1. Basic Moral Perspectives
Chapter 12 ,Part 2
Basic Moral Perspectives
Six basic “takes” on the criteria of right and wrong
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We’ve seen there is room for reasoning about moral questions>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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Is an individual applying a general principle to a specific case?
If so, what is it?
Is it reasonable?
Is the argument valid?
Is he/she treating similar cases in a similar way?
If apparently not, the burden is on him/her to explain how they are different.
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4. This brings us to the most basic of all moral principles.
“Basic Moral Perspectives”
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Perspective # 1
“Moral relativism”
What makes something right or wrong is what one’s society thinks.
Example: Does your society think extra-marital sex is wrong? Then it IS wrong for you to have extra-marital sex.
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Problems!
What counts as a society???
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Even within a society there usually are conflicting views about what is right or wrong.
e.g., conflicting views within American society about gay marriage.
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Suppose your society thinks it is o.k. to kill Americans.
Then, as an American, I think it is WRONG for you to kill Americans. But as a Relativist, I think it is RIGHT for you to kill Americans.
Moral Relativism seems to put me in a contradictory position!
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9. “Religious Relativism”
Perspective # 2
“Religious Relativism”
What makes something right or wrong is what one’s religion thinks.
Example: Does your religion think pre-marital sex is wrong? Then it IS wrong for people in your religion.
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10. Similar problems as with Perspective # 1
What counts as a religion? Are Catholics and Protestants one religion or two? Are you still a Christian if you haven’t gone to church in umpteen years, etc.
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Even within a religion there usually are conflicting views about what is right or wrong.
e.g., conflicts within the United Church of Christ about gay marriage.
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As a Catholic (say), I believe Allah is a false God and should not be worshipped, period.
But as a religious relativist, I believe Muslims should worship Allah.
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13. “Religious Absolutism” (Divine Command Ethics)
Perspective # 3
“Religious Absolutism” (Divine Command Ethics)
What makes something right or wrong is what “the correct” religion thinks.
Example: Does the correct religion think pre-marital sex is wrong? Then it IS wrong, period. For everyone.
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Main problem:
Which religion is “correct”?
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Perspective # 4
“Consequentialism”
What makes an act right or wrong is its outcome.
Always act so as to maximize happiness! (Known as “Utilitarianism.”)
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Problem:
It seems some actions are wrong regardless of their outcomes.
For example, wouldn’t slavery be wrong even if the sum-total of happiness in the world would be greater with slavery?
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17. “Deontological Ethics”
Perspective # 5
“Deontological Ethics”
Right/wrong are intrinsic properties of an act.
Example: It is wrong for anyone anywhere to break a promise.
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Problem:
How do you KNOW which acts are intrinsically good or right?
One answer: Those acts in which you treat others as ends, not as means.
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Perspective # 6
“Virtue Ethics”
VE identifies the characteristics of the ethically best life.
Then it says that one should develop those traits (“virtues”) that best enable one to lead such a life.
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For example, the ethically best life would involve being honest with others, lending a helping hand, and so forth.
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Problem:
What is the “ethically best life”?
We can’t say, unless we know what the purpose of life is.
But who is to say what that is?
And perhaps there is no “purpose” of life to begin with.
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22. Review: Six Ethical Perspectives:
Moral Relativism
Religious Relativism
Religious Absolutism
Consequentialism (Utilitarianism is the most famous version)
Deontological Ethics
Virtue Ethics
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Exercise!
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24. What perspective does this reflect?
“Yes, many innocent civilians have been killed in Iraq. But in the long run, the world will be a better place if Iraq is a free country.”
What perspective does this reflect?
Consequentialism
Moral relativism
Deontological ethics
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25. What perspective does this reflect?
“Sure, we might benefit from expanding Highway 99. But it’s wrong to seize someone’s property. The right to your property is the most basic right of all!”
What perspective does this reflect?
Consequentialism
Moral relativism
Deontological ethics
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26. What perspective does this reflect?
“Sure, we might benefit from expanding Highway 99. But it’s wrong to seize someone’s property, at least in this country. In our society, property rights are fundamental.
What perspective does this reflect?
Consequentialism
Moral relativism
Deontological ethics
None of the above
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27. What perspective does this reflect?
“Sure, we might benefit from expanding Highway 99. But it’s wrong to seize someone’s property! You have a God-given right to own property.”
What perspective does this reflect?
Consequentialism
Moral relativism
Deontological ethics
None of the above
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28. What perspective does this reflect?
“If a company doesn’t want to hire a woman, nobody should force it to. A company has a right to hire whomever they want!”
What perspective does this reflect?
Consequentialism
Moral relativism
Deontological ethics
None of the above
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29. What perspective does this reflect?
“You have to balance a person’s rights against the common good. Pornography isn’t good for a society, and we should get rid of it.”
What perspective does this reflect?
Consequentialism
Moral relativism
Deontological ethics
None of the above
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30. What perspective does this reflect?
“Gay marriage? I think it is only fair! The right to happiness is a basic human right.”
What perspective does this reflect?
Consequentialism
Moral relativism
Deontological ethics
None of the above
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31. What perspective does this reflect?
“Gay marriage? I am against it. Once gays start marrying, next thing brothers and sisters will get married. Then moms and sons. Society will come apart at the seams.
What perspective does this reflect?
Consequentialism
Moral relativism
Deontological ethics
None of the above
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Overall summary:
Value judgment/moral v.j.
Moral principle
Two principles of moral reasoning
Moral relativism
Religious relativism
Religious absolutism
Consequentialism
Deontological ethics
Virtue ethics
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