Activity – Pure sex appeal5 groups of 4 – 1 poster eachRead Sinbad the sailorRank characters from the most

reprehensible to the least reprehensible, according to moral values, justifying your choices. 20 min

QuestionsWhat are the methods of verifying

moral positions?Is there such a thing as a moral fact?Are all values the same? If not, what

is your hierarchy of ethical concern?What are the differences between

judging moral values according to PrinciplesMotivesConsequences

From other times and places

What are the major moral issues of today? What were they 100 years ago? 1000 years ago? What will they be 100 years from now?

Are there moral judgments that do not change across cultures?

Ethical issues throughout timehttp://www.gallup.com/poll/1681/moral-issu

es.aspx

Ethical issues throughout cultures

United States France

AbortionThe death

penaltyArms controlTeaching

creationism in schools

Marriage

SecularismAssisted

reproductionNew social rights

(housing)The market economy

(private education)Genetically Modified

Organisms the Louvre museum

in Abu-DhabiIllegal immigrants

Ethics (objectives) Define ‘morality’, ‘ethics’ and ‘value

judgements’Give one real life example of ethical relativismExplain how moral judgments differ if one

focuses on the person (virtue ethics), motivation (duty based theories), consequences (utilitarianism) or the situation

Give example of one personal moral judgementGive examples of ethical issue related to \areas

of knowledge Explain how two ways of knowing are relevant

to moral judgementsGive one example to show how knowledge may

create moral responsibilities

EthicsEthics is a set of rules to regulate the way

people behave Within an organization these rules

underpin the aims of the services that created them (doctors have ethical rules es. confidentiality that helps them achieve the aim of their profession)

EthicsWithin our society ethics is a set of clearly

stated moral principles that is useful to guide us in our every day relationships with others

My action is ethical if:I believe it’s right and i am ready to justify it as suchThe interest of someone else rather than myself is

involvedI must act of my own free willMy action must be deliberate

Where do ethical principles come from? Philosophers and religious thinkers have

developed themThey are called Theories of Conduct:

Religious theoriesThe Self Interest TheoriesThe Universal Law theoryThe Utilitarian theory

Religious theories of conductThe major religions in the world have

ethical codes which set standards of behavior for their members

The codes are usually revealed through divine revelation, that is directly from a god to a prophet

There are problems with the religious theories of conduct

The four main religionsHinduismBuddhismIslamChristianity

The self-interest theoryWe should aim at the acquisition of all

those things we most desireIf we cultivate virtues like generosity,

bravery, temperance and loyalty, on the long term these will make us happy (Aristotle - Nichomachean Ethics)

Self-interest is not selfishness: concern for others is rational self-interest

The universal law theoryKant: the categorical imperative

The universal law: we act in such a way that our actions could become a universal rule of human conduct

The law of respecting others: People should be respected as rational beings with goals of their own. No-one should use people simply to attain their own goals

The utilitarian theoryActions are right if they are useful, or for

the benefit of, the majority More applicable to governments or

organizations rather than being a personal ethical code

A contemporary definition of the ethicalThere are no objective moral truthsEthics was developed in ancient times as

the best pragmatic way to survive and then genetically passed on to further generations

Glossary Morality: the rightness or wrongness of

something as judged by accepted moral standards

Ethics: a system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct for a person or group

Value judgment: subjective judgment, a judgment of the worth, appropriateness, or importance of somebody or something made on the basis of personal beliefs, opinions, or prejudices rather than facts

Quotes“Broken promises don’t upset me. I just

think, “why did they believe me?” Jack Handy, 1949-

“These are my principles and if you don’t like them – I have others” Groucho Marx, 1890-1977

“Whenever I’m caught between two evils, I take the one I’ve never tried” Mae West, 1892-1980