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Lecture 1: Introduction to Ethics. PHIL 320 (Ethics) – July 1, 2013. Syllabus. Syllabus. Syllabus. Syllabus. What is Ethics?. What is Ethics?. What is Ethics?. Conduct (Actions). There are three moral categories pertaining to actions:
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Lecture 1:Introduction to Ethics PHIL 320 (Ethics) – July 1, 2013
Conduct (Actions) • There are three moral categories pertaining to actions: • FORBIDDEN: If you do a forbidden action, you have committed a moral offense (commission). • OBLIGATORY: If you fail to do an obligatory action, you have committed a moral offense (omission). • PERMISSIBLE: One may or may not do permissible actions; no moral judgment will be made about permissible actions. • Every action falls into one (and only one) of these three categories.
Value (Things and/or States of Affairs) • There are three moral categories pertaining to things and/or states of affairs: • INTRINSICALLY GOOD: If something is intrinsically good, it always has moral worth (we esteem it). • INTRINSICALLY BAD: If something is intrinsically bad, it never has moral worth (we are repulsed by it). • VALUE-NEUTRAL: If something is value-neutral, there are occasions in which it has moral worth and other occasions in which it does not. • EXTRINSICALLY GOOD • EXTRINSICALLY BAD • Every thing and/or state of affairs falls into one (and only one) of these three categories.
Character (Persons) • There are three moral categories pertaining to persons: • VIRTUOUS: A virtuous person has a MORALLY GOOD character (set of behaviors, dispositions, and actions). • VICIOUS: A vicious person has a MORALLY BAD character. • MORALLY CHAOTIC: A morally neutral person may behave as if she or he is virtuous or vicious. Although not vicious, such a person is not virtuous, so there is moral concern about such a person. • Every person falls into one (and only one) of these three categories.
What Moral Theories Do • Moral theories explain what makes a given action obligatory, forbidden, or permissible. • Moral theories explain what makes a given thing or state of affairs intrinsically good, intrinsically bad, or value-neutral. If a given thing is value neutral, the moral theory explains what extrinsic situations would make such a thing extrinsically good or extrinsically bad. • Moral theories explain what makes a given person virtuous, vicious, or morally chaotic. Moral theories usually also describe how one can become virtuous and why many “choose” to be morally chaotic. • Moral theories provide metaethical arguments to justify the claims made by the given theory.
Six Criteria for Evaluating Moral Theories • DETERMINACY: Does the moral theory give moral evaluations? • CONSISTENCY: Does the moral theory give the same moral evaluations in sufficiently similar situations? • EXPLANATORY POWER: Does the moral theory provide sufficient metaethical explanation for its moral evaluations? • APPLICABILITY: Is the agent (the moral actor) able to follow the moral theory’s moral recommendations? • INTERNAL SUPPORT: Does the moral theory “square” with the moral beliefs held by the agent? • EXTERNAL SUPPORT: Does the moral theory “square” with other beliefs (philosophical, theological, scientific, aesthetic, etc.) held by the agent?
Three “Non-Starter” Moral Theories MORAL EGOISM • The moral evaluation of actions is to be determined by me (based on my interests and desires). • The moral evaluation of things and states of affairs is to be determined by me (based on my interests and desires). • The moral evaluation of persons is to be determined by me (based on my interests and desires). Are you a moral egoist? Why or why not? Should you be one? Why or why not?
Three “Non-Starter” Moral Theories MORAL (CULTURAL) RELATIVISM • The moral evaluation of actions is to be determined by the culture in which one finds oneself. • The moral evaluation of things and states of affairs is to be determined by the culture in which one finds oneself. • The moral evaluation of people is to be determined by the culture in which one finds oneself. Are you a cultural relativist? Why or why not? Should you be a cultural relativist? Why or why not?
Three “Non-Starter” Moral Theories DIVINE COMMAND THEORY • The moral evaluation of actions is to be determined by our deity (as revealed to us). • The moral evaluation of things and states of affairs is to be determined by our deity (as revealed to us). • The moral evaluation of persons is to be determined by our deity (as revealed to us). Are you a divine command theorist? Why or why not? Should you be a divine command theorist? Why or why not?
