Top Banner
PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society Week 1 Topic Outlines
39

PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Dec 30, 2015

Download

Documents

myra-greer

PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society. Week 1 Topic Outlines. Course Overview. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

PHIL 2Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1Topic Outlines

Page 2: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.2

Course OverviewThis course examines the nature of

philosophy and ethic’s relationship to it, including the issue of morality. Several ethical theories are applied to individual ethical problems and contemporary social issues, such as health care applications. Other moral issues, such as abortion, euthanasia, discrimination and animal rights, are addressed.

Page 3: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.3

Course Objectives At the completion of this

course, you will be able to: Explain the relationship between

philosophy, ethics, and morality. Classify the characteristics, history,

application, and importance of morality.

Page 4: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.4

Course Objectives (continued)

Describe several theories of morality and ethics (for example, ethical egoism, utilitarianism, divine command theory, Kant’s duty ethics, Ross’s prima facie duties, and virtue ethics). Explain consequential theories of morality.

Page 5: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.5

Course Objectives (continued)

Differentiate between absolutism versus relativism, as well as freedom versus determinism.

Explain reward and punishment in relationship to justice.

Define (or outline) the system of humanitarian ethics.

Page 6: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.6

Course Objectives (continued)

Analyze case studies to determine moral or immoral implications of actions and behaviors.

Synthesize the major ethical theories and the process by which they apply to current moral problems within our society.

Page 7: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.7

Course Text

Thiroux, Jacques P.Ethics – Theory and Practice, 8th ed. Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2004.ISBN: 0-13-183002-3

Page 8: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.8

Course Topics by Week

Week 1 Course Expectations Components and History of

Morality – Chap. 1 Consequential Theories of Morality

– Chap. 2 Theories of Morality and Virtue

Ethics – Chap. 3

Page 9: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.9

Course Topics by Week

Week 2 Absolutism versus Relativism –

Chap. 4 An Analysis of Freedom versus

Determinism – Chap. 5 Reward and Punishment – Chap. 6 Act of Setting Up a Moral System –

Chap. 7

Page 10: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.10

Course Topics by Week

Week 3 Moral Implications of Taking

Human Life – Chap. 8 Moral Implications of Allowing

Someone to Die – Chap. 9 Moral Implications of Abortion –

Chap. 10 Applying Humanitarian Ethics

Page 11: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.11

Course Topics by Week

Week 4 Moral Implications of Lying,

Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing – Chap. 11

Morality, Marriage, and Human Sexuality – Chap. 12

Page 12: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.12

Course Topics by Week

Week 5 Bioethics and the Ethical Issues in

Medicine – Chap. 13 Business and Media Ethics –

Business and Media Ethics – Chap. 14

Page 13: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.13

Course Topics by Week

Week 6 Environmental Ethics – Chap. 15 Key Concepts and Major Ethical

Theories – Appendixes

Page 14: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.14

Topic 1: Course Expectations

Philosophy, ethics, and morality Relationships among philosophy,

ethics, and morality

Page 15: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.15

Philosophy, Ethics, and Morality Philosophy is concerned with:

Epistemology (study of knowledge) Metaphysics (study of nature of reality) Ethics (study of morality)

Ethics: What is right or wrong in human behavior and conduct

Morality: Human conduct and values

Page 16: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.16

Relationships among Philosophy, Ethics, and Morality

Ethics is a sub-area of philosophy. “Ethical” and “moral” are often

used interchangeably. Ethics pertains to the individual

character of a person. Morality deals with relationships

among people.

Page 17: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.17

Topic 2: Components and History of Morality

Approaches to the study of morality

Why human beings should be moral

Morality and the law; morality and religion

Page 18: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.18

Approaches to the Studyof Morality

Values as totally objective – from external source Supernatural theory Natural law theory World and objects in it have value

without the presence of valuing humans Values as totally subjective – from

within human beings

Page 19: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.19

Approaches to the Studyof Morality (continued)

Values as both subjective and objective

Includes three variables: Thing of value, or thing valued Conscious being who values Context or situation in which valuing

takes place

Page 20: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.20

Why Human Beings Should Be Moral

Religion or the supernatural Enlightened self-interest Tradition and law Common human needs

Page 21: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.21

Morality and the Law; Morality and Religion Law provides guides to human

behavior and protection from harm. What is moral is not necessarily legal. What is legal is not necessarily moral. Law is the public codification of

morality.

Page 22: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.22

Morality and the Law; Morality and Religion (continued)

Religion has served as a most powerful sanction for getting people to behave morally.

Morality is not based solely on religion. Difficulty of proving supernatural

existence Nonreligious people can be moral Difficulty of providing a rational foundation Which religion?

Page 23: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.23

Topic 3: Consequential Theories of Morality

Consequentialist and nonconsequentialist views of morality

Three types of ethical egoism Two types of utilitarianism

Page 24: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.24

Consequentialist and Nonconsequentialist Views of Morality

Consequentialist ethical theories – based on or concerned with consequences; also called teleological theories

Nonconsequentialist ethical theories – not based on or concerned with consequences; also called deontological theories

Page 25: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.25

Three Types of Ethical Egoism Ethical egoism – people should act in

their own self-interest Three types:

Individual – everyone should act in my self-interest

Personal – I ought to act in my self interest

Universal – everyone should act in his or her self-interest

Page 26: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.26

Two Types of Utilitarianism Utilitarianism – people should act in

the best interest of all concerned Two types:

Act – one should perform that act that brings about the greatest good for everyone affected

Rule – one should follow the rule that will bring about the greatest number of good consequences for all involved

Page 27: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.27

Topic 4: Theories of Morality and Virtue Ethics Nonconsequentialist and Virtue Ethics

theories of morality and consequentialist theories

Nonconsequentialism and the divine command theory, Kant’s duty ethics, Ross’s prima facie duties, and virtue ethics

Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics and John Rawl’s theory of justice

Page 28: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.28

Nonconsequentialist & Virtue Ethics theories of morality vs. Consequentialist theories

Nonconsequentialist theories – consequences do not and should not enter into judgment of morality

Two types: Act – there are no rules Rule – following the rules is what is

moral

Page 29: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.29

Nonconsequentialist & Virtue Ethics theories of morality vs. Consequentialist theories

Virtue Ethics – development of a moral or virtuous character by doing what a good person would do

Virtue Ethics are not concerned with consequences or rules.

Page 30: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.30

Divine Command theory, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Ross’s Prima Facie duties, Virtue Ethics

Divine Command theory – morality is based on commands and prohibitions communicated by a supernatural being or beings.

To be moral, humans must follow these commands without concern for consequences, self-interest, or anything else.

Page 31: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.31

Divine Command theory, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Ross’s Prima Facie duties, Virtue Ethics (continued)

Kant’s Duty Ethics Good will – human ability to act in

accordance with rules, laws, or principles regardless of interests or consequences

Establishing morality by reasoning alone – absolute moral truths exist that are consistent and universal

Categorical Imperative – a rule is immoral if it cannot apply to all humans

Page 32: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.32

Divine Command theory, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Ross’s Prima Facie duties, Virtue Ethics (continued)

Kant’s Duty Ethics (continued) Practical Imperative – no human

being should be used merely as a means to someone’s end

Duty rather than inclination – people must act out of a sense of duty

Page 33: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.33

Divine Command theory, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Ross’s Prima Facie duties, Virtue Ethics (continued)

Ross’s Prima Facie duties: all humans must obey in a general way before any other considerations Fidelity – telling the truth, keeping

promises Reparation – making amends Gratitude – recognizing what others

have done for us

Page 34: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.34

Divine Command theory, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Ross’s Prima Facie duties, Virtue Ethics (continued)

Ross’s Prima Facie duties (continued) Justice – seeing that people get what

they deserve Beneficence – helping to improve the

condition of others Self-improvement – improving our own

virtue, intelligence and happiness Nonmaleficence – not injuring others,

preventing injury to others

Page 35: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.35

Divine Command theory, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Ross’s Prima Facie duties, Virtue Ethics (continued)

Virtue Ethics: based on Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics

Goal is the development of a good or virtuous human being; an action is not right or good in itself.

Page 36: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.36

Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics and John Rawl’s Theory of Justice Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics:

human beings have natural ethical tendencies in human beings; to follow them with a general attitude of consistent harmony and proportion constitutes an ethical life.

Virtue is the mean between two extremes (vices).

Page 37: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.37

Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics and John Rawl’s Theory of Justice

John Rawl’s Theory of Justice: rights are given to humans by a just society in which no one has an unfair advantage over others.

Principles that shape society are agreed upon without regard to our place in that society.

Page 38: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.38

Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics and John Rawl’s Theory of Justice

Rawl’s two basic principles: Equality principle – each person has

equal rights to maximum liberty compatible with the same amount of liberty for everyone else.

Difference principle – inequality is permissible to the extent that it is to everyone’s advantage.

Page 39: PHIL 2 Philosophy: Ethics in Contemporary Society

Week 1, PHIL2 1.39

Week 1

Thiroux, Jacques P.Ethics – Theory and Practice, 8th ed.Chapters 1-3