‘selfish’ of meaning  Can’t we get pleasure out of others’ pleasures?  Robs ‘selfish’ of meaning  Can’t we get pleasure out of others’ pleasures?

Evolutionary self interest  “The Selfish Gene”  Looking at capitalism vs socialism- which won out?  Criticism: empathy seems to be a positive evolutionary trait…  “The Selfish Gene”  Looking at capitalism vs socialism- which won out?  Criticism: empathy seems to be a positive evolutionary trait…

Other possible universal explanations  Hidden benefits - ?  Fear of Punishment - the ring of Gyges  If you could commit a crime which would harm no one, and with no fear of being caught, would you?  Hidden benefits - ?  Fear of Punishment - the ring of Gyges  If you could commit a crime which would harm no one, and with no fear of being caught, would you?

 Kant - Categorical Imperative  Mills - Principle of Utility (the happiness principle)  Religious ethics - examples…how different from other explanations?  Kant - Categorical Imperative  Mills - Principle of Utility (the happiness principle)  Religious ethics - examples…how different from other explanations?

Kant’s moral theory  Single moral obligation: ‘the categorical imperative’  This is intrinsically valid, and all moral choices flow from this  All actions depend on intention. All actions must be chosen as if they were part of a universal law of nature  ‘Let justice reign even if all the rascals of the world perish from it’  Single moral obligation: ‘the categorical imperative’  This is intrinsically valid, and all moral choices flow from this  All actions depend on intention. All actions must be chosen as if they were part of a universal law of nature  ‘Let justice reign even if all the rascals of the world perish from it’

 Mill on Utilitarianism  The Greatest Happiness Principle:  “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness”  Mill on Utilitarianism  The Greatest Happiness Principle:  “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness”

Choose one question to write on  Does history carry any ethical responsibility? Take as an example the points of view of countries at war.  Discuss 3 examples of how feelings can alter one’s ethical perspective.  How do you apply reason in ethics. How can that differ from another perspective?  Does history carry any ethical responsibility? Take as an example the points of view of countries at war.  Discuss 3 examples of how feelings can alter one’s ethical perspective.  How do you apply reason in ethics. How can that differ from another perspective?

Write a reflection  Assess the categorical imperative, the happiness principle, the idea of universal moral principles, and the idea of moral relativism as you see them applied in the world.  Which system do you find most useful? How do you think our society decides ethical issues, in the realm of law?  Assess the categorical imperative, the happiness principle, the idea of universal moral principles, and the idea of moral relativism as you see them applied in the world.  Which system do you find most useful? How do you think our society decides ethical issues, in the realm of law?

Examples of religious ethics?