Ethics – what is it? eth·ics     [eth-iks]–plural noun

1.(used with a singular or plural verb ) a system of moral principles: the ethics of a culture.

2. The rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics.

3. Moral principles, as of an individual: His ethics forbade betrayal of a confidence.

4. (usually used with a singular verb ) that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.

The four basic fields of Ethical theory

Meta-ethics Normative ethics Descriptive ethics Applied ethics

Meta-ethics(What does right even mean?)

Studies the nature of ethical claims.– What is the meaning of moral terms or judgments?

• What do the words ‘good’, ‘bad’, ‘right’, and ‘wrong’ even mean?

– What is the nature of moral judgments?• Are they objective or relative?

– How may moral judgments be supported or defended?• How can we know if something is right or wrong? Is it even

possible?

Meta-ethical views: Realism

Evaluative claims are factual statements. The truth or falsehood of such claims do not depend on beliefs or attitudes towards what is evaluated

– Ethical intuitionism• Everything boils down to objective moral properties

(good/bad) and we have an intuitive awareness of these moral properties

– Ethical naturalism• The meanings of ethical sentences can be expressed without

the use of ethical terms (e.g., "good" and "right"), and these non-ethical terms refer to natural properties.

Meta-ethical Views: Anti-realism There are no objective values

– Ethical Subjectivism• Moral statements are true/false depending on attitudes of people

– In order to be right, it must be approved by society or– A deity must approve of it – people obey the divine will or– There are as many scales of good/evil as people in the world or – A hypothetical ideal observer determines good/evil

– Non-cognitivism • Ethical sentences serve to express emotion• Moral statements replace imperatives• Ethical sentences can be called ‘true’ or ‘false’ even without

support

– Error theory• All ethical sentences are false.

Normative Ethics(How should people act?)

Concerned mainly with classifying actions as right or wrong– Consequentialism: The morality is based on the end result

• An action is right if it leads to the greatest good for the greatest number of people/the least pain for people

• An action is right if it maximizes good for the self

– Deontology: Decisions should be made based on duties and rights

• Rooted in humanities rational capacity and asserts inviolable moral laws (Golden rule)

– Virtue Ethics • Based on character, rather than consequences or rules. It

promotes living based on exhibiting certain virtues.

Personal Ethics survey results:

Values picked at #1:– Family (6m/8f)

– Religion (5m/8f)

– Love (2m/2f)

– Respect (2m)

– Personal Goals (2f)

– Happiness (1f)

– Friends (1f)

– Relationship (1m)

Survey results (cont.) Values picked in the Top 5

– 1m Power/Status – 5m/6f Intelligence – 6m/7f Education– 1f Money – 7m/5f Honesty – 1f Talent – 1f Profession– 1m/1f Equality– 1f Beauty– 3m/6f Trust – 1m Tenacity– 5m Athletic Prowess – 1m/3f Confidence

Descriptive Ethics(What do people think is right?)

Study of the moral beliefs and practices of different peoples and cultures. It aims not only to elaborate such beliefs and practices but also to understand them insofar as they are conditioned by circumstance.

Non-judgmental – it looks at why people hold moral beliefs, how they reach those beliefs, etc.

Lawrence Kohlberg’s stages of moral development. Kohlberg divided people’s moral thinking into levels/stages of development, based on complexity of reasoning.

Descriptive Ethics(Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development Level

One) Preconventional level: typically childish responses.

Good and bad are recognized but only in terms of consequences or fear of the physical power of those in charge. This level contains three stages:– 0. Egocentric. Good = what I want; Bad = what I don’t

want. There is no concept of rules other than personal desire.

– 1. Physical consequences determine right/wrong, rather than values.

– 2. Instrumental relativist. Right = what satisfies personal needs. This may or may not include needs of others (quid pro quo).

Descriptive Ethics(Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development Level

Two) Conventional level: Conformity to personal

and group expectations.– 3. “Good boy/Nice girl”. Good behavior =

approved behavior. Also, intentions matter (s/he meant well).

– 4. Law and order. Stage 4: The "law and order" orientation. Good behavior = duty, respecting authority, and maintaining the social order for its own sake. Fixed rules are important

Descriptive Ethics(Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development Level

Three) Autonomous or Principled level: Individual defines

moral values that are valid regardless of the group– 5. Social contract: Right is defined by agreed upon societal

standards and personal values. Laws are supported, but subject to change if need be.

– 6. Universal ethical-principle: Right is defined by self-chosen ethical principles that appeal to logical comprehensiveness, universality, and consistency. These principles are abstract and ethical; they are not concrete moral rules like the Ten Commandments. At heart, these are universal principles of justice, of the reciprocity and equality of the human rights, and of respect for the dignity of human beings as individual persons.

Applied Ethics (what it all means in the ‘real world’)

Environment Medicine Law Workplace Politics Education Daily life (the little things)