1. Philosophy 2030 Spring, 2016 Class #4
Title: Introduction to Ethics
Instructor: Paul Dickey
Address:
Assignment for Thursday, 3/24
Nina Rosenstand, The Moral of the Story: An Introduction to Ethics, 7th Edition, Chapter 9, pp
Portfolio Project #2

2. On Thursday, 3/24, we will view the movie Honor Diaries at 10:30 A
On Thursday, 3/24, we will view the movie Honor Diaries at 10:30 A.M in Room Prior to class, please review the trailer on this site:
WARNING: Honor Diaries is more than a movie, it is a movement to save women and girls from human rights abuses – around the world and here in America. In so doing, it discusses some traditional practices in certain religious communities in a negative light. In particular, it has offended some adherents of Islam. On the other hand, it has been staunchly defended by other Muslim leaders. In no way should the presentation of this movie be misinterpreted as being “anti-Muslim.”

3. Student Portfolio: Assignment #2 Virtue or Conduct?
In 2-3 paragraphs each, describe two moral choices that you made in the last few weeks and evaluate if they were examples of you acting out of a core nature of being a virtuous person, or as an independent act of conduct based on a principle of action that just seemed to be the right thing to do given the situation? For example, perhaps you chose to tell the truth when telling a lie would have “got you out of trouble.” Was your fundamental motivation to act from personal and permanent virtue or was it primarily an independent choice that you should “do the right thing?” at this time? Is this a difference that makes a difference to you?

4. Are emotions rational? Sherman Alexie, Smoke Screens
Brief Discussion
Are emotions rational?
Is “story telling” moral or immoral?
Can one “tell the truth” though
fiction? 4

5. Video –
Ethics:
What is Right?

6. Plato & Socrates: What is the Nature of a Virtuous Character?
What makes an Act Moral or Good?
What is the Good Life?
How Should We Live?
What Makes Life Worth Living, that is, Good?

7. What is the Good Life? Wealth? The Love of Family & Friends?
Job Satisfaction?
Security & Being Protected?
Adventure & Challenge?
Having Purpose?
Fulfillment?
Seeking the Truth?
Obeying God (or “the gods”)?
Perhaps all (or at least many) of these are necessary but not individually (or perhaps even combined) are not enough.
Socrates continually probed for what is the one essential thing that makes life good!

8. the Socratic Search for How to Live
Plato’s Dialogues &
the Socratic Search for How to Live
Plato’s dialogues demonstrate Socrates’ pursuit of how one should live. He is asking the question:
WHAT IS THE GOOD LIFE?
In The Apology, Socrates claims that the wisest man is he who knows he does not know. The unexamined life is not worth living. It is better to obey God than man. His pursuit of philosophy is following the instruction of God.
In Crito, Socrates is awaiting execution in his prison. Crito arrives and tries to persuade Socrates to escape. In order he says to act on reason alone, he asks Crito what is right and wrong. Socrates argues we must obey the laws of the society in which we live.

9. Plato
Plato is history's first great philosopher because, among other reasons, he provided the first set of answers to some of the largest and most difficult questions: What is the structure of reality? What can be known for certain? What is moral virtue? What is the nature of the ideal state?
No philosopher before Plato had ever attempted such a wide and deep exploration of philosophical problems.

10. Is Morality an issue of character or conduct?
That is, does one do the right thing because one has a virtuous character, or does one have a virtuous character because they consistently do the right thing?
Or, saying this another way, in studying ethics should we focus on acts of conduct and determine what makes an act moral, or should we focus on virtue to determine what makes a person good, such that guarantees that her actions will be good.

11. Plato & The Tripartite Soul
For Plato, humans have a nonphysical or material soul or self. That is a person’s essence. And the fundamental nature of that essence is the pursuit of reason.
Yet Plato contends that since reason often conflicts with our desires (or appetites) and that either of these can conflict with our aggressiveness or spirit, each of these comprise one of three main elements of our soul (self).
Thus, the soul is composed of three necessary elements which must be kept in balance for happiness and goodness. Different virtues are reflected in each of the three parts of the soul – wisdom from reason, courage from our spirit, and temperance from our desires.