Ethics—The Basics by John Mizzoni CHAPTER EIGHT: CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Ethical concepts, principles, theories, and traditions are useful tools to deal with a variety of ethical categories: Ethical behavior Ethical motivation Ethical questions Ethical dilemmas Ethical issues Ethical discussions Ethical deliberations Ethical analyses Ethical traditions Ethical positions

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Ethical Concepts A concept is a thought or notion; it is general idea formed in the mind, perhaps derived or inferred from specific occurrences or instances. Concepts are necessary to think thoughts. Ethical concepts are necessary to think about ethics (e.g. ‘good,’ ‘happiness’). WHAT ETHICAL CONCEPTS DO YOU USE WHEN YOU DEAL WITH ETHICAL ISSUES?

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Ethical Principles and Theories We unconsciously use ethical principles and theories when we draw logical conclusions and make logical judgments. For example: When you decide to “act only on those personal rules that you can at the same time will to be a universal law,” you use the concepts of ‘personal rule’ and ‘universal law’, and the principle of universality. You use deontological theory.

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Consequences of Ethical Thinking Habit formation Selection of an ethical point of view Sharpening ethical awareness Comfort with conscious choices Understanding of others Understanding of self Ability to engage in constructive ethical discussion with others

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Purpose of This Concluding Chapter: To show you how the principles, theories, and traditions presented in this book can be applied individually or jointly to various contemporary ethical issues: —Personal ethics —Social ethics To assist you in developing the best solution to what makes something morally right or morally wrong.

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Living Ethical Concepts, Principles, Theories and Traditions: Ethical theorists have applied various ethical traditions to a great many fields of human endeavor. WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF SUCH A FIELD?

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Professional Ethics: In the field of business, for example, business ethicists have promoted virtue ethics, deontological ethics, and social contract ethics. WHY NOT PROMOTE UTILITARIANISM IN BUSINESS? HOW ABOUT OTHER FIELDS?

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Professional Ethics (continued): Other professional fields in which ethicists specialize include: Criminal justice ethics Medical/nursing ethics Bioethics Computer ethics Communication ethics Engineering ethics Environmental ethics Educational ethics

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Social Ethics/Public Domain Ethics Ethical issues in the public domain are the arena of applied social ethics: International human rights Cultural tolerance Civil disobedience Segregation Voting rights War Gender equality Animal rights (non-human animals) Feminism

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Personal Ethics/Private Domain: Ethical issues in the private domain are in the arena of applied personal ethics: Killing in self-defense Suicide Sterilization Robbery Elaborate funerals/weddings/christenings Truth-telling “What is my understanding of the good life?” “Am I a good caregiver?” “What virtues do I want to develop in myself?”

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Useful Ethical Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions: The Case of Stanley “Tookie” Williams Deontological concepts, principles, and theories Utilitarian concepts, principles, and theories Virtue ethics concepts, principles, and theories Natural law ethics concepts, principles, and theories Social contract ethics concepts, principles, and theories Care ethics concepts, principles, and theories WHAT HAPPENED TO “TOOKIE” WILLIAMS?

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Stanley Williams Stanley Williams was executed on December 15, He stated : "My lack of fear of this barbaric methodology of death, I rely upon my faith. It has nothing to do with machismo, with manhood, or with some pseudo former gang street code. This is pure faith, and predicated on my redemption. So, therefore, I just stand strong and continue to tell you, your audience, and the world that I am innocent and, yes, I have been a wretched person, but I have redeemed myself. …redemption is tailor- made for the wretched, and that's what I used to be…And whether others choose to believe that I have redeemed myself or not, I worry not, because I know and God knows, and you can believe that all of the youths that I continue to help, they know, too. So with that, I am grateful…I say to you and everyone else, God bless. So take care."

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Ethical Tools Are Not Mechanical Tools Applying ethics will not generate answers automatically or mechanically Ethics is not as precise as science or math Even Aristotle observed that ethics is imprecise Depending on how ethics is used, we can reach contradictory conclusions, using the same approach ( e.g., Kant vs. Regan on animal rights) Ethical tools assist in ethical deliberations

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS How to Use Ethical Tools Example: Fetal alcohol syndrome and ethical tools Ethical universalism or ethical relativism Virtue ethics Natural law ethics Social contract ethics Utilitarian ethics Divine command theory Deontological ethics Care ethics Franciscan care ethics

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Pitfalls and Practice Pitfall #1 “What is ethics?”  “What should I do?” Pitfall #2 The golden mean is about persons, not actions Pitfall #3 Care ethics is about persons, not actions Pitfall #4 Categorical imperative  Consequentialist princ. Pitfall #5 Not all concepts, principles, and theories apply equally well in all contexts Pitfall #6 There is no sharp distinction between an ethical theory and an ethical tradition THE BEST WAY TO AVOID THE PITFALLS OF APPLYING THE DIFFERENT TOOLS OF ETHICS IS SIMPLY THROUGH PRACTICE.

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Wrap Up Looking at our own everyday ethics and seeing where we fit requires reflection. Deep and serious reflection involves self-reflection. Serious ethical reflection about philosophical problems in ethics involves challenging ourselves and asking ourselves: —whether the ethical habits we have are the ones we should have; —whether we are living up to the standards of the kind of person we want to be; —whether our ethical standards are adequately justified.

Ethics—The Basics CONCLUSION: USING THE TOOLS OF ETHICS Wrap Up (continued) As we confront life’s ethical issues in our personal and public lives we should apply the tools of ethics to assist us: —In understanding ethics —In living an ethical life Equipped with good tools and practice in developing solutions, we can face life and its ethical issues with confidence. However, we should not have too much confidence.