IES Campo San Alberto, D. Philosophy; M. Torres What MUST we do? Ethics: philosophical study of moral values.

M. Torres IES Campo San Alberto, D. Philosophy; Ethics: index. Some basic questions. Some basic questions. Basic definitions. Basic definitions. History of ethical perspectives: History of ethical perspectives: –Plato and Aristotle on virtue ethics. –Aquinas Christian version of virtue ethics: natural law and revelation. –Kant’s categorical imperative. –Utilitarianism and Bentham –Existentialism and J.P. Sartre. Conclusion: Conclusion: –A philosophical and personal task, What is right and wrong? –Human Rights: Minimal and universal ethics, a international and personal compromise.

M. Torres IES Campo San Alberto, D. Philosophy; Morality vs. ethics: a philosophical distinction. Morality is about personal values that guide our actions and decisions. Morality is generally under the influence of the culture, society and religion. Morality: first- order set of beliefs and practices about how to live a good life Morality is about personal values that guide our actions and decisions. Morality is generally under the influence of the culture, society and religion. Morality: first- order set of beliefs and practices about how to live a good life A moral statement (phrase) reflects my conception of what is good for me. A moral statement is always from the particular point of view of my society or religion. A moral statement (phrase) reflects my conception of what is good for me. A moral statement is always from the particular point of view of my society or religion. Ethics is the second-order, reflective consideration of our moral beliefs and practices. Ethics is the explicit, philosophical reflection on moral beliefs and practices. Ethics is the second-order, reflective consideration of our moral beliefs and practices. Ethics is the explicit, philosophical reflection on moral beliefs and practices. Ethics is a conscious stepping back and reflecting on morality, just as musicology is a conscious reflection on music. Ethics includes taking into account not only my own values but the values of OTHERS inside my own perspective. Ethics is a conscious stepping back and reflecting on morality, just as musicology is a conscious reflection on music. Ethics includes taking into account not only my own values but the values of OTHERS inside my own perspective. An ethical statement must respect the morality and RIGHTS of those that are around me. In general an ethical statement includes the respect of the Human Rights. An ethical statement must respect the morality and RIGHTS of those that are around me. In general an ethical statement includes the respect of the Human Rights. Ethics: a second-order, conscious reflection on the adequacy of our moral beliefs. Ethics: a second-order, conscious reflection on the adequacy of our moral beliefs.

M. Torres IES Campo San Alberto, D. Philosophy; Some basic questions about ethics. How do you know what to do? How do you know what to do? What do you think is right and wrong? Your opinion, where does come from? What do you think is right and wrong? Your opinion, where does come from? When you do something, which values are you using? Are you aware of the values you follow when acting? When you do something, which values are you using? Are you aware of the values you follow when acting? Are you free? Or do you follow what you were told by mama, your teacher… ? Are you free? Or do you follow what you were told by mama, your teacher… ? When someone acts wrongly, is his or her intention important or not? When someone acts wrongly, is his or her intention important or not? Are ethical and morality values guiding your life? Do they give sense to your life? Are aware of those values? Are ethical and morality values guiding your life? Do they give sense to your life? Are aware of those values?

M. Torres IES Campo San Alberto, D. Philosophy; Basic definitions: ethics and morality. A moral is a message conveyed or a lesson to be learned from a story or event. A moral is a message conveyed or a lesson to be learned from a story or event. Morality refers to the concept of human matters of right and wrong —"good and evil" — used within three contexts: Morality refers to the concept of human matters of right and wrong —"good and evil" — used within three contexts: –systems of principles and judgments —moral values —shared within a cultural, religious, secular or philosophical community; and –codes of behavior or conduct morality. –individual conscience; Personal morality defines and distinguishes among right and wrong intentions, motivations or actions, as these have been learned, engendered, or otherwise developed within each individual. Ethics (from Greek ἠθικός ēthikos, ἤθος ēthos "custom, habit"), a major branch of philosophy, is the study of values and customs of a person or group. It covers the analysis and employment of concepts such as right and wrong, good and evil, and responsibility. It is divided into three primary areas: Ethics (from Greek ἠθικός ēthikos, ἤθος ēthos "custom, habit"), a major branch of philosophy, is the study of values and customs of a person or group. It covers the analysis and employment of concepts such as right and wrong, good and evil, and responsibility. It is divided into three primary areas: –meta-ethics (the study of the concept of ethics), –normative ethics (the study of how to determine ethical values), and –applied ethics (the study of the use of ethical values).

M. Torres IES Campo San Alberto, D. Philosophy; Plato and Aristotle: “Be a good person” Virtue Ethics. Plato ( ) “Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws”. “Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws”. “If a man neglects education, he walks lame to the end of his life”. “If a man neglects education, he walks lame to the end of his life”. “Knowledge becomes evil if the aim be not virtuous”. “Knowledge becomes evil if the aim be not virtuous”. “The most virtuous are those who content themselves with being virtuous without seeking to appear so”. “The most virtuous are those who content themselves with being virtuous without seeking to appear so”. Aristotle ( ) “Happiness depends upon ourselves” “Happiness depends upon ourselves” “Dignity consists not in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them”. “Dignity consists not in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them”. “Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way... you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions”. “Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way... you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions”.

M. Torres IES Campo San Alberto, D. Philosophy; Aquinas natural law and revelation. Do what the Bible tells you “Because of the diverse conditions of humans, it happens that some acts are virtuous to some people, as appropriate and suitable to them, while the same acts are immoral for others, as inappropriate to them”. “Because of the diverse conditions of humans, it happens that some acts are virtuous to some people, as appropriate and suitable to them, while the same acts are immoral for others, as inappropriate to them”. “Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate”. “Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate”. “Human salvation demands the divine disclosure of truths surpassing reason”. “Human salvation demands the divine disclosure of truths surpassing reason”. “If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way”. “If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way”.

M. Torres IES Campo San Alberto, D. Philosophy; Kant’s categorical imperative. Do the right thing: The Ethics of Duty “A categorical imperative would be one which represented an action as objectively necessary in itself, without reference to any other purpose.” “A categorical imperative would be one which represented an action as objectively necessary in itself, without reference to any other purpose.” “Always recognize that human individuals are ends, and do not use them as means to your end.” “Always recognize that human individuals are ends, and do not use them as means to your end.” “So act that your principle of action might safely be made a law for the whole world.” “So act that your principle of action might safely be made a law for the whole world.” “It is not necessary that whilst I live I live happily; but it is necessary that so long as I live I should live honourably.” “It is not necessary that whilst I live I live happily; but it is necessary that so long as I live I should live honourably.”

M. Torres IES Campo San Alberto, D. Philosophy; Bentham and utilitarianism. Utilitarianism: Make the world a better place. “It is the greatest good to the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and wrong”. “It is the greatest good to the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and wrong”. “It is vain to talk of the interest of the community, without understanding what is the interest of the individual”. “It is vain to talk of the interest of the community, without understanding what is the interest of the individual”. “The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation”. “The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation”. “Every law is an infraction of liberty”. “Every law is an infraction of liberty”.

M. Torres IES Campo San Alberto, D. Philosophy; Determinism Determinism is the view that an individual's behavior is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces rather than an individual's will to do something. Determinism is the view that an individual's behavior is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces rather than an individual's will to do something. “Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will.” Jawaharlal Nehru quotes (Indian Prime Minister; ) “Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will.” Jawaharlal Nehru quotes (Indian Prime Minister; )

M. Torres IES Campo San Alberto, D. Philosophy; Existentialism and J.P. Sartre. Existentialism is a philosophical movement in which individual human beings are understood as having full responsibility for creating the meanings of their own lives. Existentialism is a philosophical movement in which individual human beings are understood as having full responsibility for creating the meanings of their own lives. J.P. Sartre (1905 – 1980): J.P. Sartre (1905 – 1980): –Sartre accepts the premise that something in the "Facticity" (i.e., the properties of an object or person as traditionally conceived and experienced) of an individual is valuable because the individual consciousness chooses to value it. Sartre denies that there are any objective standards on which to base values. –The individual consciousness is responsible for all the choices it makes, regardless of the consequences. Condemned to be free because man's actions and choices are his and his alone, he is condemned to be responsible for his free choices.

M. Torres IES Campo San Alberto, D. Philosophy; Ethics: a personal and philosophical task. After all these different ethical approaches: what do you think: what it is right and wrong? From where comes what you think is right and wrong? After all these different ethical approaches: what do you think: what it is right and wrong? From where comes what you think is right and wrong? In our days an ethical compromise is asked to each citizen, you included: In our days an ethical compromise is asked to each citizen, you included: –To vote in a democracy –To behave equally with any other human being –To denounce any behavior against the laws and civil rights.

M. Torres IES Campo San Alberto, D. Philosophy; Human rights: universal and minimal ethics. Human Rights: 1948 and UN. Human Rights: 1948 and UN. –State and Nations compromise. –Personal day by day compromise. –Universal ethical agreement. –Minimal ethical agreement. –Intention, goal not medium. –International agreement to educate human beings within a ethical living.