1. Introduction to Ehics and Human Rights
HU141_Lecture 2
Introduction to Ehics and Human Rights

2. Outline Introduction to Ehics and Human Rights
Ethics and the Domains of Human Action
Approaches to Ethical Decision-making
Theories: “Universalism” and “Relativism”
, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

3. Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics
Ethics
The code of moral principles that govern the behaviors of a person or group with respect to what is right or wrong.
Ethics exist in three interacting domains: Legal – Social – Personal.
Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

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Domains of Ethics
Overlapping
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5. Legal Domain: Illustrative Examples
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6. Egyptian Rent Control Law
Rent control exists in approximately 40 countries around the world.
This legal code fixes rent and inhibits eviction.
Rent control restricts the property rights of the property owners.
In Egypt (Old Law) created an acceptable social standard: A rental property is practically owned by the tenant and his/her heirs.
HU 141, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

7. Legal Standards: China One-child Policy
The policy was introduced in 1978 and initially applied to first-born children in 1979.
It was created by the Chinese government to alleviate social, economic, and environmental problems in China,
Authorities claim that the policy has prevented more than 250 million births from its implementation to 2000.
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Please for the sake of your country, use birth control
Sign put up by the government. Found in the entry to the alley slums in Nanchang. These slums are where the pregnant women hide from the government officials enforcing the one child policy.
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9. USA Legalized Abortion
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10. Abortion laws in the U.S. before 1973
Its legalization became the most divisive issues in U.S. society.
HU 141, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

11. HU 141, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics
Country Divided
Year
Pro-life
Pro-choice
2008
43%
51%
2009
45%
48%
2010
46%
HU 141, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

12. Social Domain: Illustrative Examples
HU 141, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

13. Social Standards: Marriage
Same-sex
Hindu
Jewish
Mormon
Muslim
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14. Personal Domain: Illustrative Examples
HU 141, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

15. Social Standards: Football Hooliganism
Hooliganism is the disorderly and violent behavior of football fans.
England: in 1314, Edward II banned football because he believed the disorder surrounding matches might lead to social unrest.
Egypt and Algeria 2009
HU 141, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

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Personal Standards:
No to Drugs
Giving Charity
Tax Evasion
Wearing Veil
Self-esteem
etc
factors
What is Right for One may be
Wrong for Another
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17. What is the ideal situation?
Explicit Control
What is the ideal situation?
Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

18. Three Domains of Ethics
Domain of Certified Law
(Legal Standard)
Domain of Ethics
(Social Standard)
Domain of Free Choice
(Personal Standard)
Amount of
Explicit Control
High
Low
HU 141, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

19. HU 141, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics
Approaches
Utilitarian - greatest good to the greatest number of people
Individualism - primary commitment is to one’s long term self-interests
Moral-rights - respect the fundamental rights of people
Justice - ethical decisions treat people fairly according to rules
HU 141, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

20. Ehical Decesion-making
Approaches to
Ehical Decesion-making
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1. Utilitarian Approach
Moral behavior produces the greatest good for the greatest number
Critics ask if the common good is squeezing the life out of the individual
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22. 2. Individualism Approach
Acts are moral when they promote the individual's best long-term interests, which ultimately leads to the greater good
Individual self-direction paramount
Individualism is believed to lead to honesty & integrity since that works best in the long run.
Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

23. 3. Moral-Rights Approach
Moral decisions are those that best maintain the rights of those people affected by them.
An ethical decision is one that avoids interfering with the fundamental rights of others
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24. The Six (European) Moral Rights
The right of free consent
The right to privacy
The right of freedom of conscience
The right of free speech
The right to due process
The right to life & safety
HU 141, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

25. The Islamic Moral Rights:
preservation of religion;
preservation of life;
preservation of progeny;
preservation of the intellect;
preservation of wealth.
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26. 3. Justice Approach
Moral Decisions must be based on standards of equity, fairness, impartiality
Three types of Justice Approaches:
Distributive Justice
Procedural Justice
Compensatory Justice

27. Distributive Justice
Different treatment of people should not be based on arbitrary characteristics
In case of substantive differences, people should be treated differently in proportion to the differences among them

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Procedural Justice
Rules should be clearly stated
Rules should be consistently and impartially enforced
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Compensatory Justice
Individuals should be compensated for the cost of their injuries by the party responsible
Individuals should not be held responsible for matters they have no control over
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30. Are Ethical Standards Universal Dependent on Local Norms?
World View Theories 
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World View
Worldview establishes the foundation that individuals rely on to form their ethics.
Two opposing views:
A belief that humans are created beings accountable to a creator.
A belief that humans evolved as the result of a chance event.
Creationism
Evolution
HU 141, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

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Two Theories:
Ethical Universalism Theory 
Ethical Relativism Theory 
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Universalism
Same ethical standards applies to ALL people regardless:
Local traditions and
Cultural norms
Thus, common ethical standards should be adopted
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34. Kant Theory: “Categorical imperatives ”
Categorical imperatives are principles that are intrinsically valid; they are good in and of themselves;
They must be obeyed in all, and by all, situations and circumstances if our behavior is to observe the moral law.
It is from the Categorical Imperative that all other moral obligations are generated, and by which all moral obligations can be tested.
Immanuel Kant
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Relativism
Ethical relativism is the theory
that holds that morality is relative to the norms
of one's culture.
That is, whether an action is right or wrong depends on the moral norms of the society in which it is practiced.
The same action may be morally right in one society but be morally wrong in another.
Ethical behavior is always determined by cultural context
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Cultural Context
Different societies/cultures/countries
Place more/less emphasis on some values than others
Have different standards of right and wrong
Have different social mores and behavioral norms
What is ethical or unethical
Must be judged in light of local  customs and social mores and
Can vary from one country to another
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For the ethical relativist, there are no universal moral standards -- standards that can be universally applied to all peoples at all times.
The only moral standards against which a society's practices can be judged are its own. If ethical relativism is correct, there can be no common framework for resolving moral disputes or for reaching agreement on ethical matters among members of different societies.
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38. . . . that which is perceived as “Universal” is Human
Human Rights
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39. Universalism Ethical Imperialism
An attempt to externally impose one’s ethical standards on others.
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40. Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics
Thanks
Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics