Ethics
“Moral Philosophy”
"Ethics
is a code of values
which guide our choices and
actions and determine the
purpose and course of our
lives.“ --- Ayn Rand
Ethics
Branch of philosophy
concerned with the evaluation
of human conduct
-
What ought we do
- What type of person ought we
become
Ethics
Usually divided into three general
areas
1.
Meta-ethics
2.
Normative ethics
3.
Applied ethics
Meta-ethics
Investigates the origin of our ethical
principles and what they imply
- Are Ethics merely social inventions?
- Are there moral facts?
- Why should we do the “right” thing?
Normative Ethics
Arrives at moral standards that
regulate right and wrong conduct
-
How do we decide what is right from
wrong?
-
What good habits should we acquire?
- What duty do we have to others?
Applied Ethics
Examines specific controversial
issues
Examples:
-----
Abortion
Capital punishment
War
Animal rights
Ethical Relativism
There are no universally
valid moral principles
All moral principles are a
matter of Human opinion
Ethical Relativism
Subjective Ethical Relativism
- What is right and wrong is solely a
matter of each individual’s personal
opinion
Conventional Ethical Relativism
(Conventionalism)
- What is right and wrong is relative to
each particular society
Subjective Ethical Relativism
“Raw Oysters
taste delicious”
“Tattoos are
awesome”
Subjective Ethical Relativism
“It is wrong to cheat”
Conventional Ethical Relativism
“Contemporary
values of the
1900’s dictated
that Women
should not
expose their
bodies (even
when
swimming)”
Conventional Ethical Relativism
“In the 1920’s it
was immoral
for women to
wear bathing
suits that were
more than 6
inches above
the knee”
Conventional Ethical Relativism
“ It was OK
to treat
people
differently
because of
their race”
Conventional Ethical Relativism
“There is
nothing
wrong with
Genocide as
long as
society
condones it”
Ethical Objectivism
There are universal and
objective moral principles
These principles are not
relative to the individual
nor to society
Ethical Objectivism
5 + 5 = ???
How many
sides does a
triangle
have?
Ethical Objectivism
“Murdering
an
innocent
person is
wrong”
Ethical Egoism
People
should
always act to
promote their
own self
interest
 Note
-- egoism
should not be
confused with
being an egotist- a self centered
person with an
inflated ego
Ethical Egoism
Not concerned with
gratifying
immediate desires
Concerned with
promoting our
objective (long
term) self interest
Ethical Egoism
What does it mean to act in your
self interest?
Pursue those ends that will contribute to
your personal happiness
Maximize our own good an well being
Ethical Egoism
“Love and friendship are profoundly
personal, selfish values…. One gains
a profoundly personal, selfish joy
from the mere existence of the
person one loves. It is one’s own
personal, selfish happiness that one
seeks, earns and derives from love”
Ethical Egoism
How would an ethical egoist
justify the following?
Putting your life at risk to save a
loved one.
Giving money to a worthy charity
Helping your neighbor move