COMM 215 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Moral Absolutism, Human Nature, Principle Of Double Effect
Document Summary
It i(cid:373)plies that ethi(cid:272)al la(cid:449)s are like (cid:862)la(cid:449)s of (cid:374)ature(cid:863) or s(cid:272)ie(cid:374)tifi(cid:272) la(cid:449)s. Scientific laws are descriptive [they state how phenomena in nature behave] whereas ethical laws are prescriptive [they stipulate how people should behave] Misleading because it inevitably brings to mind some kind of ethical legalism. Natural law theorist does believe in an objective standard for morality. Natural law: refers to ethical guidelines or rules that stipulate what people ought to do rather than what they in fact do (the guidelines are equally applied to all humanity because it is rooted in human nature) People should do whatever promotes the fulfillment of human nature. Describe somethings nature in terms of its function (the purpose it serves) Determine the function of human beings by confining a person to a particular social role (ex: function of a farmer is to grow food; a good farmer produces food efficiently) **the freedom of action possessed by human makes it plausible to ague.
