Philosophy 111
What is
Philosophy?
Critical inquiry
into the
fundamental
nature of “stuff”.
Ethics
 Also
called
“moral
philosophy”
 Branch
of
philosophy
concerned with
the evaluation
of human
conduct
Ethics

"Ethics is a code
of values which
guide our choices
and actions and
determine the
purpose and
course of our
lives.“ --- Ayn
Rand
Ethics vs. Morality
“Morality” deals
with beliefs
concerning right
and wrong
 These beliefs can
include:

-
judgments
values
rules
principles
theories

“Ethics” is the
philosophical study
of morality
Ethics
-
What ought
we do
- What type
of person
ought we
become
Ethics
How do we
know right
from wrong?
Where do we
our ethical
beliefs come
from?
What does ‘doing ethics’ mean?
Deliberating about the
rightness or wrongness
of actions
 Examining the
soundness of your (and
other people’s) moral
outlook
 Questioning whether
your moral decisionmaking rests on
coherent supporting
considerations

Ethics
Usually divided
into three
general areas
1.
2.
Meta-ethics
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
Elements of Ethics
What is it
about ethics
that make it
unique?
Elements of Ethics
1.
Preeminence
of Reason
Elements of Ethics
2.
Universal
Perspective
Elements of Ethics
3.
Principle of
Impartiality
Elements of Ethics
4.
Dominance
of Moral
Norms