hu141_lecture 2. , lecture 2, introduction to ehics2 outline ethics and the domains of human action...

HU141_Lecture 2

, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics 2

Outline

• Ethics and the Domains of Human Action

• Approaches to Ethical Decision-making

• Theories: “Universalism” and “Relativism”

Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics 3

Ethics

The code of moral principles that

govern the behaviors of a person or group

with respect to what is right or wrong.

Ethics exist in three interacting

domains: Legal – Social – Personal.


Legal Domain

Personal DomainSocial Domain

Overlapping

HU 141, Lecture 2, Introduction to Ehics

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Egyptian Rent Control Law

• Rent control exists in approximately 40 countries around the world.

• This legal code fixes rent and inhibits eviction.

• Rent control restricts the property rights of the property owners.

• In Egypt (Old Law) created an acceptable social standard: A rental property is practically owned by the tenant and his/her heirs.


Legal Standards: China One-child Policy

• The policy was introduced in 1978 and initially applied to first-born children in 1979.

• It was created by the Chinese government to alleviate social, economic, and environmental problems in China,

• Authorities claim that the policy has prevented more than 250 million births from its implementation to 2000.


Please for the sake of your country, use birth control

Sign put up by the government. Found in the entry to the alley slums in Nanchang. These slums are where the pregnant women hide from the government officials enforcing the one child policy.


USA Legalized Abortion


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Abortion laws in the U.S. before 1973

Its legalization became the most divisive issues in U.S. society.


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Year Pro-life Pro-choice

2008 43% 51%

2009 45% 48%

2010 46% 45%

http://www.gallup.com/poll/1576/abortion.aspx#2

Country Divided


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Social Standards: Marriage

• Same-sex

• Hindu

• Jewish

• Mormon

• Muslim


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Social Standards: Football Hooliganism

• Hooliganism is the disorderly and violent behavior of football fans.

• England: in 1314, Edward II banned football because he believed the disorder surrounding matches might lead to social unrest.

• Egypt and Algeria 2009http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8369983.stm


Personal Standards:

• No to Drugs• Giving Charity• Tax Evasion• Wearing Veil• Self-esteem

• etc-What is Right for One may be

Wrong for Another

factors


Explicit Control

What is the ideal situation?


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Three Domains of Ethics

Amount of

Explicit ControlHigh Low

Domain of Certified Law

(Legal Standard)

Domain of Ethics

(Social Standard)

Domain of Free Choice

(Personal Standard)


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Approaches

1. Utilitarian - greatest good to the greatest number of people

2. Individualism - primary commitment is to one’s long term self-interests

3. Moral-rights - respect the fundamental rights of people

4. Justice - ethical decisions treat people fairly according to rules


1. Utilitarian Approach

● Moral behavior produces the greatest good for the greatest number

● Critics ask if the common good is squeezing the life out of the individual


2. Individualism Approach

● Acts are moral when they promote the individual's best long-term interests, which ultimately leads to the greater good

● Individual self-direction paramount

● Individualism is believed to lead to honesty & integrity since that works best in the long run.


3. Moral-Rights Approach

• Moral decisions are those that best maintain the rights of those people affected by them.

• An ethical decision is one that avoids interfering with the fundamental rights of others


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The Six (European) Moral Rights1. The right of free consent

2. The right to privacy

3. The right of freedom of conscience

4. The right of free speech

5. The right to due process

6. The right to life & safety


The Islamic Moral Rights:

1. preservation of religion;

2. preservation of life;

3. preservation of progeny;

4. preservation of the intellect;

5. preservation of wealth.

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3. Justice Approach

• Moral Decisions must be based on standards of equity, fairness, impartiality

Three types of Justice Approaches: Distributive Justice Procedural Justice Compensatory Justice

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Distributive Justice

• Different treatment of people should not be based on arbitrary characteristics

• In case of substantive differences, people should be treated differently in proportion to the differences among them


Procedural Justice

• Rules should be clearly stated

• Rules should be consistently and impartially enforced


Compensatory Justice

● Individuals should be compensated for the cost of their injuries by the party responsible

● Individuals should not be held responsible for matters they have no control over


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Are Ethical Standards Universal or

Dependent on Local Norms

?World View Theories


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World View

• Worldview establishes the foundation that individuals rely on to form their ethics.

• Two opposing views:

– A belief that humans are created beings accountable to a creator.

– A belief that humans evolved as the result of a chance event.

Creationism

Evolution


Two Theories:

1. Ethical Universalism Theory

2. Ethical Relativism Theory


Universalism Same ethical standards applies to ALL people

regardless:

Local traditions and Cultural norms

Thus, common ethical standards should be adopted


Kant Theory: “Categorical imperatives ”

• Categorical imperatives are principles that are intrinsically valid; they are good in and of themselves;

• They must be obeyed in all, and by all, situations and circumstances if our behavior is to observe the moral law.

• It is from the Categorical Imperative that all other moral obligations are generated, and by which all moral obligations can be tested. Immanuel Kant 1724 -1804


Relativism

• Ethical relativism is the theory that holds that morality is relative to the norms of one's culture.

• That is, whether an action is right or wrong depends on the moral norms of the society in which it is practiced.

• The same action may be morally right in one society but be morally wrong in another.

• Ethical behavior is always determined by cultural context


Cultural Context

• Different societies/cultures/countries – Place more/less emphasis on some values than

others – Have different standards of right and wrong – Have different social mores and behavioral norms

• What is ethical or unethical – Must be judged in light of local

customs and social mores and – Can vary from one country to another


• For the ethical relativist, there are no universal moral standards -- standards that can be universally applied to all peoples at all times.

• The only moral standards against which a society's practices can be judged are its own. If ethical relativism is correct, there can be no common framework for resolving moral disputes or for reaching agreement on ethical matters among members of different societies.


. . . that which is perceived as “Universal” is Human

Human Rights


Universalism Ethical Imperialism

• An attempt to externally impose one’s ethical standards on others.

hu141_lecture 2. , lecture 2, introduction to ehics2 outline ethics and the domains of human action...

Documents

abortion slide

relativism slide

ehics5 slide

country divided slide

social unrest

acceptable social standard

ehics13 social standards

domains of ethics