1. Philosophy 111 What is Philosophy? What is Philosophy? Critical inquiry into the fundamental nature of “stuff”. Critical inquiry into the fundamental nature of “stuff”.

2. Ethics  Also called “moral philosophy”  Branch of philosophy concerned with the evaluation of human conduct

3. Ethics  "Ethics is a code of values which guide our choices and actions and determine the purpose and course of our lives.“ --- Ayn Rand

4. Ethics vs. Morality  “Morality” deals with beliefs concerning right and wrong  These beliefs can include: -judgments -values -rules -principles -theories  “Ethics” is the philosophical study of morality

5. Ethics - What ought we do - What type of person ought we become

6. Ethics How do we know right from wrong? How do we know right from wrong? Where do we our ethical beliefs come from? Where do we our ethical beliefs come from?

7. What does ‘doing ethics’ mean?  Deliberating about the rightness or wrongness of actions  Examining the soundness of your (and other people’s) moral outlook  Questioning whether your moral decision- making rests on coherent supporting considerations

8. Ethics Usually divided into three general areas Usually divided into three general areas 1. Meta-ethics 2. Normative ethics 3. Applied ethics

9. Meta-ethics Investigates the origin of our ethical principles and what they imply Investigates the origin of our ethical principles and what they imply - Are Ethics merely social inventions? - Are Ethics merely social inventions? - Are there moral facts? - Are there moral facts? - Why should we do the “right” thing? - Why should we do the “right” thing?

10. Normative Ethics Arrives at moral standards that regulate right and wrong conduct Arrives at moral standards that regulate right and wrong conduct - How do we decide what is right from wrong? - What good habits should we acquire? - What duty do we have to others?

11. Applied Ethics Examines specific controversial issues Examines specific controversial issues Examples: Examples: -- Abortion -- Abortion -- Capital punishment -- Capital punishment -- War -- War -- Animal rights -- Animal rights

12. Elements of Ethics What is it about ethics that make it unique?

13. Elements of Ethics 1. Preeminence of Reason

14. Elements of Ethics 2. Universal Perspective

15. Elements of Ethics 3. Principle of Impartiality

16. Elements of Ethics 4. Dominance of Moral Norms