chapter 2 ethics. lesson 1 introduction to ethics

Chapter 2 EthicsChapter 2 Ethics

Lesson 1 Introduction to Lesson 1 Introduction to EthicsEthics

Ethics in TOKEthics in TOK

• How do we How do we knowknow what is right, and how what is right, and how do we do we knowknow what is wrong? what is wrong?

• What are the things that make up this What are the things that make up this knowledge?knowledge?

• Our culture?Our culture?• Our beliefs?Our beliefs?• Our laws?Our laws?

Belief is the basis of all action. What is more central to us than our ethical belief?

Morals and ethicsMorals and ethics

• Everyone has a set of Everyone has a set of morals that they live bymorals that they live by

• This set of morals This set of morals differs from other differs from other people’speople’s

• A complicated A complicated superstructure of moral superstructure of moral beliefs and ethical beliefs and ethical views can be called a views can be called a “Moral Framework” “Moral Framework”

Like this structure’s frame is made up of beams, ourmoral framework is made up of principles.

Moral ParsimonyMoral Parsimony

• A parsimonious moral framework is one A parsimonious moral framework is one that is very stingy in its use of principlesthat is very stingy in its use of principles

• Parsimonious moral frameworks have a Parsimonious moral frameworks have a very limited number of principles that very limited number of principles that apply to all situationsapply to all situations

• Less Less parsimonious moral frameworks more parsimonious moral frameworks more principles which apply to situations principles which apply to situations depending on the circumstancedepending on the circumstance

• More or less parsimonious has nothing to More or less parsimonious has nothing to do with good or bad. One is not better do with good or bad. One is not better than the otherthan the other

Questions for the Moral Questions for the Moral Parsimony exerciseParsimony exercise

• Question 1Question 1

• You pass someone in the street who You pass someone in the street who is in severe need and you are able to is in severe need and you are able to help them a little cost to yourself. help them a little cost to yourself. Are you morally obliged to do so?Are you morally obliged to do so?

• Strongly Obliged, Weakly Obliged, or Strongly Obliged, Weakly Obliged, or Not ObligedNot Obliged

Question 2Question 2

• You have a brother. You know that You have a brother. You know that someone has been seriously injured as a someone has been seriously injured as a result of criminal activity undertaken by result of criminal activity undertaken by him. You live in a country where the police him. You live in a country where the police are generally trustworthy. Are you morally are generally trustworthy. Are you morally obliged to inform them about your obliged to inform them about your brother's crime?brother's crime?

• Strongly obliged, Weakly Obliged, or Not Strongly obliged, Weakly Obliged, or Not ObligedObliged


• Do you think that assisting the suicide Do you think that assisting the suicide of someone who wants to die - and has of someone who wants to die - and has requested help - is morally equivalent requested help - is morally equivalent to allowing them to die by withholding to allowing them to die by withholding medical assistance (assuming that the medical assistance (assuming that the level of suffering turns out to be level of suffering turns out to be identical in both cases)?identical in both cases)?

• Yes or NoYes or No


• You are able to help some people. You are able to help some people. Unfortunately, you can only do so by Unfortunately, you can only do so by harming other people. The number of people harming other people. The number of people harmed will always be 10 percent of those harmed will always be 10 percent of those helped. When considering whether it is helped. When considering whether it is morally justified to help does the actual morally justified to help does the actual number of people involved make any number of people involved make any difference? For example, does it make a difference? For example, does it make a difference if you are helping ten people by difference if you are helping ten people by harming one person rather than helping harming one person rather than helping 100,000 people by harming 10,000 people?100,000 people by harming 10,000 people?



• You own an unoccupied property. You are You own an unoccupied property. You are contacted by a refugee group which desperately contacted by a refugee group which desperately needs somewhere to house a person seeking needs somewhere to house a person seeking asylum who is being unjustly persecuted in a asylum who is being unjustly persecuted in a foreign country. Your anonymity is assured. You foreign country. Your anonymity is assured. You have every reason to believe that no harm will have every reason to believe that no harm will come to your property. Are you morally obliged come to your property. Are you morally obliged to allow them to use your property?to allow them to use your property?



• A charity collection takes place in your A charity collection takes place in your office. For every UK£10.00 given, a blind office. For every UK£10.00 given, a blind person's sight is restored. Instead of person's sight is restored. Instead of donating UK£10.00, you use the money to donating UK£10.00, you use the money to treat yourself to a cocktail after work. Are treat yourself to a cocktail after work. Are you morally responsible for the continued you morally responsible for the continued blindness of the person who would have blindness of the person who would have been treated had you made the donation?been treated had you made the donation?

• Responsible, Partly Responsible, or Not Responsible, Partly Responsible, or Not ResponsibleResponsible


• Someone you have never met needs Someone you have never met needs a kidney transplant. You are one of a kidney transplant. You are one of the few people who can provide the the few people who can provide the kidney. Would any moral obligation kidney. Would any moral obligation to provide the kidney be greater if to provide the kidney be greater if this person were a cousin rather than this person were a cousin rather than a non-relative?a non-relative?



• You can save the lives of a thousand You can save the lives of a thousand patients by cancelling one hundred patients by cancelling one hundred operations that would have saved operations that would have saved the lives of a hundred different the lives of a hundred different patients. Are you morally obliged to patients. Are you morally obliged to do so??do so??



• Are your moral obligations to people in Are your moral obligations to people in your own country or community stronger your own country or community stronger than those to people in other countries than those to people in other countries and communities (assuming no unusual and communities (assuming no unusual circumstances - for example, suffering circumstances - for example, suffering because of famine - in either your own because of famine - in either your own country/community or other country/community or other countries/communities)?countries/communities)?



• You deliberately sabotage a piece of You deliberately sabotage a piece of machinery in your work place so that machinery in your work place so that when someone next uses it there will when someone next uses it there will be an accident which will result in that be an accident which will result in that person losing the use of their legs. Are person losing the use of their legs. Are you morally responsible for their injury?you morally responsible for their injury?



• You know the identity of someone who has You know the identity of someone who has committed a serious crime resulting in a committed a serious crime resulting in a person being badly injured. Are you person being badly injured. Are you morally obliged to reveal their identity to morally obliged to reveal their identity to an appropriate authority so that they are an appropriate authority so that they are dealt with justly?dealt with justly?



• You can save the lives of ten You can save the lives of ten innocent people by killing one other innocent people by killing one other innocent person. Are you morally innocent person. Are you morally obliged to do so?obliged to do so?



• You see an advertisement from a You see an advertisement from a charity in a newspaper about a charity in a newspaper about a person in severe need in Australia. person in severe need in Australia. You can help this person at little cost You can help this person at little cost to yourself. Are you morally obliged to yourself. Are you morally obliged to do so?to do so?

• Strongly obliged, Weakly Obliged, or Strongly obliged, Weakly Obliged, or Not ObligedNot Obliged


• You are required to send a person a gift, You are required to send a person a gift, and you have bought a bottle of drink to and you have bought a bottle of drink to send to them. However, you discover it is send to them. However, you discover it is poison and if consumed will cause blindness poison and if consumed will cause blindness in the drinker. To replace it with a non-in the drinker. To replace it with a non-contaminated bottle will cost you UK£10.00. contaminated bottle will cost you UK£10.00. You give the poisoned drink as a gift You give the poisoned drink as a gift anyway. Are you morally responsible for the anyway. Are you morally responsible for the blindness of the drinker?blindness of the drinker?



• A situation arises where you can either A situation arises where you can either save your own child from death or contact save your own child from death or contact the emergency services in order to save the emergency services in order to save the lives of ten other children. You cannot the lives of ten other children. You cannot do both, and there is no way to save do both, and there is no way to save everyone. Which course of action are you everyone. Which course of action are you morally obliged to follow?morally obliged to follow?

• Save your Own or Save the OthersSave your Own or Save the Others


• You can save the lives of ten patients You can save the lives of ten patients by cancelling one operation which by cancelling one operation which would have saved the life of a would have saved the life of a different patient. Are you morally different patient. Are you morally obliged to do so?obliged to do so?



• You own an unoccupied property. You are You own an unoccupied property. You are contacted by a welfare organisation which contacted by a welfare organisation which desperately needs somewhere to house a desperately needs somewhere to house a person from a nearby town who is being person from a nearby town who is being unjustly persecuted. Your anonymity is assured. unjustly persecuted. Your anonymity is assured. You have every reason to believe that no harm You have every reason to believe that no harm will come to your property. Are you morally will come to your property. Are you morally obliged to allow them to use your property?obliged to allow them to use your property?



• You become aware that a piece of machinery You become aware that a piece of machinery in your workplace is faulty and that if it is not in your workplace is faulty and that if it is not repaired then there will soon be an accident repaired then there will soon be an accident which will result in someone losing the use of which will result in someone losing the use of their legs. Despite knowing that nobody else their legs. Despite knowing that nobody else is aware of the fault, you take no action. is aware of the fault, you take no action. Shortly afterwards, the accident occurs, and Shortly afterwards, the accident occurs, and someone does lose the use of their legs. Are someone does lose the use of their legs. Are you morally responsible for their injury?you morally responsible for their injury?



• You can save the lives of a million You can save the lives of a million innocent people by killing a hundred innocent people by killing a hundred thousand others. Are you morally thousand others. Are you morally obliged to do so?obliged to do so?


Lesson 2 Introducing IdeasLesson 2 Introducing Ideas

Ethical absolutism Ethical absolutism

• There are definite rights and wrongs that There are definite rights and wrongs that apply all over the world and for all peopleapply all over the world and for all people

• A wrong action would be wrong for anyone, A wrong action would be wrong for anyone, anywhere, at any time, in any circumstancesanywhere, at any time, in any circumstances

• Ethical absolutism naturally implies that Ethical absolutism naturally implies that there is some sort of higher, uniting ethical there is some sort of higher, uniting ethical code that people must live up tocode that people must live up to

• Absolutism implies that there is an objective Absolutism implies that there is an objective right and there is an objective wrongright and there is an objective wrong

Ethical relativism Ethical relativism

• Claims that there is no objective right and Claims that there is no objective right and wrongwrong

• Ethics are created by the cultures in which Ethics are created by the cultures in which the ethics applythe ethics apply

• Something that is right in one culture can Something that is right in one culture can be wrong in anotherbe wrong in another

• It is a culture’s subjective view of that It is a culture’s subjective view of that action that makes the action right or wrongaction that makes the action right or wrong

• Subsequently it is impossible for one Subsequently it is impossible for one culture to justify imposing its ethical culture to justify imposing its ethical standards upon another culturestandards upon another culture

Lesson 3Lesson 3Follow up on Moral ParsimonyFollow up on Moral Parsimony

• Illustrate how different people have Illustrate how different people have different ethical frameworksdifferent ethical frameworks

• Discuss the different sub-categoriesDiscuss the different sub-categories • Let the students explain their views Let the students explain their views

on their scoreson their scores • Make ties to Lesson 2Make ties to Lesson 2 • Spend time focusing on individual Spend time focusing on individual

questions you find interestingquestions you find interesting

Lesson 4 Absolutism Lesson 4 Absolutism

The Expulsion from Paradise, Charles Joseph Natoire. (1740)

Ethical rules crucial to all Ethical rules crucial to all societiessocieties

• Makes interaction possibleMakes interaction possible

• Every culture in the world has ethics Every culture in the world has ethics and moral rulesand moral rules

• Knowledge about how to exist within Knowledge about how to exist within any given society must also know any given society must also know what is considered right and what is what is considered right and what is considered wrongconsidered wrong

Plato and the absolute goodPlato and the absolute good

Is this a perfect circle? Look very closely.

Plato and the absolute goodPlato and the absolute good

• Like the concept of circularity, the concept Like the concept of circularity, the concept of the “Good” is found of the “Good” is found not in the physical not in the physical realm of space and time, but instead as realm of space and time, but instead as changeless concepts in the world of Forms changeless concepts in the world of Forms and Ideasand Ideas

• These things can only be These things can only be knownknown by reason by reason

• The “Good” is something which exists and The “Good” is something which exists and which all inherently know if they reason which all inherently know if they reason properly upon itproperly upon it

DualismDualism • Human beings are made up of Human beings are made up of

a body a body andand a soula soul • The soul originally and The soul originally and

eternally resided in the place eternally resided in the place of perfect ideas and formsof perfect ideas and forms

• When we become When we become incarnated, incarnated, our perfect souls are taken our perfect souls are taken from this perfect ideal world from this perfect ideal world and they are trapped in our and they are trapped in our imperfect cages of meatimperfect cages of meat

• This forces us to seek out the This forces us to seek out the truth through the only means truth through the only means we have—our senseswe have—our senses

• Our souls, argued Plato, Our souls, argued Plato, understand the good and the understand the good and the righteousrighteous

We may occasionally see a beam of light filter through the confinements which we would immediately recognize as being sunlight,

but we will never get a clear, unobstructed look at the sun itself.

Plato views are hugely Plato views are hugely important for absolutism important for absolutism

because…because… • According to this concept, there is a According to this concept, there is a

GoodGood to know to know• It is a real idealIt is a real ideal • Our actions can be compared to this Our actions can be compared to this

GoodGood • It is something all of us should try to It is something all of us should try to

obtainobtain• It is an objective standard by which all It is an objective standard by which all

our actions are judgedour actions are judged

Plato’s views are called an Plato’s views are called an “absolute” set of morals “absolute” set of morals

becausebecause• This ethical reality would apply to This ethical reality would apply to

everyone everywhereeveryone everywhere • All beings live by the same standard All beings live by the same standard

whether they realize it or notwhether they realize it or not • There is a set standard to live up to. If There is a set standard to live up to. If

someone does not live up to that standard someone does not live up to that standard they are living incorrectlythey are living incorrectly

• This viewpoint assumes there is a This viewpoint assumes there is a standard everyone should abide bystandard everyone should abide by

The The Divine command TheoryDivine command Theory states… states…

• ““Moral,” and “right,” actions are those Moral,” and “right,” actions are those which confirm to God’s willwhich confirm to God’s will

• God’s will is the foundation for all God’s will is the foundation for all moralitymorality

• Understanding God’s will allows Understanding God’s will allows people to people to knowknow if an action right or if an action right or wrongwrong

• This is a form of ethical absolutismThis is a form of ethical absolutism

How absolutism ties to ethical How absolutism ties to ethical knowledgeknowledge

• An absolutist An absolutist knowsknows that actions are that actions are either right or wrong because of the either right or wrong because of the absolute rulesabsolute rules

• This allows an absolutist to judge This allows an absolutist to judge other people around the world by the other people around the world by the same set of rulessame set of rules

Problems with absolutismProblems with absolutism

• What happens if one culture (culture What happens if one culture (culture A) knows something is right (for A) knows something is right (for example eating pork) and another example eating pork) and another culture (culture B) knows it is wrong? culture (culture B) knows it is wrong?

• Often two different cultures will Often two different cultures will adhere to two contrasting sets of adhere to two contrasting sets of ”absolute” rules”absolute” rules

• Absolutism can lead to hasty Absolutism can lead to hasty judgments and misunderstandingjudgments and misunderstanding

Lesson 5 Ethical RelativismLesson 5 Ethical Relativism

Hobbes and Social Contract Hobbes and Social Contract TheoryTheory

• Man’s natural state Man’s natural state is that of is that of all is that of is that of all out warfareout warfare

• In this state, the only In this state, the only goal is to take as goal is to take as much as we can get much as we can get and keep it for as and keep it for as long as possiblelong as possible

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

Social contract (contd.)Social contract (contd.)

• In this natural state, “In this natural state, “To this war of every To this war of every man against every man, this also is man against every man, this also is consequent; consequent; that nothing can be unjustthat nothing can be unjust. . The notions of right and wrong, justice The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice, have there no placeand injustice, have there no place””

• ““The passions that incline men to peace are: The passions that incline men to peace are: fear of death; desire of such things as are fear of death; desire of such things as are necessary to commodious living; and a hope necessary to commodious living; and a hope by their industry to obtain them.”by their industry to obtain them.”


• In this state of total war, “every man has a In this state of total war, “every man has a right to every thing, even to one another's right to every thing, even to one another's body. And therefore, as long as this natural body. And therefore, as long as this natural right of every man to every thing endureth, right of every man to every thing endureth, there can be no security to any man”there can be no security to any man”

• Because of the fact that there can be no Because of the fact that there can be no security at all in this state, man is inclined to security at all in this state, man is inclined to seek peace. seek peace.

• These motives are selfish for peace is the most These motives are selfish for peace is the most reasonable means of procuring the things one reasonable means of procuring the things one wants wants


• This leads into an This leads into an agreement, “agreement, “that a man be that a man be willing, when others are so willing, when others are so too, as far forth as for peace too, as far forth as for peace and defence of himself he and defence of himself he shall think it necessary, to shall think it necessary, to lay down this right to all lay down this right to all things; and be contented things; and be contented with so much liberty against with so much liberty against other men as he would allow other men as he would allow other men against himself”other men against himself”

• ““For as long as every man For as long as every man holdeth this right, of doing holdeth this right, of doing anything he liketh; so long anything he liketh; so long are all men in the condition are all men in the condition of war” of war”


• It is only at this point that the concept of It is only at this point that the concept of injustice or unethical can begin to existinjustice or unethical can begin to exist

• ““so in the world it is called injustice, and so in the world it is called injustice, and injury voluntarily to undo that which from injury voluntarily to undo that which from the beginning he had voluntarily done”the beginning he had voluntarily done”

• If a person, after agreeing to give up the If a person, after agreeing to give up the right to all things, once again attempts to right to all things, once again attempts to have the right to all things, this is an have the right to all things, this is an injusticeinjustice

• ““The mutual transferring of right is The mutual transferring of right is that which men call contractthat which men call contract””


• And in this law of nature consisteth the And in this law of nature consisteth the fountain and original of justicefountain and original of justice. For where . For where no covenant hath preceded, there hath no no covenant hath preceded, there hath no right been transferred, and every man has right been transferred, and every man has right to everything and consequently, no right to everything and consequently, no action can be unjust. But when a covenant action can be unjust. But when a covenant is made, then to break it is unjust and the is made, then to break it is unjust and the definition of definition of injustice is no other than injustice is no other than the not performance of covenantthe not performance of covenant. . And And whatsoever is not unjust is just.whatsoever is not unjust is just.

How Hobbes’ ideas lead into How Hobbes’ ideas lead into ethical relativism ethical relativism

• People need People need certain things to certain things to survive in their survive in their environmentenvironment

• These things are These things are different from different from place to placeplace to place

How Hobbes’ ideas lead into How Hobbes’ ideas lead into ethical relativism (contd.)ethical relativism (contd.)

• Because of this the concept of being Because of this the concept of being selfish is different from place to placeselfish is different from place to place

• If someone takes whatever they If someone takes whatever they want, whenever they want it, what want, whenever they want it, what they take will differ from place to they take will differ from place to place due to the conditions of that place due to the conditions of that placeplace

How Hobbes’ ideas lead into How Hobbes’ ideas lead into ethical relativism (contd.)ethical relativism (contd.)• Subsequently, when men tire of the state of Subsequently, when men tire of the state of

constant conflict and agree to give up the right to constant conflict and agree to give up the right to everything, what they give up the right to will also everything, what they give up the right to will also differ (i.e. water in one place coal in another)differ (i.e. water in one place coal in another)

• Therefore the concept of what is ethical behaviour Therefore the concept of what is ethical behaviour and what is unethical behaviour will differ from and what is unethical behaviour will differ from place to place because the social contract dictating place to place because the social contract dictating proper behaviour differs from place to placeproper behaviour differs from place to place

• Thus ethics and morals are relative to the cultures Thus ethics and morals are relative to the cultures from which they come since they are created by from which they come since they are created by cultures so these specific cultures can coexist cultures so these specific cultures can coexist

SummarizingSummarizing

• The crucial point to remember is since The crucial point to remember is since cultures develop differently in different parts cultures develop differently in different parts of the world, what is considered selfish is of the world, what is considered selfish is also different. Therefore, the social contracts also different. Therefore, the social contracts people make, contracts which keep them people make, contracts which keep them from being selfish, will also be different. from being selfish, will also be different. Consequently, behaviour that breaks those Consequently, behaviour that breaks those contracts (behaviour that is ethically wrong), contracts (behaviour that is ethically wrong), will be different in different places. will be different in different places.

• This implies there can be no absolute ethicsThis implies there can be no absolute ethics

Lesson 6 The United Nations Lesson 6 The United Nations Ethics GameEthics Game

The United Nations General Assembly

The goal of this game is to The goal of this game is to produce a document consisting of produce a document consisting of

8 human rights8 human rights • 1 Human right must deal with 1 Human right must deal with

the treatment of the treatment of criminals/prisonerscriminals/prisoners

• 1 Human right must deal with 1 Human right must deal with medical caremedical care

• 1 Human right must deal with 1 Human right must deal with educationeducation

• 1 human right must deal with 1 human right must deal with personal freedomspersonal freedoms

• 4 Human rights can be about 4 Human rights can be about whatever your groups can whatever your groups can agree uponagree upon

The countriesThe countries

• GambakunGambakun

• Felomar Felomar (Federated (Federated Land Of Many Land Of Many Riches)Riches)

• NanzhoushanNanzhoushan

• Santa SulôniaSanta Sulônia

Before the original UN declaration was signed in 1948, there were over 1400

rounds of voting to come up with proper wording that would please all

parties

Food for thoughtFood for thought

• "If all mankind minus one, were of "If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person one opinion, and only one person

were of the contrary opinion, were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more mankind would be no more

justified in silencing that one justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in power, would be justified in

silencing mankind."silencing mankind."- John Stuart Mill- John Stuart Mill

Lesson 7 SocratesLesson 7 Socrates

Socrates 469 BC-399 BC

Socrates arguedSocrates argued

• It was possible to discover ethical It was possible to discover ethical truthtruth

• Reasoning is the tool which can lead Reasoning is the tool which can lead to the discoveryto the discovery

• The method for discovering these The method for discovering these ethical truths is called the ethical truths is called the Socratic Socratic MethodMethod

The Socratic Method of thought The Socratic Method of thought for finding true ethical for finding true ethical

statementsstatements• Find any (ethical) statement which you consider to Find any (ethical) statement which you consider to

be true. This is called an “ethical hypothesis.”be true. This is called an “ethical hypothesis.” • Come up with a situation in which the statement is Come up with a situation in which the statement is

not true and that negates the ethical hypothesisnot true and that negates the ethical hypothesis • Nuance the original hypothesis to come up with a Nuance the original hypothesis to come up with a

new ethical hypothesis which takes into account new ethical hypothesis which takes into account the negation of the first hypothesisthe negation of the first hypothesis

• Find a situation in which the new hypothesis does Find a situation in which the new hypothesis does not apply thereby negating it, and then nuance the not apply thereby negating it, and then nuance the statement to come up with yet another new statement to come up with yet another new hypothesishypothesis

• Continue the process until you find a hypothesis Continue the process until you find a hypothesis which is impossible to negate. Once you have done which is impossible to negate. Once you have done so you have found knowledgeso you have found knowledge

Rules for the Socratic CircleRules for the Socratic Circle

• There must be There must be consensus between consensus between student and teacher student and teacher on topic of instructionon topic of instruction

• The students must The students must agree to attempt to agree to attempt to answer the questions answer the questions the teacher poses to the teacher poses to themthem

Rules for the Socratic Circle Rules for the Socratic Circle (contd.)(contd.)

• Both student and teacher must agree to Both student and teacher must agree to accept any answer as long as the answer is accept any answer as long as the answer is correctly reasoned. The reasoning process is correctly reasoned. The reasoning process is more important than the factsmore important than the facts

• It is imperative that the teacher exposes It is imperative that the teacher exposes errors in the reasoning of the students; any errors in the reasoning of the students; any fallacies must be brought to attention and fallacies must be brought to attention and dealt with. Any mistaken statement or dealt with. Any mistaken statement or logical inconsistency must be weeded out to logical inconsistency must be weeded out to get a truthful answerget a truthful answer

Rules for the Socratic Circle Rules for the Socratic Circle (contd.)(contd.)

• The teacher must be able to reason The teacher must be able to reason quickly and correctly to discover errors in quickly and correctly to discover errors in the students’ reasoning, then be able to the students’ reasoning, then be able to formulate questions that students must formulate questions that students must reason correctly about if they are to reason correctly about if they are to answer themanswer them

• The teacher must be willing to be The teacher must be willing to be corrected by the students if there is an corrected by the students if there is an error in the teacher's reasoningerror in the teacher's reasoning

Lesson 8 Closing argumentsLesson 8 Closing arguments

Moral relativismMoral relativism

• Moral relativism states that a culture’s Moral relativism states that a culture’s morality is part of an intricate morality is part of an intricate framework of tradition, beliefs, practice, framework of tradition, beliefs, practice, history, world view, and feelings that history, world view, and feelings that are comprised to make up what we are comprised to make up what we generally call generally call cultureculture

• Cultures differ around the world and so Cultures differ around the world and so to will different cultures’ ideas of to will different cultures’ ideas of moralitymorality

Arguments against the Arguments against the absolutist set of beliefsabsolutist set of beliefs

• All moral systems are sets of All moral systems are sets of rulesrules

• Second, Second, we are blank moral we are blank moral slates at birthslates at birth

• Finally, Finally, we can not escape the we can not escape the subjectivity of at least one moral subjectivity of at least one moral systemsystem

AbsolutismAbsolutism

• Moral relativists would have us Moral relativists would have us believe that there is no right and believe that there is no right and there is no wrongthere is no wrong

• This is incorrect. Some things are This is incorrect. Some things are simply wrongsimply wrong

Absolutism (contd.)Absolutism (contd.)

• If relativism were to work at all, it If relativism were to work at all, it would it only work when cultures are would it only work when cultures are isolated from one anotherisolated from one another

• Belief does not make something right Belief does not make something right or wrong in ethics any more than it or wrong in ethics any more than it does in math or sciencedoes in math or science

• Relativism is a simple-minded, easy Relativism is a simple-minded, easy philosophyphilosophy

chapter 2 ethics. lesson 1 introduction to ethics

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