2. 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

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

4. 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…

5. Stepping Stones Game

6. 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.

7. To the Notes

8. (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

9. 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?

10. 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?

11. 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

12. TWO TYPES OF MORAL THEORY
TELEOLOGICAL /
CONSEQUENTIALIST
ACT
DEONTOLOGICAL

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

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