Philosophy and Ethics

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Philosophy and Ethics

• Is lying always wrong?
• Is conscience a reliable guide?
• Are all values relative?

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The Ethical Continuum
Situationism
Utilitarianism
Rational Choice
Egoism
Objectivism
Cultural Relativism Subjectivism
Absolutism
Relativism
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Subjectivism

• All values are relative.
• Existentialist Perspective
• I make my own good no one can judge.
• Language Theory
• Moral terms are personal, individual.
• My logic determines my truth, and its mine.
• My statements can be tested as true or false.
• Most value statements are nonsense, because they
  are value-based.
• Therefore we cannot argue them.
• But how do we resolve differences?

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Cultural Relativism

• Whatever a culture believes is good is good.
• Social authority determines good.
• There are few or no values that are universal.
• But what if a cultural belief is based upon a
  falsehood?
• What if my value is not good for me?
• How do we then make laws?
• Are we to tolerate sadistic evil and genocide
  because it is a cultural value somewhere?

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Egoism

• Psychological Egoism (Epicurus)
• All acts are motivated by self-interest.
• It is human nature to seek self-interest.
• It is impossible to be unselfish.
• Ethical Egoism (Ayn Rand)
• Each person ought to act in his own
  self-interest.
• Enlightened Egoism (Hobbes)
• Do both of the above, but without narcissism.
• Are there no selfless acts?

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Objectivism

• Values exist outside of human reality.
• Absolute values are morally binding to all
  humans.
• Divine Command Theory
• We ought to follow self-evident truths
• Natural Law
• It is our duty to act on rational, categorical
  imperatives.
• The Forms of the Good (Plato)
• Beauty, Truth, Justice

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Utilitarianism

• What is good is what produces the greatest
  happiness for the greatest number of people.
• The balance of pleasure and pain must be weighed
  against alternatives to action
• All value claims must stand the test of
  consequences.
• But what if the good of the mass obligates us to
  harm the individual?

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Situationism

• Love is the only absolute value
• All other values are based on the situation each
  of us is in.
• Morality therefore is in a constant process of
  change.

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Possible Combinations

• Rational Choice
• A rational person can choose right living if she
  is free, impartial and informed.
• People in this state will naturally have right
  views and intentions.
• People in this state will choose right speech,
  actions, and livelihoods.
• People in this state will conduct themselves with
  right effort, mindfulness, and concentration.

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Virtue Ethics

• What are the traits of a good person?
• How are these traits cultivated?
• What are the moral categories that define the
  good person?
• What virtues will allow me to function as a good
  human being?

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Feminist Ethics

• Do women operate uniquely from the domain of
  morality of responsibility?
• Psychological logic of relationships?
• Caring
• Do men operate uniquely from the domain of
  morality of rights?
• Formal logic of justice.
• Can there be an ethic for both?

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Essential Questions

• Does the individual or the group deserve greater
  weight?
• Is the good of all persons to count equally?