Introduction to Ethics!

One thing that distinguishes us HUMANS from other animals is our ability to make MORAL DECISIONS.

We deliberate before making choices. We may feel GUILT when we do things that we feel are wrong. Sometimes we are motivated to TAKE GREAT RISKS because of what

we believe is right. HUMANS HAVE A MORAL DIMENSION.

What are Morals? The term Morality comes from the LATIN word moralis and is concerned with WHICH actions are RIGHT and which actions are WRONG. (Rather than the character of the person.)

What is Ethics? Ethics comes from the GREEK word ethikos meaning “character”. It may be translated as “Custom”. It refers to the customary way to behave in society. Ethics: the principles (laws / rules) by which people live their lives.

Ethics .. Morals …. Which word do I use?

“Today the two terms are often used interchangeably.” AQA “Ethics is a branch of philosophy concerned with Morality”

Ethics can be broadly divided into

ETHICAL THEORY & PRACTICAL (or applied) ETHICS.

What do YOU think is the difference between Ethical Theory and Practical Ethics?

Ethical Theory

This covers Religious and Philosophical systems or methods for making moral decisions or analysing moral statements.

Practical / Applied Ethics

This focuses on debates about specific dilemmas i.e. Abortion and Euthanasia.

Ethical Theory … 3 ways of ‘doing’ ethics!

1. The Normative approach 2. The Descriptive approach 3. Metaethics

norm (nôrm) n. 1. A standard, model, or pattern regarded as typical: the current middle-class norm of two children per family. 2. Mathematics a. A mode. b. An average.

prev·a·lent adj. Widely or commonly occurring, existing, accepted, or practiced.

Normative ethics was prevalent until the end of the 19th century. It begins by asking …What things are good / bad, What kind of behaviour is right / wrong.

TRADITION “Is sex before marriage right?”

Descriptive Ethics … Describes and compares the different ways in which people and societies have answered moral questions.. It can be described as moral sociology! Or moral anthropology!

“What do Muslim, Christian and Sikh traditions teach about sex before marriage?”

Metaethics is sometimes called PHILOSOPHICAL ethics. It’s a modern approach (21st century) to doing ethics! Metaethics /philosophical ethics explores the meaning and function of MORAL LANGUAGE.

What do we mean when we use the words such as “good”, “bad”, “right”, “wrong” ? “What do we mean when we say that sex before marriage is good?”

We have to be careful not to use judgmental terms in metaethics, because they are inherently part of normative ethics. All we're allowed to use in our discussion of metaethics are descriptive and logical terms.

Here are 3 statements … identify the ethical approach that best fits these phrases.

1. “Adultery is wrong because God’s law forbids it.”

2. “When you are say euthanasia is wrong, you’re only saying you don’t like euthanasia.”

3. “In some Muslim communities men may take up to four wives, while in most Christian communities only one wife is permitted.”

Colour code the following KEY TERMS: Deontological, Absolutist, Relativist, Subjective, Objective.

Absolutism and Relativism ~ which statements are which?

1. Believes that there are moral commands that are true for all time, in all places and in all

situations .

(absolute)

2. Things are right or wrong and cannot change

(absolute)

3. Things are good or bad depending on the circumstances of the situation

(relative)

4. Torturing children, rape and murder are always wrong. They don’t change according to the

culture in which you live.

(absolute)

5. There are no values that cut across all cultures and peoples

(relative)

6. Immoral acts are intrinsically wrong, which means wrong in themselves

(absolute)

7. There is no objective knowledge, because all knowledge depends on the perception of the

person. Similarly, there is no objective truth; truth is only true for you, or true for me

(relative)

8. There isn’t just one set of moral that everyone agrees with or follows

(relative)

Use these statements to work out the strengths and weakness of absolutism and relativism.

Ethical Theories e.g (Utilitarianism and situation Ethics) are based upon Religious and Philosophical systems for making moral decisions.

Over to you …