PHI 2010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Theological Virtues, Zoophilia, Bioethics
Document Summary
Systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior. Normative ethics- standards to regulate right and wrong conduct. Applied ethics- examine specific issues, e. g. , abortion, animal rights, environmental concerns, war, etc. Standards to regulate right and wrong conduct; test of proper behavior. Normative"= standards, what we should be the case. Golden rule- we should do others what we would want other to do to us. Since i do not want my neighbors to steal my phone, then it is wrong for me to steal their phone. Since i want people to feed me when i"m starving, then i should feed people when they are starving. This same reasoning can determine if any possible action is right or wrong. Morality is not about following defined set of rules. Virtue ethics- what is important is developing good habits of characters. Once the characteristics are acquired, then you will habitually act in that way. Plato"s four virtues: wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice.
