PHIL 2Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 6Topic Outlines

Week 6, PHIL2 6.2

Week 6

Environmental Ethics – Chap. 15 Key Concepts and Major Ethical

Theories – Appendixes

Week 6, PHIL2 6.3

Environmental Ethics Environmental ethical issues Attitudes toward the natural

environment Arguments for and against the use

and exploitation of the natural environment

Week 6, PHIL2 6.4

Environmental Ethics (continued)

Determining if actions taken are considered moral or immoral

Applying humanitarian ethics to environmental ethics

Evaluating differing positions and reasons/rationale

Week 6, PHIL2 6.5

Environmental Ethical Issues Waste and destruction of natural

resources Exploitation, misuse, and pollution

of the environment Use/abuse of animals for food,

experimentation; extinction of species

Week 6, PHIL2 6.6

Attitudes toward the Natural Environment Platonic dualism – humans are

separate from nature Judeo-Christian Biblical teachings –

humans have dominion over nature Science – nature is subservient to

humans Industrialization – nature is raw

materials

Week 6, PHIL2 6.7

Arguments For and Against the Use & Exploitation of the Natural Environment

For: Dominion over nature – condoned by

Western religions Natural order – humans are at the top of

the evolutionary ladder and the food chain

Civilization is more important than nature. Only human deserve moral rights and

obligations.

Week 6, PHIL2 6.8

Arguments For and Against the Use & Exploitation of the Natural Environment (continued)

Against: Religious arguments are

misunderstood or irrelevant. Humans’ higher intelligence does not

give them dominion. Relationship between humans and

nature should be holistic. Nature is intrinsically valuable.

Week 6, PHIL2 6.9

Determining If Actions Taken Are Considered Moral or Immoral

Analyze specific case studies in your text to determine if actions taken are considered moral or immoral.

What code of ethics are you using to decide?

Week 6, PHIL2 6.10

Applying Humanitarian Ethics

to Environmental Ethics

Protection of the environment Animal rights

Week 6, PHIL2 6.11

Evaluating Differing Positions

and Reasons/Rationale

Exploitation of the natural environment

Use of animals for food Use of animals for experimentation Killing animals for sport Protection of endangered species

Week 6, PHIL2 6.12

Topic 2: Key Concepts and Major Ethical Theories

Relationship between philosophy, ethics, and morality

Major ethical theories and our own perspectives and positions

How major ethical theories apply to current moral problems

Week 6, PHIL2 6.13

Relationship between Philosophy, Ethics, and Morality

Your personal moral code – your sense of right and wrong – defines your ethics, or personal character.

Your ethics are part of your philosophy, or your overall wisdom.

Week 6, PHIL2 6.14

Major Ethical Theories and Our Own Perspectives and Positions How does your personal ethical

code compare with Ethical egoism Utilitarianism Divine command theory Kant’s duty ethics Ross’s prima facie duties Virtue ethics

Week 6, PHIL2 6.15

How Major Ethical Theories Apply to Current Moral Problems

Synthesize how each of the major ethical theories — ethical egoism, utilitarianism, divine command theory, Kant’s duty ethics, Ross’s prima facie duties, and virtue ethics — applies to one current moral problem within our society.

Week 6, PHIL2 6.16

Week 6

Thiroux, Jacques P.Ethics – Theory and Practice, 8th ed.Chapter 15 and Appendixes