1. Philosophy in Fall: What is Morality? Feraco-EberleSFHP 6 November 2008

2. The Question Series What is Choice? – √ What is Choice? – √ What is Morality? What is Morality? What is Happiness? What is Happiness? What is the Soul? What is the Soul? What is Death? What is Death? What is the Meaning of Life? What is the Meaning of Life? My Philosophy (Rough Draft + Final Draft) My Philosophy (Rough Draft + Final Draft)

3. What is Morality? Morality as a Function of Free Will: The Final Battle Morality as a Function of Free Will: The Final Battle What is “Good”? – Evaluative Language What is “Good”? – Evaluative Language Ethics and Morals Ethics and Morals Are You Living the Good Life? Are You Living a Good Life? Are You Living the Good Life? Are You Living a Good Life? All Things Are Possible: The Doors Morals Open, The Doors Morals Shut All Things Are Possible: The Doors Morals Open, The Doors Morals Shut …and Much More!

4. Morality as a Function of Free Will What happens to morality if you’re entirely responsible for your actions and their consequences? What happens to morality if you’re entirely responsible for your actions and their consequences? Good things, we hope! Good things, we hope! What happens to morality if something interrupts your ability to control your actions as well? (Are you still responsible?) What happens to morality if something interrupts your ability to control your actions as well? (Are you still responsible?) Let’s assume – for today – that you have free will. Let’s assume – for today – that you have free will. If you have free will, you have the ability to choose your actions – which, in turn, means you’re responsible for their consequences. If you have free will, you have the ability to choose your actions – which, in turn, means you’re responsible for their consequences. Therefore, you have a choice regarding whether you’ll lead a “moral” life. Therefore, you have a choice regarding whether you’ll lead a “moral” life. Is that power – to live “morally” – even worth anything? Is that power – to live “morally” – even worth anything?

5. Why Bother Trying to Live a Moral Life? First, let’s look at why it might be important to live “well” First, let’s look at why it might be important to live “well” Is there any reason to try? Do morals and ethics hold us back, restricting our vision rather than opening our minds? Is there any reason to try? Do morals and ethics hold us back, restricting our vision rather than opening our minds? Possibly, but not necessarily… Possibly, but not necessarily… Ethics, for instance, reinforce your desire to achieve personal excellence by providing you with a framework for it. Because of that framework, you can make sense of the things you come across and are able to make a consistent, understandable decision. Ethics, for instance, reinforce your desire to achieve personal excellence by providing you with a framework for it. Because of that framework, you can make sense of the things you come across and are able to make a consistent, understandable decision. Your hopes and dreams are therefore shaped by your ethical and moral codes. Your hopes and dreams are therefore shaped by your ethical and moral codes. Even morality doesn’t have to be restrictive; rather, it’s about trying to study the “best” way to live life Even morality doesn’t have to be restrictive; rather, it’s about trying to study the “best” way to live life If you take the time to understand your beliefs, you’ll be able to grow rather than simply survive; ethics and morals give us a basis for survival that goes beyond perpetuation, providing us with direction we would otherwise lack. (That direction shapes more than your career goals; how many friendships, for example, would you lose if you only made relationships based on who could help you survive?) If you take the time to understand your beliefs, you’ll be able to grow rather than simply survive; ethics and morals give us a basis for survival that goes beyond perpetuation, providing us with direction we would otherwise lack. (That direction shapes more than your career goals; how many friendships, for example, would you lose if you only made relationships based on who could help you survive?)

6. Finding a Consensus The ability to choose to live well is essentially the ability to choose insight over ignorance – to elevate the possibilities of a rich, varied lifestyle above the routines of a thoughtless, bland, and unexamined life. The ability to choose to live well is essentially the ability to choose insight over ignorance – to elevate the possibilities of a rich, varied lifestyle above the routines of a thoughtless, bland, and unexamined life. If I decide I want to live well, how do I go about doing so? It seems like an awful lot of people have a lot of ideas about how to do things, about how to live righteously, about how to be happy...how do I choose? If I decide I want to live well, how do I go about doing so? It seems like an awful lot of people have a lot of ideas about how to do things, about how to live righteously, about how to be happy...how do I choose? It helps to define ethics and morality before we do anything else – because goodness is, of course relative, and my impression of living well could be entirely off-base. It helps to define ethics and morality before we do anything else – because goodness is, of course relative, and my impression of living well could be entirely off-base.

7. Morals and Ethics Generally speaking, ethics are codes that govern your professional conduct – the beliefs that determine my teaching style, for example Generally speaking, ethics are codes that govern your professional conduct – the beliefs that determine my teaching style, for example Do different teachers have different ethical standards? Do different teachers have different ethical standards? Morals, on the other hand, are codes that govern your private behavior – whether you choose to help someone, wear something, relate to someone, abandon something, etc. Morals, on the other hand, are codes that govern your private behavior – whether you choose to help someone, wear something, relate to someone, abandon something, etc.

8. Some Loaded Questions – Write in Response! Can morals be constructed by each person on an individual basis? (Write!) Can morals be constructed by each person on an individual basis? (Write!) Should they be? Is there any good that comes from being able to disagree with one another? (Think of all the fighting that we’ve engaged in…is this choice really one we want?) (Write!) Should they be? Is there any good that comes from being able to disagree with one another? (Think of all the fighting that we’ve engaged in…is this choice really one we want?) (Write!) How about ethics? If you’re not allowed to construct them yourself, is that a threat to free will? How about ethics? If you’re not allowed to construct them yourself, is that a threat to free will? I suppose, if your subscription to those principles is voluntary – a choice –you could choose to buy in and change your mind later...what would the consequences be, however, if you chose to break from society’s ethical or moral codes? I suppose, if your subscription to those principles is voluntary – a choice –you could choose to buy in and change your mind later...what would the consequences be, however, if you chose to break from society’s ethical or moral codes? If you are able to shape the concept of whatever qualifies as “good” yourself, does “goodness” lose all real value? If you are able to shape the concept of whatever qualifies as “good” yourself, does “goodness” lose all real value? You, for example, may believe Death Cab for Cutie is awful; I may believe they’re excellent. If we’re listening to the same music at the same time, doesn’t that just invalidate the value of both our reactions? (What about our rule of logic – the one that says Kimberly can’t fail and pass at the same time? How can Death Cab be both awful and wonderful at the same time?) You, for example, may believe Death Cab for Cutie is awful; I may believe they’re excellent. If we’re listening to the same music at the same time, doesn’t that just invalidate the value of both our reactions? (What about our rule of logic – the one that says Kimberly can’t fail and pass at the same time? How can Death Cab be both awful and wonderful at the same time?) Isn’t it like allowing people to call “steak” whatever they feel like – “ice cream,” “aples,” etc. – which then robs the word of its meaning? Isn’t it like allowing people to call “steak” whatever they feel like – “ice cream,” “aples,” etc. – which then robs the word of its meaning? Why shouldn’t we have a standardized system of goodness that everyone has to agree with? (Discuss!) Why shouldn’t we have a standardized system of goodness that everyone has to agree with? (Discuss!)

9. One at a Time Can I choose my own moral and ethical codes? Sure – the construction of those codes plays a huge role in determining any person’s sense of identity. Can I choose my own moral and ethical codes? Sure – the construction of those codes plays a huge role in determining any person’s sense of identity. Should I do so? Well, why not? Sure, there will be differences – but I need those to grow. (“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”) Should I do so? Well, why not? Sure, there will be differences – but I need those to grow. (“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”) it’s hard to subscribe exclusively to someone else’s ethical beliefs. That said, my ethical and moral codes can resemble someone else’s, and as long as my codes meet certain societal criteria (don’t throw things while teaching, etc.), I’ll probably be fine. it’s hard to subscribe exclusively to someone else’s ethical beliefs. That said, my ethical and moral codes can resemble someone else’s, and as long as my codes meet certain societal criteria (don’t throw things while teaching, etc.), I’ll probably be fine. (This doesn’t quite answer the question, but you’ll be answering it yourself in due time.) (This doesn’t quite answer the question, but you’ll be answering it yourself in due time.) Now morals, on the other hand, often end up becoming legal issues. If you don’t find the taking of human life immoral, you’ll be staring across a wide ethical gulf from virtually everyone you already know. Now morals, on the other hand, often end up becoming legal issues. If you don’t find the taking of human life immoral, you’ll be staring across a wide ethical gulf from virtually everyone you already know. Can we be trusted to shape these things ourselves? Do we need guides – bodhisattvas, even – to help bring out our better angels? Can we figure out what is “good” by ourselves? Can we be trusted to shape these things ourselves? Do we need guides – bodhisattvas, even – to help bring out our better angels? Can we figure out what is “good” by ourselves?

10. Goodness Gracious Does “goodness” lose its value if its meaning can be changed by anyone? Don’t we need “universal good” in order to provide our morals with a foundation? Does “goodness” lose its value if its meaning can be changed by anyone? Don’t we need “universal good” in order to provide our morals with a foundation? Well, morals aren’t written in stone (usually!), and our codes of professional and personal conduct don’t always align with codes from our parents’ generation Well, morals aren’t written in stone (usually!), and our codes of professional and personal conduct don’t always align with codes from our parents’ generation Still, the concept of “good” as this nebulous, free-floating idea has inspired millions of debates over the centuries; it irritates those who want a definite answer, and intrigues those who are curious about the possibilities of the open-ended concept Still, the concept of “good” as this nebulous, free-floating idea has inspired millions of debates over the centuries; it irritates those who want a definite answer, and intrigues those who are curious about the possibilities of the open-ended concept

11. Goodness Gracious, Part II When we say something is “good,” what do we really mean? When we say something is “good,” what do we really mean? Does the use of “good” in “‘One Tree Hill’ is so good!” match the use of “good” in “Kindness is good for the soul”? Does the use of “good” in “‘One Tree Hill’ is so good!” match the use of “good” in “Kindness is good for the soul”? In some cases, we seem to be stating a fact about our opinions – when we say “One Tree Hill” is good, we’re expressing an opinion in favor of the show with the expectation that others will agree or be interested. In some cases, we seem to be stating a fact about our opinions – when we say “One Tree Hill” is good, we’re expressing an opinion in favor of the show with the expectation that others will agree or be interested. You can disagree with my opinion, but you cannot disagree with the factual nature of what I said – because I made a factual statement about my opinion. (Tricky!) You can disagree with my opinion, but you cannot disagree with the factual nature of what I said – because I made a factual statement about my opinion. (Tricky!) In other cases, we seem to be stating a fact about something – “kindness is good,” for example. In other cases, we seem to be stating a fact about something – “kindness is good,” for example. We call this evaluative objectivism, which stems from evaluative language. We call this evaluative objectivism, which stems from evaluative language. Evaluative language assigns a “quality label” to something – this is good, that’s bad, this is right, that’s wrong – and there are different schools of thought relating to our uses of such language. Evaluative language assigns a “quality label” to something – this is good, that’s bad, this is right, that’s wrong – and there are different schools of thought relating to our uses of such language. Is there a “universal bad” or “universal good”? An evaluative objectivist would answer in the affirmative, while his opponent - an evaluative skeptic - would disagree. Is there a “universal bad” or “universal good”? An evaluative objectivist would answer in the affirmative, while his opponent - an evaluative skeptic - would disagree.

12. Goodness Gracious, Part III If you’re an evaluative skeptic, you tend to think that there are shades of grey in everything – that is, that good and evil are relative concepts rather than moral absolutes. If you’re an evaluative skeptic, you tend to think that there are shades of grey in everything – that is, that good and evil are relative concepts rather than moral absolutes. There are ways to deal with the skeptical thinker, just as there are ways to deal with the objectivist thinker. There are ways to deal with the skeptical thinker, just as there are ways to deal with the objectivist thinker. The point, however, is that our very understanding of that single four-letter word – “good” – has a tremendous impact on how we see the world – and, therefore, on how we make moral and ethical decisions. The point, however, is that our very understanding of that single four-letter word – “good” – has a tremendous impact on how we see the world – and, therefore, on how we make moral and ethical decisions. (Again, we’re operating under the assumption that choice exists!) (Again, we’re operating under the assumption that choice exists!)

13. Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now? When I ask a simple question, then – “Are you living a good life?” – I know that a bunch of different responses are popping up around the classroom. How? Because you each have your own interpretation of goodness, and you assign your own value/weight to goodness as well (is virtue the most important part of life, or is it completely arbitrary?). When I ask a simple question, then – “Are you living a good life?” – I know that a bunch of different responses are popping up around the classroom. How? Because you each have your own interpretation of goodness, and you assign your own value/weight to goodness as well (is virtue the most important part of life, or is it completely arbitrary?). So I’ll ask a simple question, twice – with one word changed – in a way that will invite further discussion. So I’ll ask a simple question, twice – with one word changed – in a way that will invite further discussion. The first question: “Are you living the ‘good life’?” (Write!) The first question: “Are you living the ‘good life’?” (Write!) The second: “Are you living a good life?” (Write!) The second: “Are you living a good life?” (Write!) Obvious follow-up question: “Well, what defines ‘the’ good life? What defines ‘a’ good life?” Obvious follow-up question: “Well, what defines ‘the’ good life? What defines ‘a’ good life?” You do. Write away! You do. Write away!

14. The Doors We Open, The Doors We Shut The last major topic of discussion today is the role of influence of morals on your daily lives. (Questions connecting to questions!) The last major topic of discussion today is the role of influence of morals on your daily lives. (Questions connecting to questions!) Do you feel that your own sense of morality – regardless of whether it is valid – limits or frees you? (You can say “both” if you’re going to explain yourself.) In what ways does it affect you – and are you comfortable with those effects? (Write!) Do you feel that your own sense of morality – regardless of whether it is valid – limits or frees you? (You can say “both” if you’re going to explain yourself.) In what ways does it affect you – and are you comfortable with those effects? (Write!) Think about this for a while so we can discuss the topic in greater detail. Think about this for a while so we can discuss the topic in greater detail.

15. The Writing Assignment Yesterday, you discussed choice. Yesterday, you discussed choice. Today, I’d like you to articulate your personal philosophy regarding ethics and morality. Today, I’d like you to articulate your personal philosophy regarding ethics and morality. Remember, this is an ongoing assignment with an open timeframe; at the end of the unit, the body of these writings will allow you to form your personal statement of philosophy – the unit’s “end product.” Remember, this is an ongoing assignment with an open timeframe; at the end of the unit, the body of these writings will allow you to form your personal statement of philosophy – the unit’s “end product.” You may work on this until the end of the period. You may work on this until the end of the period.