FYS 043 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Philosophical Perspectives, Universal Rule, Moral Agency

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12 Dec 2017

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Meta-ethics-examines the nature of ethical theory and the meaning of moral language and reasoning. What kind of things should guide our study of morality. Goals- to ask and answer what makes something good or bad: consequentialism: (results-oriented) judge an action by whether it produces good outcomes, utilitarianism: act in a way that produces the greatest happiness. (bentham, j. s. ) Producing something good: deontology: (rule-oriented) judge an action by whether it is consistent with a universal rule/ law of right. Applied ethics- the examination of specific in order to determine the moral course of action. Not answering a scientific question, but scientific fact may help us answer our philosophical question. The main philosophical argument against abortion can be described as follows: First premise: a prenatal human organism is an innocent person with a right to life. Second premise: the deliberate killing of an innocent person is always forbidden. Need to examine whether the premises are true.

Related Questions

Assignment Instructions: The founder of On-Time Technology Products is being pressured by their biggest investor to use cheaper parts that will not last more than one year. Based on your reading of ethics in this PowerPointÂ©presentation, apply ethical reasoning to respond to this big investor regarding your companyâs ethical position on using these cheaper parts.

Checklist:

â¢Review the PowerPoint presentation on consequential, non-consequential, and virtue ethics. below copied in word

â¢Then using an ethical perspective from the above presentation, and apply it to respond to the big investor.

â¢Discuss how your ethical response also complies with providing exceptional customer service. Scenario Background:

On-Time Technology Products (OTTP) sells products relating to time. Their product line consists of a huge assortment of clocks, watches, daytime planner books, and software. Many of their products are unique and innovative. They have been frequently compared to other high-end retailers.. Their products are sold in retail stores, via the Internet, and via catalogs. Their call center is presently in Dayton, Ohio. Mark MacGibson is the new President for On-Time Technology Products. Mr. MacGibson is a graduate from Kaplan Universityâs MBA program. Mary Graff has a Bachelorâs degree in Business from Kaplan University and is the supervisor for the Customer Service Representatives. Mr. MacGibson and Ms. Graffâs plans are to take On-Time Technology Products to a new level of exceptional customer service.

PowelPoint below in word..

An Overview of Consequential, Nonconsequential and Virtue Ethics Theories

What is Ethics?

Ethics is the study of those values that relate to our moral conduct, including questions of good and evil, right and wrong, and moral responsibility.

Consequentialist Theories:

Consequentialist theories claim that the morality of an action depends only on its consequences.

It only considers the result of actions and not principles or rules in determining morality.

Types of Consequentialist Theories:

Ethical Egoism argues that each person should act in their own self interests.

Act Utilitarianism argues that each person should act in a way that produces the greatest happiness for everyone.

Rule Utilitarianism argues that each person should follow rules that tend to produce the greatest happiness for everyone.

Weaknesses of Consequentialist Theories:

Requires person to predict the future and all possible outcomes.

Can easily be used to justify questionable actions (the end justifies the means).

Nonconsequentialist Theories:

Nonconsequentialist theories claim that the morality of an action depends on principles or other factors that are not related to consequences.

Types of Nonconsequentialist Theories:

Divine command theory argues that we should obey the laws of God.

Kantâs Categorical Imperative states that we should always act in a way that is based on reason, duty, and would be considered ethical if everyone acted in the exact same way. Also, people should be treated as an ends and not as a means.

Weaknesses of Nonconsequentialist Theories:

Divine Command requires a high degree of interpretation skills.

Variety of religions makes standards hard to develop for all.

Can be rigid and ignore outcomes

Virtue Ethics:

Virtue ethics seeks to identify character traits of a moral person and develop those with the idea that the virtuous person will act in a virtuous manner. It does not look to principles or consequences.

Virtue ethics was developed among the ancient Greek philosophers such as Aristotle and Confucius.

Virtue ethics enjoys modern support as an approach that avoids many of the problems with Consequential and Nonconsequential ethical theories.

Weaknesses of Virtue Theory:

Difficulty in determining just which characteristics are virtues

Justification for respecting a virtue usually brings one back to either consequences or principles.

Difficulty in applying to specific situations.

Conclusion:

One theory is not enough to cover all possible choices.

Theories can be synthesized to fit oneâs philosophy of life.

One theoryâs weakness is anotherâs strength.

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Brief and detail

If relativism is true, can you ever judge something as being morally wrong? Consider some really horrible actions, genocide, murder, slavery, torture or add your own. If you feel a relativist could say that these things are actually wrong, what gives them this ability? If they can't, why not?

Agree or disagree

Similarly to what I said in the first discussion on what morality means to us, I think everyone has their own set of moral principles and obligations. So I do think that relativism is true, to a point however. I used Adolf Hitler and the Nazi empire as an example in the first discussion so I will use that here. Hitler knew in his brain that what he was doing was good for his nation and arguably the world. Now, as a modern day society we can agree that was wrong. For him, it was good. In his own mind, he is right. But it is relative to the person. Generally speaking we all have similar notions of what is right and what is wrong. Most people would say that going out of your way to help someone else is a morally good principle. Selflessness in society is seen a good thing by the vast majority of people. When I say that relativism is good to a point, I mean that there is a general basis in society that deems actions as good or bad. And since most of us would all agree that hitlers actions were bad, then we say that he had bad moral principles, even though to him, they were good. It’s a little confusing even for me to put into words. Basically, if you actions are generally viewed in society as good, then you have good moral principles even if they vary from person to person. No one will have the exact same moral standards, but generally they all are very similar in society. So relativism is true until the point where the majority of society would deem your actions and wrong. I hope this makes sense.

Agree or disagree

If relativism is true, I don't think judging something as morally wrong is possible. Because the definition of ethical relativism is the moral standard only being correctly relative to each person/society, this means that the moral standard is created by you and/or the society you identify with and therefore eliminate the existence of an absolute moral principle. Since the moral standard is different for every individual, we cannot say that someone is morally wrong. If relativism is applied, that is. If a relativist were to say that they could judge someone as morally wrong, then that would contradict the main component of being a relativist. That every moral argument of yours is correct, therefore everyone else's is also correct. Quite problematic but that is my understanding on the matter

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1. (TCOs 2, 4, 5, 6) The idea that the assisted suicide of terminally ill patients should be allowed simply at the patient's direction reflects what type of ethics? (Points: 5)

Hobbes' State of Nature
Rand's Objectivism
Aristotle's concept of Virtue
Thomas Aquinas' concept of conscience
Socrates' concept of excellence

Question 2.2. (TCOs 1, 2, 7) What is the moral ideal of compassion? (Points: 5)

Acts of unmerited kindness
Sentiment in response to the suffering of others
Acknowledging the sufferings of others
Acts of altruism
Acts contrary to Objectivism

Question 3.3. (TCOs 1, 2) One of the common errors in Ethics is that of the double standard. The double standard consists of what? (Points: 5)

Discriminating in the application of ethical criteria based on our own preferences
Setting aside ethical criteria in special cases
Taking steps to avoid condemnation of others
Using one set of criteria for judging cases concerning ourselves and another for all others
Suspending judgment when concerned that the consequences would be too severe

Question 4.4. (TCO 2) Prescriptive language is commonly used in ethics for what reason? (Points: 5)

To indicate what is prohibited or impossible
To indicate that one choice is better than others
To show what actions are legal
To convey requirements and obligations
To indicate that there are really no choices available

Question 5.5. (TCOs 7, 8) Each person ought to do whatever will best promote his or her own interests. (Points: 5)

Utilitarianism
Kant's Categorical Imperative
Social Contract Theory
Ethical Egoism
Gilligan

Question 6.6. (TCOs 2, 4, 9) Free people are motivated toward forming social structures according to a social contract in order to overcome what problem identified by Thomas Hobbes? (Points: 5)