Shifting Gears #2: Shifting Gears #2: The Good Left UndoneThe Good Left Undone

FeracoFeraco

Myth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

13 April 201013 April 2010

What is Morality?What is Morality?

Morality as a Function of Free Will Morality as a Function of Free Will (Reviewed)(Reviewed)

What is “Good”?: Evaluative What is “Good”?: Evaluative LanguageLanguage

Ethics and MoralsEthics and Morals The Good Life? The Good Life? All Things Are Possible: The Doors All Things Are Possible: The Doors

Morals Open, The Doors Morals ShutMorals Open, The Doors Morals Shut

Morality as a Function of Morality as a Function of ChoiceChoice What happens to morality if you’re What happens to morality if you’re

entirely responsible for your actions entirely responsible for your actions and their consequences?and their consequences? Good things, we hope!Good things, we hope!

What happens to morality if What happens to morality if something interrupts your ability to something interrupts your ability to control your actions as well? control your actions as well? Are you still responsible?Are you still responsible? Sanity and culpabilitySanity and culpability

For Today…For Today…

Let’s assume – for today – that you have Let’s assume – for today – that you have free willfree will

If you have free will, you have the ability If you have free will, you have the ability to choose your actions – which, in turn, to choose your actions – which, in turn, means you’re responsible for their means you’re responsible for their consequencesconsequences

Therefore, you have a Therefore, you have a choicechoice regarding regarding whether you’ll lead a “moral” lifewhether you’ll lead a “moral” life

But is that power – to live “morally” – But is that power – to live “morally” – worth anything?worth anything?

Why Bother Living a “Moral Why Bother Living a “Moral Life”?Life”? First, let’s look at why it might be First, let’s look at why it might be

important to live “well”important to live “well” Is there any reason to try to do so? Is there any reason to try to do so? Do morals and ethics hold us back, Do morals and ethics hold us back,

restricting our vision rather than restricting our vision rather than opening our minds?opening our minds?

Possibly, but not necessarily…Possibly, but not necessarily…

Ethics vs. MoralsEthics vs. Morals

Generally speaking, ethics are codes that Generally speaking, ethics are codes that govern your professional conduct – the govern your professional conduct – the beliefs that determine my teaching style, beliefs that determine my teaching style, for examplefor example

Do different teachers have different Do different teachers have different ethical standards?ethical standards?

Morals, on the other hand, are codes that Morals, on the other hand, are codes that govern your private behavior – whether govern your private behavior – whether you choose to help someone, wear you choose to help someone, wear something, relate to someone, abandon something, relate to someone, abandon something, etc.something, etc.

Some Big QuestionsSome Big Questions

Should morals be constructed by each Should morals be constructed by each person on an individual basis?person on an individual basis?

How about ethics?How about ethics? If you’re not allowed to construct them If you’re not allowed to construct them

yourself, is that a threat to free will?yourself, is that a threat to free will? I suppose, if your subscription to those I suppose, if your subscription to those

principles is voluntary – a choice – you could principles is voluntary – a choice – you could choose to buy in and change your mind choose to buy in and change your mind later...what would the consequences be, later...what would the consequences be, however, if you chose to break from society’s however, if you chose to break from society’s ethical or moral codes?ethical or moral codes?

The Big OneThe Big One If you are able to shape the concept of whatever If you are able to shape the concept of whatever

qualifies as “good” yourself, does “goodness” qualifies as “good” yourself, does “goodness” lose all real value?lose all real value?

You, for example, may believe Death Cab for You, for example, may believe Death Cab for Cutie is awful; I may believe they’re excellentCutie is awful; I may believe they’re excellent

If we’re listening to the same music at the same If we’re listening to the same music at the same time, doesn’t that just invalidate the value of time, doesn’t that just invalidate the value of both our reactions?both our reactions?

Isn’t it like allowing people to call “steak” Isn’t it like allowing people to call “steak” whatever they feel like – “ice cream,” “slab o’ whatever they feel like – “ice cream,” “slab o’ meat,” etc. – without providing help on what to meat,” etc. – without providing help on what to call it and where you should do so? call it and where you should do so?

Does that make everything arbitrary?Does that make everything arbitrary? Similarly, isn’t that like allowing you to choose Similarly, isn’t that like allowing you to choose

your own grading scale – your own “standard for your own grading scale – your own “standard for success”?success”? Would that be a bad thing?Would that be a bad thing?

Possibilities and FrameworksPossibilities and Frameworks

Morals and ethics reinforce your desire to Morals and ethics reinforce your desire to achieve personal excellence by providing achieve personal excellence by providing you with a framework for ityou with a framework for it

Because of that framework, you can make Because of that framework, you can make sense of the things you come across and sense of the things you come across and are able to make a consistent, are able to make a consistent, understandable decision understandable decision

Your hopes and dreams are therefore Your hopes and dreams are therefore shaped by your ethical and moral codesshaped by your ethical and moral codes

Is that framework helpful, or does it serve Is that framework helpful, or does it serve as a prison?as a prison?

Why You Live a “Moral Life”Why You Live a “Moral Life” Even morality doesn’t Even morality doesn’t havehave to be restrictive; to be restrictive;

rather, it’s about trying to study the “best” rather, it’s about trying to study the “best” way to live lifeway to live life

Consequently, a careful understanding of Consequently, a careful understanding of both will allow an individual to both will allow an individual to growgrow rather rather than simply survive, because those senses of than simply survive, because those senses of “goodness” help provide us with direction we “goodness” help provide us with direction we would otherwise lack would otherwise lack

That direction shapes more than your career That direction shapes more than your career goals; how many friendships, for example, goals; how many friendships, for example, would you lose if you only made relationships would you lose if you only made relationships based on who could help you survive?based on who could help you survive?

Reaching a ConsensusReaching a Consensus In this sense, the ability to choose to live well is In this sense, the ability to choose to live well is

essentially the ability to choose insight over essentially the ability to choose insight over ignorance, to elevate the rich, varied lifestyle ignorance, to elevate the rich, varied lifestyle above the thoughtless and blandabove the thoughtless and bland

You can choose either one, of course – we’ve You can choose either one, of course – we’ve decided you have free will for todaydecided you have free will for today

Now, what if I want to live well? How do I decide Now, what if I want to live well? How do I decide to do so? It seems like an awful lot of people to do so? It seems like an awful lot of people have a lot of ideas about how to do things...how have a lot of ideas about how to do things...how do I choose?do I choose?

It helps to define ethics and morality before we It helps to define ethics and morality before we do anything else – because goodness is, of do anything else – because goodness is, of course, relative, and my impression of living well course, relative, and my impression of living well could be entirely off-basecould be entirely off-base

Reviewing Our Questions One by Reviewing Our Questions One by OneOne CanCan I choose my own moral and ethical codes? I choose my own moral and ethical codes? Sure – the construction of those codes plays a Sure – the construction of those codes plays a

huge role in determining any person’s sense of huge role in determining any person’s sense of identityidentity

ShouldShould I do so? I do so? Well, it’s hard to subscribe exclusively to Well, it’s hard to subscribe exclusively to

someone else’s ethical beliefssomeone else’s ethical beliefs That said, as long as my codes meet certain That said, as long as my codes meet certain

societal criteria (don’t throw things while societal criteria (don’t throw things while teaching, etc.), I’ll probably be fineteaching, etc.), I’ll probably be fine (This doesn’t quite answer the question – you’ll be (This doesn’t quite answer the question – you’ll be

answering it yourself in due time)answering it yourself in due time) Again: Do different teachers have different ethical Again: Do different teachers have different ethical

standards?standards?

One by One ContinuedOne by One Continued

Now morals, on the other hand, often end Now morals, on the other hand, often end up becoming legal issues up becoming legal issues

If you don’t find the voluntary taking of If you don’t find the voluntary taking of human life immoral, you’ll be staring human life immoral, you’ll be staring across a wide ethical gulf from virtually across a wide ethical gulf from virtually everyone you already knoweveryone you already know

Can we be trusted to shape these things Can we be trusted to shape these things ourselves? ourselves?

Do we need guides to help bring out our Do we need guides to help bring out our better angels?better angels?

Can we figure out what is “good” by Can we figure out what is “good” by ourselves?ourselves?

Goodness GraciousGoodness Gracious Does goodness lose its value if you leave its Does goodness lose its value if you leave its

definition up to me?definition up to me? Morals aren’t written in stone (usually!), and Morals aren’t written in stone (usually!), and

our codes of professional and personal our codes of professional and personal conduct don’t always align with codes from conduct don’t always align with codes from our parents’ generationour parents’ generation

Still, the concept of “good” as this nebulous, Still, the concept of “good” as this nebulous, free-floating idea has inspired millions of free-floating idea has inspired millions of debates over the centuriesdebates over the centuries

It tends to irritate those who want a definite It tends to irritate those who want a definite answer, and intrigues those who are curious answer, and intrigues those who are curious about the possibilities of an open-ended about the possibilities of an open-ended concept of virtueconcept of virtue

Goodness Gracious, Part IIGoodness Gracious, Part II When we say something is “good,” what do When we say something is “good,” what do

we really mean?we really mean? Does the use of “good” in “‘One Tree Hill’ is Does the use of “good” in “‘One Tree Hill’ is

SO GOODSO GOOD!” match the use of “good” in !” match the use of “good” in “Kindness is good for the soul”?“Kindness is good for the soul”?

In some cases, we seem to be stating a fact In some cases, we seem to be stating a fact about our opinions – when we say “One about our opinions – when we say “One Tree Hill” is good, we’re expressing a Tree Hill” is good, we’re expressing a favorable opinion toward the show with the favorable opinion toward the show with the expectation that others will agree (or be expectation that others will agree (or be interested)interested)

In other cases, we seem to be stating a fact In other cases, we seem to be stating a fact or truth about something – “kindness is or truth about something – “kindness is good,” for examplegood,” for example

We call this We call this evaluative objectivismevaluative objectivism

Evaluative ObjectivismEvaluative Objectivism

Evaluative language assigns a “quality Evaluative language assigns a “quality label” to something – this is label” to something – this is good,good, that’s that’s bad,bad, this is this is right,right, that’s that’s wrongwrong – and there – and there are different schools of thought relating to are different schools of thought relating to our uses of such languageour uses of such language

Is there a “universal bad” or “universal Is there a “universal bad” or “universal good”? good”?

An evaluative objectivist would answer in An evaluative objectivist would answer in the affirmative, while an evaluative the affirmative, while an evaluative skeptic would disagreeskeptic would disagree

Evaluative SkepticismEvaluative Skepticism If you’re an evaluative skeptic, you tend to If you’re an evaluative skeptic, you tend to

think that there are shades of grey in think that there are shades of grey in everything – that is, that good and evil are everything – that is, that good and evil are relative concepts rather than moral absolutes.relative concepts rather than moral absolutes.

There are ways to deal with the skeptical There are ways to deal with the skeptical thinker, just as there are ways to deal with the thinker, just as there are ways to deal with the objectivist thinker.objectivist thinker.

The point, however, is that our very The point, however, is that our very understanding of that single four-letter word – understanding of that single four-letter word – “good” – has a tremendous impact on how we “good” – has a tremendous impact on how we see the world – and, therefore, on how we make see the world – and, therefore, on how we make moral and ethical decisions.moral and ethical decisions.

(Again, we’re operating under the assumption (Again, we’re operating under the assumption that choice exists!)that choice exists!)

Are We Really Happy With Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now?Who We Are Right Now? When I ask a simple question, then – “Are When I ask a simple question, then – “Are

you living a good life?” – I know that a you living a good life?” – I know that a bunch of different responses are popping bunch of different responses are popping up around the classroomup around the classroom

This is because you each have your own This is because you each have your own interpretation of goodness, and you interpretation of goodness, and you assign your own value/weight to goodness assign your own value/weight to goodness as wellas well

Is virtue the most important part of life, or Is virtue the most important part of life, or is it completely arbitrary?is it completely arbitrary?

The DiscussionThe Discussion

So I’ll ask a simple question, twice – with So I’ll ask a simple question, twice – with one word changed – in a way that will one word changed – in a way that will invite further discussion.invite further discussion.

The first question: “Are you living the The first question: “Are you living the ‘good life’?”‘good life’?”

The second: “Are you living The second: “Are you living aa good life?” good life?” Obvious follow-up question: “Well, what Obvious follow-up question: “Well, what

defines ‘the’ good life? What defines ‘a’ defines ‘the’ good life? What defines ‘a’ good life?”good life?”

You do. Write away!You do. Write away!

The Doors We Open, The Doors We Open, The Doors We ShutThe Doors We Shut The last major topic of discussion today is The last major topic of discussion today is

the role of influence of morals on your the role of influence of morals on your daily livesdaily lives Questions connecting to questions!Questions connecting to questions!

Do you feel that your own sense of Do you feel that your own sense of morality – regardless of whether it is valid morality – regardless of whether it is valid – limits or frees you? – limits or frees you?

In what ways does it affect you – and are In what ways does it affect you – and are you comfortable with those effects?you comfortable with those effects?

Think about this for a while so we can Think about this for a while so we can discuss the topic in greater detail!discuss the topic in greater detail!

Now It’s Your Turn!Now It’s Your Turn!

Yesterday, you discussed choiceYesterday, you discussed choice Today, I’d like you to articulate your Today, I’d like you to articulate your

personal philosophy regarding ethics personal philosophy regarding ethics and moralityand morality

Best of luck!Best of luck!