Basics and BackgroundBasics and Background

Introduction to Moral TheorizingIntroduction to Moral Theorizing

Moral Issues and DilemmasMoral Issues and DilemmasMoral issues are those that raise Moral issues are those that raise

normative normative questions:questions:RightsRightsWelfareWelfareCharacter (type of person we should strive to Character (type of person we should strive to

become)become)Normative = questions of valueNormative = questions of valueMoral dilemmas = conflicts of valuesMoral dilemmas = conflicts of values

Moral PhilosophyMoral Philosophy Meta-ethics – attempts to determine Meta-ethics – attempts to determine

what makes moral claims true/false.what makes moral claims true/false. How are moral claims justified?How are moral claims justified? What are we doing when we share moral What are we doing when we share moral

judgments?judgments? What is the status of a moral claim?What is the status of a moral claim? Does not involve making moral judgments.Does not involve making moral judgments.

Moral Philosophy (continued)Moral Philosophy (continued)Normative Ethics – The study of the Normative Ethics – The study of the

concepts involved in practical reasoning:concepts involved in practical reasoning:Theories of good/evilTheories of good/evilTheories of moral obligationsTheories of moral obligationsTheories of which types of actions are morally Theories of which types of actions are morally

permissible.permissible.Does make moral judgments.Does make moral judgments.

Moral Philosophy (continued)Moral Philosophy (continued)Practical Ethics (Applied Ethics) – The Practical Ethics (Applied Ethics) – The

subject that applies ethics to actual subject that applies ethics to actual practical problems.practical problems.Attempts to resolve specific moral issues.Attempts to resolve specific moral issues.Examines concrete cases.Examines concrete cases.

Reflective EquilibriumReflective EquilibriumProvides an account of what we are doing Provides an account of what we are doing

when we engage in moral deliberation.when we engage in moral deliberation.Two major activities:Two major activities:

Getting clear on our intuitions/considered Getting clear on our intuitions/considered judgments.judgments.

Determining principles to explain why actions Determining principles to explain why actions are right/wrong.are right/wrong.

Initial Situation

Yields Principle.

Principles Compared with

Considered Judgments.

Principles

Match Judgme

nt?

Done

Considered Judgments

Shared Conditions of the Initial Situation.

Revise Judge.

?

Figure 1.Method of R. E.

What Morality is NotWhat Morality is Not Conventional MoralityConventional Morality vs. Reflective Morality – Reflective morality does vs. Reflective Morality – Reflective morality does

not grant to any set of moral principles a privileged status.not grant to any set of moral principles a privileged status.

Morality vs. Morality vs. LawLaw – it does not follow from the fact that something has been – it does not follow from the fact that something has been instantiated in the law, that it is morally correct. instantiated in the law, that it is morally correct.

Morality vs. Morality vs. PrudencePrudence – we cannot reduce morality to self-interest (or in its – we cannot reduce morality to self-interest (or in its more refined version, rational self interest). more refined version, rational self interest).

Morality vs. Morality vs. EconomicsEconomics – morality is not always cost effective. – morality is not always cost effective.

Morality vs. Morality vs. ReligionReligion – Morality makes its final appeal to reason and not to – Morality makes its final appeal to reason and not to faith.faith.

Morality vs. Morality vs. AuthorityAuthority – the fact that an authority commands an action does – the fact that an authority commands an action does not entail that the action is morally appropriate.not entail that the action is morally appropriate.

Morality vs. Morality vs. Opinion/Bias/TasteOpinion/Bias/Taste – For the most part, opinions, tastes, and – For the most part, opinions, tastes, and biases are morally neutral.biases are morally neutral.

Structure of a Moral ArgumentStructure of a Moral ArgumentMajor premise – General moral principleMajor premise – General moral principleMinor premise – Factual claimMinor premise – Factual claimConclusion – Derivative moral judgmentConclusion – Derivative moral judgmentExample (p.15):Example (p.15):

1. That which is unnatural is immoral. (GMP)1. That which is unnatural is immoral. (GMP)2. Homosexual behavior is unnatural. (FC)2. Homosexual behavior is unnatural. (FC)3. Therefore, homosexual behavior is immoral 3. Therefore, homosexual behavior is immoral

(DMJ)(DMJ)

Evaluating Moral JudgmentsEvaluating Moral JudgmentsConceptual Confusions/Ambiguities in the Conceptual Confusions/Ambiguities in the

General Moral Principle. General Moral Principle. Problems with the factual link.Problems with the factual link.

1. Taking a normative judgment to be a 1. Taking a normative judgment to be a factual judgment.factual judgment.2. Factual claim may in fact be false.2. Factual claim may in fact be false.

Unacceptable Implication of the GMPUnacceptable Implication of the GMPConsistency ProblemsConsistency Problems

Two Types of Moral PrinciplesTwo Types of Moral PrinciplesTeleological Principles – principles that Teleological Principles – principles that

look at the consequences of actions to look at the consequences of actions to determine their moral permissibility or determine their moral permissibility or impermissibility.impermissibility.

Deontological Principles – principles that Deontological Principles – principles that focus on an agent’s duties. (Duty-based focus on an agent’s duties. (Duty-based ethic)ethic)