What is Morality?

We are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live

-- Socrates.

Morality is, at very least, the effort to guide one’s conduct by reason -- that is, to do what there are the best reasons for doing-- while giving equal weight to the interests of each individual who will be affected by what one does -- James Rachels.

Moral Principles

General moral principles make some general statement about what is morally right or wrong, or good or bad, or what we should or ought, or shouldn’t or ought not to do.

Moral Principles

Duties---Obligations

Rights

Human Welfare

Suffering

Characteristics of Moral Principles

1. Prescriptive

2. Universal

3. Overriding

4. Public

5. Practical

Some common moral arguments or principles

If we can benefit someone, without harming someone else, we ought to do so.

If we can prevent harm to someone, without harming someone else, we ought to do so.

Some common moral arguments or principles

It is wrong to use people as means to other people’s ends.

What is wrong about using people?

It violates their autonomy.

What if the person cannot make decisions for themselves?

It may be against their wishes.

Some common moral arguments

It is wrong to kill one person to save another.

Are there exceptions?

Some common moral arguments

We should save as many as we can.

Human life is sacred.

Some common moral arguments

Human lives are equally valuable.

Human lives are equally sacred.

What is a moral position?

A moral position is one that I can support with reasons.

What is moral reasoning?

The morally right things to do is whatever there are the best reasons for doing.

The facts of the case support our reasoning for a particular choice being right.

What is moral reasoning?

The reasoning is impartial.

The arguments supporting the reasoning are sound.

The arguments supporting the reasoning are valid.

What is a sound argument

A sound argument is one in which the facts of the case support our reasoning and the arguments supporting the reasoning are valid.

Dworkin's list of unacceptable reasons to justify a moral position.

1. Prejudice

2. Personal emotional reaction

3. Proposition of fact that is patently false and/or implausible

4. Position that relies completely on the beliefs of others

Ethics as the evaluation of other people's behaviour

Sources of mistrust about moral judgements

Knowing other people

Hypocrisy

The right to judge

Judging and intervention

Judging and caring

Ethics as the search for the meaning of our own lives

How Would You Define Ethics?

The field of ethics (or moral philosophy) involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior.

Ethics refers to well based standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues.

Ethics describes the topic, idea, study, analysis, and discussion, of the hypothetical criteria for assessing the appropriateness of behaviors, decisions, actions, and/or intellectual positions.

Ethics is concerned with what is right or wrong, good or bad, fair or unfair, responsible or irresponsible, obligatory or permissible, praiseworthy or blameworthy. It is associated with guilt, shame, indignation, resentment, empathy, compassion, and care. It is interested in character as well as conduct.

Ethics refers to principles that define behavior as right, good, and proper.

Ethics is the study of how we ought to live

Ethics tells us what is right or wrong, or good or bad, or what we should or ought, or shouldn’t or ought not to do.