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Week 1, PHIL2 1.2
Course OverviewThis 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.
Week 1, PHIL2 1.3
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.
Week 1, PHIL2 1.4
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.
Week 1, PHIL2 1.5
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.
Week 1, PHIL2 1.6
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.
Week 1, PHIL2 1.7
Course Text
Thiroux, Jacques P.Ethics – Theory and Practice, 8th ed. Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2004.ISBN: 0-13-183002-3
Week 1, PHIL2 1.8
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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.9
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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.10
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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.11
Course Topics by Week
Week 4 Moral Implications of Lying,
Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing – Chap. 11
Morality, Marriage, and Human Sexuality – Chap. 12
Week 1, PHIL2 1.12
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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.13
Course Topics by Week
Week 6 Environmental Ethics – Chap. 15 Key Concepts and Major Ethical
Theories – Appendixes
Week 1, PHIL2 1.14
Topic 1: Course Expectations
Philosophy, ethics, and morality Relationships among philosophy,
ethics, and morality
Week 1, PHIL2 1.15
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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.16
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.
Week 1, PHIL2 1.17
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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.18
Approaches to the Studyof 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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.19
Approaches to the Studyof 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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.20
Why Human Beings Should Be Moral
Religion or the supernatural Enlightened self-interest Tradition and law Common human needs
Week 1, PHIL2 1.21
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.
Week 1, PHIL2 1.22
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?
Week 1, PHIL2 1.23
Topic 3: Consequential Theories of Morality
Consequentialist and nonconsequentialist views of morality
Three types of ethical egoism Two types of utilitarianism
Week 1, PHIL2 1.24
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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.25
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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.26
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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.27
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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.28
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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.29
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.
Week 1, PHIL2 1.30
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.
Week 1, PHIL2 1.31
Divine Command theory, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Ross’s Prima Facie duties, Virtue Ethics (continued)
Kant’s Duty Ethics 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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.32
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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.33
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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.34
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
Week 1, PHIL2 1.35
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.
Week 1, PHIL2 1.36
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).
Week 1, PHIL2 1.37
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.
Week 1, PHIL2 1.38
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.