1. PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society
Week 1
Topic Outlines

2. Course Overview
This course examines the nature of philosophy and ethic’s relationship to it, including the issue of morality. Several ethical theories are applied to individual ethical problems and contemporary social issues, such as health care applications. Other moral issues, such as abortion, euthanasia, discrimination and animal rights, are addressed.
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3. Course Objectives
At the completion of this course, you will be able to:
Explain the relationship between philosophy, ethics, and morality.
Classify the characteristics, history, application, and importance of morality.
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4. Course Objectives (continued)
Describe several theories of morality and ethics (for example, ethical egoism, utilitarianism, divine command theory, Kant’s duty ethics, Ross’s prima facie duties, and virtue ethics). Explain consequential theories of morality.
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5. Course Objectives (continued)
Differentiate between absolutism versus relativism, as well as freedom versus determinism.
Explain reward and punishment in relationship to justice.
Define (or outline) the system of humanitarian ethics.
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6. Course Objectives (continued)
Analyze case studies to determine moral or immoral implications of actions and behaviors.
Synthesize the major ethical theories and the process by which they apply to current moral problems within our society.
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7. Course Text Thiroux, Jacques P. Ethics – Theory and Practice, 8th ed.
Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2004.
ISBN:
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8. Course Topics by Week Week 1 Course Expectations
Components and History of Morality – Chap. 1
Consequential Theories of Morality – Chap. 2
Theories of Morality and Virtue Ethics – Chap. 3
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9. Course Topics by Week Week 2 Absolutism versus Relativism – Chap. 4
An Analysis of Freedom versus Determinism – Chap. 5
Reward and Punishment – Chap. 6
Act of Setting Up a Moral System – Chap. 7
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10. Course Topics by Week Week 3
Moral Implications of Taking Human Life – Chap. 8
Moral Implications of Allowing Someone to Die – Chap. 9
Moral Implications of Abortion – Chap. 10
Applying Humanitarian Ethics
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11. Course Topics by Week Week 4
Moral Implications of Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing – Chap. 11
Morality, Marriage, and Human Sexuality – Chap. 12
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12. Course Topics by Week Week 5
Bioethics and the Ethical Issues in Medicine – Chap. 13
Business and Media Ethics – Business and Media Ethics – Chap. 14
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13. Course Topics by Week Week 6 Environmental Ethics – Chap. 15
Key Concepts and Major Ethical Theories – Appendixes
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14. Topic 1: Course Expectations
Philosophy, ethics, and morality
Relationships among philosophy, ethics, and morality
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15. Philosophy, Ethics, and Morality
Philosophy is concerned with:
Epistemology (study of knowledge)
Metaphysics (study of nature of reality)
Ethics (study of morality)
Ethics: What is right or wrong in human behavior and conduct
Morality: Human conduct and values
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16. Relationships among Philosophy, Ethics, and Morality
Ethics is a sub-area of philosophy.
“Ethical” and “moral” are often used interchangeably.
Ethics pertains to the individual character of a person.
Morality deals with relationships among people.
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17. Topic 2: Components and History of Morality
Approaches to the study of morality
Why human beings should be moral
Morality and the law; morality and religion
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18. Approaches to the Study of Morality
Values as totally objective – from external source
Supernatural theory
Natural law theory
World and objects in it have value without the presence of valuing humans
Values as totally subjective – from within human beings
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19. Approaches to the Study of Morality (continued)
Values as both subjective and objective
Includes three variables:
Thing of value, or thing valued
Conscious being who values
Context or situation in which valuing takes place
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20. Why Human Beings Should Be Moral
Religion or the supernatural
Enlightened self-interest
Tradition and law
Common human needs
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21. Morality and the Law; Morality and Religion
Law provides guides to human behavior and protection from harm.
What is moral is not necessarily legal.
What is legal is not necessarily moral.
Law is the public codification of morality.
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22. Morality and the Law; Morality and Religion (continued)
Religion has served as a most powerful sanction for getting people to behave morally.
Morality is not based solely on religion.
Difficulty of proving supernatural existence
Nonreligious people can be moral
Difficulty of providing a rational foundation
Which religion?
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23. Topic 3: Consequential Theories of Morality
Consequentialist and nonconsequentialist views of morality
Three types of ethical egoism
Two types of utilitarianism
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24. Consequentialist and Nonconsequentialist Views of Morality
Consequentialist ethical theories – based on or concerned with consequences; also called teleological theories
Nonconsequentialist ethical theories – not based on or concerned with consequences; also called deontological theories
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25. Three Types of Ethical Egoism
Ethical egoism – people should act in their own self-interest
Three types:
Individual – everyone should act in my self-interest
Personal – I ought to act in my self interest
Universal – everyone should act in his or her self-interest
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26. Two Types of Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism – people should act in the best interest of all concerned
Two types:
Act – one should perform that act that brings about the greatest good for everyone affected
Rule – one should follow the rule that will bring about the greatest number of good consequences for all involved
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27. Topic 4: Theories of Morality and Virtue Ethics
Nonconsequentialist and Virtue Ethics theories of morality and consequentialist theories
Nonconsequentialism and the divine command theory, Kant’s duty ethics, Ross’s prima facie duties, and virtue ethics
Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics and John Rawl’s theory of justice
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28. Nonconsequentialist & Virtue Ethics theories of morality vs
Nonconsequentialist & Virtue Ethics theories of morality vs. Consequentialist theories
Nonconsequentialist theories – consequences do not and should not enter into judgment of morality
Two types:
Act – there are no rules
Rule – following the rules is what is moral
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29. Virtue Ethics are not concerned with consequences or rules.
Nonconsequentialist & Virtue Ethics theories of morality vs. Consequentialist theories
Virtue Ethics – development of a moral or virtuous character by doing what a good person would do
Virtue Ethics are not concerned with consequences or rules.
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30. Divine Command theory, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Ross’s Prima Facie duties, Virtue Ethics
Divine Command theory – morality is based on commands and prohibitions communicated by a supernatural being or beings.
To be moral, humans must follow these commands without concern for consequences, self-interest, or anything else.
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31. Divine Command theory, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Ross’s Prima Facie duties, Virtue Ethics (continued)
Good will – human ability to act in accordance with rules, laws, or principles regardless of interests or consequences
Establishing morality by reasoning alone – absolute moral truths exist that are consistent and universal
Categorical Imperative – a rule is immoral if it cannot apply to all humans
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32. Kant’s Duty Ethics (continued)
Divine Command theory, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Ross’s Prima Facie duties, Virtue Ethics (continued)
Kant’s Duty Ethics (continued)
Practical Imperative – no human being should be used merely as a means to someone’s end
Duty rather than inclination – people must act out of a sense of duty
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33. Divine Command theory, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Ross’s Prima Facie duties, Virtue Ethics (continued)
Ross’s Prima Facie duties: all humans must obey in a general way before any other considerations
Fidelity – telling the truth, keeping promises
Reparation – making amends
Gratitude – recognizing what others have done for us
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34. Ross’s Prima Facie duties (continued)
Divine Command theory, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Ross’s Prima Facie duties, Virtue Ethics (continued)
Ross’s Prima Facie duties (continued)
Justice – seeing that people get what they deserve
Beneficence – helping to improve the condition of others
Self-improvement – improving our own virtue, intelligence and happiness
Nonmaleficence – not injuring others, preventing injury to others
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35. Virtue Ethics: based on Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics
Divine Command theory, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Ross’s Prima Facie duties, Virtue Ethics (continued)
Virtue Ethics: based on Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics
Goal is the development of a good or virtuous human being; an action is not right or good in itself.
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36. Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics and John Rawl’s Theory of Justice
Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics: human beings have natural ethical tendencies in human beings; to follow them with a general attitude of consistent harmony and proportion constitutes an ethical life.
Virtue is the mean between two extremes (vices).
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37. Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics and John Rawl’s Theory of Justice
John Rawl’s Theory of Justice: rights are given to humans by a just society in which no one has an unfair advantage over others.
Principles that shape society are agreed upon without regard to our place in that society.
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38. Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics and John Rawl’s Theory of Justice
Rawl’s two basic principles:
Equality principle – each person has equal rights to maximum liberty compatible with the same amount of liberty for everyone else.
Difference principle – inequality is permissible to the extent that it is to everyone’s advantage.
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39. Week 1 Thiroux, Jacques P. Ethics – Theory and Practice, 8th ed.
Chapters 1-3
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