are there moral truths? Thinking about Ethics

1. 8 are there moral truths? Thinking about Ethics

2. What Is Our Duty to Others? Vincent Van Gogh’s painting depicts the story of the Good Samaritan, who stops to help a stranger who has been robbed and beaten. The importance of helping those in need is a moral teaching common to religions. In this chapter, we will consider whether it is possible to decide on universal moral values. Peter Horree/Alamy

3. Learning Objectives 8.1 Explain the idea of an internal moral compass and it's application to your experience. 8.2 Analyze and discuss arguments for and against ethical relativism.

4. Learning Objectives 8.3 Explain and discuss ethical absolutism, the idea that at least some moral values are universal and apply to all individuals and cultures. 8.4 Describe and critically evaluate egoism as a universal principle.

5. Learning Objectives 8.5 Explain and critically evaluate the connection between religion and universal values.

6. Chapter Overview Click on the screenshot in presentation mode to view a video on thinking about ethics.

7. 8.1 Your Moral Compass • The role of philosophy • Ethics and values • Ethical and moral are essentially equivalent terms that can be used interchangeably. • Moral values

8. Should We Prolong Life at all Costs? Ethical dilemmas are an unavoidable part of life. What is your reaction this photograph of a comatose patient on life support equipment? Do you believe that medical technology should be used to extend people’s lives in all cases? Why or why not? David Joel/Getty Images

9. 8.1 Your Moral Compass • How does one become a "philosopher of values?" • Thinking deeply about profound moral issues • Studying efforts of great thinkers • Discussing these concepts with others • Constructing a coherent ethical approach

12. 8.1 Your Moral Compass • Thinking critically about ethics • Most people's values are not "systems" at all. • General principles • Practical conclusions • Emotional pronouncements

14. 8.2 Ethical Relativism • Ethical relativism • Ethical subjectivism • Fatal flaw • Does not entail tolerance for views of others • Live and let live? • Mohandas Gandhi • The golden rule of conduct

15. Mohandas Gandhi (1869–1948). As leader of India’s struggles for independence from Britain, Gandhi’s method of nonviolent resistance served as a model for twentieth-century civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King, Jr. A political and spiritual leader, Gandhi helped India achieve independence through nonviolent civil protest and disobedience. What were the factors in his background that influenced his decisions? Were these choices free? Bettmann/Corbis

16. 8.2 Ethical Relativism • What are the roots of ethical subjectivism? • Why does it seem to be particularly popular on college campuses and in our culture? • Descriptive ethics • Normative ethics • John Searle

17. 8.2 Ethical Relativism • Developing informed beliefs • We should ask ourselves two important questions. • What is my opinion about this issue? • Is my opinion informed by evidence and reasons?

19. 8.2 Ethical Relativism • Isn't everyone "entitled to his or her opinion?" • Ethical subjectivism can lead to moral apathy. • Refer to the case of Deletha Word in the student text. • Our moral beliefs have real-world consequences.

20. What Are the Consequences of “Not Getting Involved”? Deletha Word’s family and friends gathered to mourn a loss that might have been prevented had onlookers intervened. Do you think that a belief in ethical subjectivism results in a lack of caring for others? Steven R. Nickerson/Detroit Free Press/AP Images

21. 8.2 Ethical Relativism • Cultural Relativism: Each Culture Determines What Is Morally Right • Cultural relativism is ethical subjectivism on a societal level. • Ruth Benedict, from Anthropology and the Abnormal • Analyzing Benedict on culture and values

22. Ruth Benedict (1887–1948). This American anthropologist was one of the first women to become prominent in the social sciences. In Patterns of Culture (1945) Benedict advocated cultural relativism and attempted to apply individual psychological concepts to whole groups. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division[LC-USZ62-114649]

24. 8.3 Ethical Absolutism: Some Moral Values Are Universal • Ethical absolutism • W. T. Stace, The Concept of Morals • Two main arguments in favor of relativism • William James • Analyzing Stace's critique of ethical relativism

25. Is Genocide Morally Evil? According to Stace, our belief in absolute moral standards allows us to make moral judgments about genocide. Most of us would have no difficulty in judging Hitler’s actions as morally wrong. What about the actions of those who followed his orders? Or those who supported Hitler but did not literally participate in killing Jews and other prisoners? AP Images

27. 8.4 Egoism as a Universal Principle • Ethical egoism • Arguments for egoism • Plato, The Republic, "The Myth of Gyges" • Social contract theory • Analyzing the "Myth of Gyges" • Psychological egoism

28. 8.4 Egoism as a Universal Principle • Ayn Rand, from The Virtue of Selfishness • Analyzing Rand

29. Ayn Rand (1905–1982). Rand was an American writer who advocated “the virtue of selfishness” in her novels, plays, and short stories. Her most famous works are The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957). Bettmann/Corbis

30. Is it ethical to break the law to defend our personal integrity? Gary Cooper in The Fountainhead. The protagonist of this film and novel is Howard Roark, a gifted and original architect who refuses to compromise his artistic vision to please others. Roark personifies Rand’s moral ideal. When his designs for a huge public works project are modified—and in his mind adulterated—without his permission, he undertakes to destroy the completed structures. How would you evaluate the morality of his decision? Why? Everett Collection

31. 8.4 Egoism as a Universal Principle • Arguments against egoism • James Rachels, from Egoism and Moral Skepticism • Analyzing Rachels's critique of egoism

32. Are good deeds selfish? Lincoln claimed that in doing good he was acting selfishly because not doing good would make him suffer. Do you agree that it is selfish to want to help others? Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division[LC-DIG-ppmsca-19241]

33. 8.5 Religion and Universal Values • One of the traditional roles of most religions is to provide moral guidelines for believers in that religion. • The relationship between religion and morality is a natural one for many reasons.

35. 8.5 Religion and Universal Values • Divine Command Theory • The story of Abraham and Isaac, from The Bible

36. 8.5 Religion and Universal Values • Natural Law Theory • St. Thomas Aquinas • Martin Luther King Jr., from Letter from a Birmingham Jail • Analyzing King on universal values

37. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968). King was an American minister and civil rights leader and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. In the tradition of natural law ethics, Dr. King believed that “one had a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws,” a position that led to his arrest on several occasions. Do you agree with Dr. King’s reasoning? Bettmann/Corbis

39. Making Connections: On Becoming an Ethical Person • Can you make connection between theory and choices you make on a daily basis? • Robert Coles, The Disparity Between Intellect and Character