PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society Week 1 Topic Outlines

Course Overview This 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

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

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

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

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

Course Text Thiroux, Jacques P. Ethics – Theory and Practice, 8th ed. Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2004. ISBN: 0-13-183002-3 Week 1, PHIL2

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

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

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

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

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

Course Topics by Week Week 6 Environmental Ethics – Chap. 15 Key Concepts and Major Ethical Theories – Appendixes Week 1, PHIL2

Topic 1: Course Expectations Philosophy, ethics, and morality Relationships among philosophy, ethics, and morality Week 1, PHIL2

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

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

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

Approaches to the Study of 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

Approaches to the Study of 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

Why Human Beings Should Be Moral Religion or the supernatural Enlightened self-interest Tradition and law Common human needs Week 1, PHIL2

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

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

Topic 3: Consequential Theories of Morality Consequentialist and nonconsequentialist views of morality Three types of ethical egoism Two types of utilitarianism Week 1, PHIL2

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

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

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

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

Nonconsequentialist & Virtue Ethics theories of morality vs 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

Virtue Ethics are not concerned with consequences or rules. 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

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

Divine Command theory, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Ross’s Prima Facie duties, Virtue Ethics (continued) 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

Kant’s Duty Ethics (continued) 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

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

Ross’s Prima Facie duties (continued) 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

Virtue Ethics: based on Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics 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

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

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

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. Week 1, PHIL2

Week 1 Thiroux, Jacques P. Ethics – Theory and Practice, 8th ed. Chapters 1-3 Week 1, PHIL2