What Would a

Satisfactory Moral Theory

Look Like?

PHIL 2525Lec 23

Derek Parfit

Some people Some people believe that there believe that there cannot be progress cannot be progress in Ethics, since in Ethics, since everything has everything has already been said...already been said...

I believe the I believe the opposite..opposite..

13.1 Morality 13.1 Morality without without HubrisHubris

Timothy Vermeulen 2002Timothy Vermeulen 2002

“Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?”

Carl Sagan 1934 - 1996 Carl Sagan 1934 - 1996

Carl Sagan’s Cosmic Time ChartsPre December Dates (approximate, of

course)January 1January 1 Big BangBig BangMay 1May 1 Origin of the Milky WayOrigin of the Milky WaySeptember 9September 9 Origin of the Solar SystemOrigin of the Solar SystemSeptember 14September 14Formation of the EarthFormation of the EarthSeptember 25September 25Origin of life on EarthOrigin of life on EarthOctober 2October 2 Formation of the oldest rocks known on EarthFormation of the oldest rocks known on EarthOctober 9October 9 Date of oldest fossils (bacteria and blue-Date of oldest fossils (bacteria and blue-green algaegreen algaeNovember 1November 1 Invention of sex (by micro-organisms)Invention of sex (by micro-organisms)November 12November 12 Oldest fossil photosynthetic plantsOldest fossil photosynthetic plantsNovember 15November 15 Eukaryotes (first cells with nuclei) flourishEukaryotes (first cells with nuclei) flourish

From From The Dragons of EdenThe Dragons of Eden by Carl by Carl SaganSagan

December

“The life of man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster.”

David Hume David Hume (1711-1776)(1711-1776)

Charles DarwinCharles Darwin

We are rational beings...

We consider optionsWe consider optionsWe weigh consequencesWe weigh consequencesWe choose to behave one way rather We choose to behave one way rather

than anotherthan anotherWe articulate the reasons for our We articulate the reasons for our

choiceschoices

Ethical Egoism: Ethical Egoism: prescriptive prescriptive Psychological Egoism: descriptivePsychological Egoism: descriptive

Rachels says that Rachels says that psychological psychological egoism is not egoism is not true...true...

13.2 Treating People as They Deserve...

Remember Kant’s ‘respect for persons’Remember Kant’s ‘respect for persons’

If we don’t adjust our actions to reflect If we don’t adjust our actions to reflect our judgments of others’ actions we our judgments of others’ actions we may be denying their status as free may be denying their status as free agents...agents...

But...But...

13.3 Multiple-Strategies Utilitarianism

Our lives will go better if...we love Our lives will go better if...we love our children, enjoy our friends, take our children, enjoy our friends, take pride in our work, pride in our work, keep our keep our promises.....promises.....

13.4 The Moral Community

The Trolley Problem...

Harvard’s Moral Sense Test

Bertrand Russell

If when a man writes a poem or commits a murder, the bodily movements involved in his act result solely from physical causes, it would seem absurd to put up a statue to him in the one case and to hang him in the other.

Decisions…

Decisions…

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair,And having perhaps the better claim,Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

………. I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.

Carl Jung…

Without freedom Without freedom there can be no there can be no morality.morality.

Challenges to the existence of free will

The challenge from Logic

The challenge from Theology

The challenge from Science

Daniel Dennett: Elbow Room:The Varieties of Free Will Worth Wanting

Nature has Nature has played a played a devious devious trick on us. trick on us.

Dennett’s Dennett’s book book suggests suggests we should we should grin and grin and bear it. bear it.