the moral point of view

8/3/2019 The Moral Point of View

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The Moral Point of ViewThe Moral Point of View



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Why Study Ethics?Why Study Ethics?

Moral concerns are unavoidable inMoral concerns are unavoidable in

life.life.

Analogy: morality is a lot likeAnalogy: morality is a lot likenutrition.nutrition. Principal concern: healthPrincipal concern: health

The role of experts The role of experts

DisagreementDisagreement



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Ethics as an OngoingEthics as an Ongoing

ConversationConversation Professional discussions of ethicalProfessional discussions of ethical

issues in journals.issues in journals.

We come back to ideas again andWe come back to ideas again and

again, finding new meaning in them.again, finding new meaning in them.



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Ethics and MoralityEthics and Morality

Morality:Morality: first-order set of beliefs andfirst-order set of beliefs and

practices about how to live a goodpractices about how to live a good

lifelife

Ethics:Ethics: a second-order, consciousa second-order, conscious

reflection on the adequacy of ourreflection on the adequacy of our

moral beliefs.moral beliefs.



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Moral HealthMoral Health

The goal of ethical reflection is moral The goal of ethical reflection is moral

health.health.

Thus we seek to determine what will Thus we seek to determine what will

nourish our moral life and what willnourish our moral life and what will

poison it.poison it.



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Ethical InventoryEthical Inventory

Take the ethical inventory on pp. 8- Take the ethical inventory on pp. 8-

10 now or on the web at:10 now or on the web at: http://http://ethics.sandiego.edu/ActiveWebSurvey/theoryethics.sandiego.edu/ActiveWebSurvey/theory// ..

Return to your answers afterReturn to your answers after

finishing each chapter.finishing each chapter.

http://ethics.sandiego.edu/ActiveWebSurvey/theory/










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The Moral Point of ViewThe Moral Point of View

What makes something a moralWhat makes something a moral

issue?issue?

Content:Content: duties, rights, human welfare, suffering,duties, rights, human welfare, suffering,

character, etc.character, etc.

Perspective:Perspective: impartial, compassionate, etc.impartial, compassionate, etc.


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Example: CheatingExample: Cheating

Imagine a situation in which you see aImagine a situation in which you see aclassmate cheating. There are severalclassmate cheating. There are severalelements from a moral point of view:elements from a moral point of view: Some people are hurt by the cheatingSome people are hurt by the cheating There is deception in the situation There is deception in the situation Cheating seems to be unfair to those whoCheating seems to be unfair to those who

don’t cheatdon’t cheat There are conflicting values—honesty, There are conflicting values—honesty,

loyalty, etc.loyalty, etc. There are questions of character. There are questions of character.



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The Language of MoralThe Language of Moral

ConcernsConcerns Some philosophers have argued thatSome philosophers have argued that

moral issues are characterized by amoral issues are characterized by a

particular kind of language—termsparticular kind of language—termssuch as duty, obligation, right, andsuch as duty, obligation, right, and

good.good.



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ImpartialityImpartiality

Many philosophers have argued thatMany philosophers have argued that

the moral point of view isthe moral point of view is

characterized by impartiality, thatcharacterized by impartiality, thatis, I don’t give my own interest anyis, I don’t give my own interest any

special weight.special weight.

Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant

John Stuart Mill John Stuart Mill



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CompassionCompassion

Other philosophers have seen theOther philosophers have seen the

origin of the moral life to be inorigin of the moral life to be in

compassion, feeling for the sufferingcompassion, feeling for the suffering

of other sentient beings.of other sentient beings. Josiah Royce: “Such as that is for me, Josiah Royce: “Such as that is for me,

so is it for him, nothing less.”so is it for him, nothing less.”



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Universally BindingUniversally Binding

Moral obligations, some philosophersMoral obligations, some philosophersmaintain, are universally binding andmaintain, are universally binding andthat is what gives them their distinctivethat is what gives them their distinctive

character.character. Kant: morality is a matter of categoricalKant: morality is a matter of categorical

imperatives.imperatives. Distinguish between hypothetical andDistinguish between hypothetical and

categorical imperatives.categorical imperatives.



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Concern for Character Concern for Character

Philosophers from Aristotle onwardPhilosophers from Aristotle onward

have seen the primary focus of have seen the primary focus of

morality to be character.morality to be character.

Two questions: Two questions: What ought I to do? (Kant and Mill)What ought I to do? (Kant and Mill)

What kind of person ought I to be?What kind of person ought I to be?

(Aristotle)(Aristotle)



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The Focus of EthicsThe Focus of Ethics

Ethics as the Evaluation of OtherEthics as the Evaluation of Other

People’s BehaviorPeople’s Behavior We are often eager to pass judgment onWe are often eager to pass judgment on

othersothers

Ethics as the Search for Meaning andEthics as the Search for Meaning and

Value in Our Own LivesValue in Our Own Lives



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Ethics as the Evaluation of Ethics as the Evaluation of

Other People’s Behavior Other People’s Behavior Ethics often used as a weaponEthics often used as a weapon

HypocrisyHypocrisy

Possibility of knowing other peoplePossibility of knowing other people The right to judge other people The right to judge other people

The right to intervene The right to intervene

Judging and caring Judging and caring



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Ethics as the Search for Ethics as the Search for

Meaning and Value in Our Meaning and Value in Our Own LivesOwn Lives

Positive focusPositive focus

Aims at discerning what is goodAims at discerning what is good Emphasizes personal responsibilityEmphasizes personal responsibility

for one’s own lifefor one’s own life



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What to Expect from a MoralWhat to Expect from a Moral

TheoryTheory

Functions of theory:Functions of theory:

DescribeDescribe

ExplainExplain Give strength (Stockdale)Give strength (Stockdale)

PrescribePrescribe

Open new possibilitiesOpen new possibilities WonderWonder



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What to Expect from a MoralWhat to Expect from a Moral

Theory, 2Theory, 2

What is ethics like?What is ethics like?

PhysicsPhysics

Clear-cut, definitive answersClear-cut, definitive answers

EngineeringEngineering Several possible ways of doing things,Several possible ways of doing things,

many ways that are wrongmany ways that are wrong



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The Point of Ethical ReflectionThe Point of Ethical Reflection

Ethics as the evaluation of other people’sEthics as the evaluation of other people’sbehaviorbehavior Sources of mistrust about moral judgmentsSources of mistrust about moral judgments

HypocrisyHypocrisy Knowing other peopleKnowing other people The right to judge The right to judge Judging and intervention Judging and intervention Judging and caring Judging and caring

Ethics as the search for the meaning of ourEthics as the search for the meaning of ourown livesown lives



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Conclusion:Conclusion:

Ethics & Good HealthEthics & Good Health Ethics is like nutritionEthics is like nutrition

One studies bodily health, the otherOne studies bodily health, the other

moral healthmoral health

Significant disagreement in both fieldsSignificant disagreement in both fields

Still there is a significant commonStill there is a significant common

ground.ground.

the moral point of view

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