An Introduction to Ethics

SIS Theory of Knowledge

ETHICS and the US Presidential election?

Politics and Ethics…

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/06/20/am.intv.weinstein.cnn?iref=videosearch

Do the right thing…

WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY? WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY? ‘One of the things that distinguishes humans from other animals is our ability to make moral decisions.’

Session1: Key Issues Session1: Key Issues What is ethics and

morality?Are moral standards

Universal or Relative?

What is ethics and morality?

Are moral standards Universal or Relative?

WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY? WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?

WHAT IS ETHICS?

‘If you’re going to study ethics seriously, you must be prepared to

examine your views critically and be open to a range of ideas that may be

quite different from your own’. R.Bowie

Are you ready for the challenge of studying ethics??

What is ethics?What is ethics?

Ethics : from Greek word ethikos, meaning ‘character’. Refers to customary way to behave in society

Morality : from Latin word moralis, concerned with which actions are right and which are wrong

Today terms are used interchangeably

Ethics : from Greek word ethikos, meaning ‘character’. Refers to customary way to behave in society

Morality : from Latin word moralis, concerned with which actions are right and which are wrong

Today terms are used interchangeably

WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY? WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY? WHAT makes an action come within the scope of morality?WHAT sorts of things is morality all about? WHAT makes an act enter the moral arena?WHAT criteria do we use in order to identify moral actions?

Task : What makes something moral? Task : What makes something moral?

Complete M.O.R.A.L. questionnaire on pg.9 of workbook. Decide whether they are good, bad or morally neutral

Make a table listing some of the features that moral actions / morally neutral actions have in common

Examine range of magazine tabloid articles / newspaper headline. Categorize actions into good, bad or morally neutral (bring one example of each to tomorrow’s lesson)

Complete M.O.R.A.L. questionnaire on pg.9 of workbook. Decide whether they are good, bad or morally neutral

Make a table listing some of the features that moral actions / morally neutral actions have in common

Examine range of magazine tabloid articles / newspaper headline. Categorize actions into good, bad or morally neutral (bring one example of each to tomorrow’s lesson)

What makes an action ‘moral’?

What makes an action ‘moral’?

A moral act involves an agent

A moral act involves intention

A moral act affects others

A moral act involves an agent

A moral act involves intention

A moral act affects others

KEY CONCEPT:KEY CONCEPT:

AGENCY : The capacity to reflect and decide what to do.

Can only humans be moral AGENTS?

AGENCY : The capacity to reflect and decide what to do.

Can only humans be moral AGENTS?

IS IT ALL RELATIVE? IS IT ALL RELATIVE?

IS IT ALL RELATIVE?

WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY? WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY? Are there situations when an action might be right and other situations when the same action might be wrong? Is one culture or religious view of morality as good as that of another culture or religion? Are there some actions which are ALWAYS right? Are there certain moral rules that exist for all times and for all places?

The nomadic Masai of East Africa practice polygamyand wife-lending between men of the same age group.Some Westerners practise open marriages, whereby spouses engage other spouses in shared and open sexual relations. Christians practice monogamy. Is any one way morally better or morally worse than another?

KEY CONCEPT:KEY CONCEPT:

RELATIVISM : Theory that the truth is different for different people

ABSOLUTISM : Theory that there are moral principles that are always and everywhere applicable

RELATIVISM : Theory that the truth is different for different people

ABSOLUTISM : Theory that there are moral principles that are always and everywhere applicable

KEY CONCEPT:KEY CONCEPT:

ETHICAL RELATIVISM : Morality relative to the norms of ones culture. No universal moral standards.

Individual ethical relativismCultural ethical relativism

ETHICAL RELATIVISM : Morality relative to the norms of ones culture. No universal moral standards.

Individual ethical relativismCultural ethical relativism

IS IT ALL RELATIVE? IS IT ALL RELATIVE?

Can you think of any criticisms of relativism?

KEY CONCEPT:KEY CONCEPT:

ETHICAL ABSOLUTISM : Theory that there are moral principles that are always and everywhere applicable.

Right and wrong based on constant objective moral principles

Moral quality of an act inherent in the quality of the act itself.

ETHICAL ABSOLUTISM : Theory that there are moral principles that are always and everywhere applicable.

Right and wrong based on constant objective moral principles

Moral quality of an act inherent in the quality of the act itself.

IS IT ALL RELATIVE? IS IT ALL RELATIVE?

Can you think of any criticisms of absolutism?

Research Task Research Task

Visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/Find out more about ‘Honour Crimes’ and

‘Forced marriage’, ‘Slavery’Summarize the cases / issues for the

classWhat is your response to the issues?How would a Ethical relativist respond?How would a Ethical absolutist respond?

Visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/Find out more about ‘Honour Crimes’ and

‘Forced marriage’, ‘Slavery’Summarize the cases / issues for the

classWhat is your response to the issues?How would a Ethical relativist respond?How would a Ethical absolutist respond?

Ethics reflection 1:Ethics reflection 1:

‘Are there certain moral rules that exist for all times and for all places?’

‘Are there certain moral rules that exist for all times and for all places?’