Transcript Week 2

PHIL 2
Philosophy: Ethics in
Contemporary Society
Week 2
Topic Outlines
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
Week 2, PHIL2
2.2
Topic 1:
Absolutism vs. Relativism



Anthropological “facts” about
absolutism and relativism
Types of propositions and how truth
and knowledge relate to them
How human beings can relate absolutes
to their moral lives
Week 2, PHIL2
2.3
Anthropological “Facts” about
Absolutism and Relativism

In support of absolutism:




Similar moral values exist in all societies.
People in all cultures have similar needs.
Many similarities exist in situations and
relationships in all cultures.
Many similarities exist in sentiments,
emotions, and attitudes.
Week 2, PHIL2
2.4
Anthropological “Facts” about
Absolutism and Relativism (continued)

In support of relativism:



Extreme variations exist from culture to
culture in customs, manners, taboos, and
religions.
Moral beliefs and attitudes are learned
essential from people’s cultural
environments.
People in different cultures tend to believe
theirs is the one true morality.
Week 2, PHIL2
2.5
Types of Propositions and How Truth
and Knowledge Relate to Them




Propositions are either true or false.
A true proposition describes a state of
affairs that was, is, or will be occurring.
A false proposition describes a state of
affairs that did not occur, is not
occurring, and will not occur.
Truth is absolute.
Week 2, PHIL2
2.6
Types of Propositions and How Truth
and Knowledge Relate to Them

Types of propositions:




Analytic – known to be absolute
Internal sense or internal state – known to
be true because we have the experience
Empirical, or external sense – describes
affairs of which we have evidence through
our external senses
Moral – concern things with moral import;
they are empirical and rational
Week 2, PHIL2
2.7
How Human Beings Can Relate
Absolutes to Their Moral Lives



Basic moral principles are near
absolutes; they should be observed as
absolutes whenever possible.
There may be justifiable exceptions to
these principles.
If we make an exception to a near
absolute, we must fully justify that
exception.
Week 2, PHIL2
2.8
Topic 2: An Analysis
of Freedom vs. Determinism



Hard and soft determinism, fatalism,
and indeterminism
Arguments for and against determinism
Applying freedom-vs.-determinism
to moral responsibility
Week 2, PHIL2
2.9
Hard and Soft Determinism,
Fatalism, and Indeterminism


Determinism: for every effect, event or
occurrence in reality, a cause or causes
exist.
Hard determinism: if all events are
caused, then freedom is incompatible
with determinism.
Week 2, PHIL2
2.10
Hard and Soft Determinism,
Fatalism, and Indeterminism


(cont.)
Soft determinism: all events are caused,
but some events and causes originate
with human being.
Fatalism: all events are irrevocably fixed
and predetermined; humans cannot
alter them in any way.
Week 2, PHIL2
2.11
Hard and Soft Determinism,
Fatalism, and Indeterminism

(cont.)
Indeterminism: not everything is
caused; there is a certain amount of
chance and freedom in the world.
Week 2, PHIL2
2.12
Arguments For and Against
Determinism

For:



Human beings are determined by their
genetic makeup, over which they have no
control.
Humans are completely physical beings
whose development is totally determined
by external stimuli of their environments.
Little evidence suggests that non-caused
events ever occur.
Week 2, PHIL2
2.13
Arguments For and Against
Determinism (continued)

Against:



Most religious theories of salvation make
no sense if human beings are not free to
choose between good and evil.
Scientific determinism ignores the mental
or spiritual side of humans.
Events being uncaused is no guarantee of
human freedom, but only of chance.
Week 2, PHIL2
2.14
Applying Freedom-vs.-Determinism
to Moral Responsibility

How can you hold a person morally
responsible – blaming, praising,
rewarding or punishing them – for what
they do and do not do if they cannot
help it?
Week 2, PHIL2
2.15
Topic 3: Reward and Punishment



Relationship between reward and
punishment and justice
Theories of reward and punishment:
retribution, utilitarianism, and
restitution
Criteria for rewarding and punishing
Week 2, PHIL2
2.16
Relationship between Reward and
Punishment and Justice



Justice is the distribution of good and
bad to human beings on a just and fair
basis.
Justice is concerned with past events.
Justice should be individualistic –
punishment and reward should be for
the individual, not the group.
Week 2, PHIL2
2.17
Theories of Reward and Punishment:
Retribution, Utilitarianism, and Restitution


Retribution: giving people what they
deserve, an eye for an eye; also called
revenge or just deserts
Utilitarianism: rewarding or punishing
based on the results of the act and
whether it brings about the greatest
good consequences for everyone
involved
Week 2, PHIL2
2.18
Theories of Reward and Punishment:
Retribution, Utilitarianism, and Restitution

Restitution: compensating a victim for
harm or wrong done to him or her;
such compensation is usually made by
the perpetrator
Week 2, PHIL2
2.19
Criteria for Rewarding
and Punishing

Criteria for rewarding:






As equally as possible
According to ability
According to what they merit
According to need
According effort
According to danger or unpleasantness of
job
Week 2, PHIL2
2.20
Criteria for Rewarding
and Punishing (continued)

Criteria for punishing:




It must involve unpleasantness.
It must be imposed or endured for some
reason.
It should be imposed by some person or
group with moral or legal authority.
It must be imposed according to certain
rules or laws.
Week 2, PHIL2
2.21
Topic 4:
Act of Setting Up a Moral System



Major conflicting general issues in
setting up a moral system
Resolving the central problem areas of
morality
Priority in which five basic principles
should be applied
Week 2, PHIL2
2.22
Major Conflicting General Issues
in Setting Up a Moral System




Consequentialism vs.
nonconsequentialism
Self- vs. other-interestedness
Act vs. rule
Emotion vs. reason
Week 2, PHIL2
2.23
Resolving the Central Problem
Areas of Morality

A workable set of standards for morality
includes:





Rational and emotional aspects
Logical consistency with flexibility
Universality and particularity
Ability to be taught and promulgated
Ability to resolve conflicts
Week 2, PHIL2
2.24
Priority in Which Five Basic
Principles Should Be Applied

Determining priority of the basic
principles:


General way, in which the principles are
classified into two major categories based
on logical and empirical priority.
Particular way, in which priority is
determined by the actual situation or
context in which actions and decisions
occur.
Week 2, PHIL2
2.25
Priority in Which Five Basic
Principles Should Be Applied
(cont)

General way – two categories:

Primary category –



Principle of Goodness
Value of Life
Secondary category –



Justice
Truth-telling
Individual freedom
Week 2, PHIL2
2.26
Priority in Which Five Basic
Principles Should Be Applied


(cont.)
Particular way – priority is determined
only by referring to the actual situation
or context in which the moral action or
decision occurs
Morality always occurs in particular
situations to particular people, never in
the abstract.
Week 2, PHIL2
2.27
Week 2
Thiroux, Jacques P.
Ethics – Theory and Practice, 8th ed.
Chapters 4-7
Week 2, PHIL2
2.28