Introduction to Ethical Introduction to Ethical ArgumentsArguments

Scott HaleScott Hale

English 1213English 1213

Definitional Arguments:Definitional Arguments:

Basis of All Knowledge/CommunicationBasis of All Knowledge/Communication

Argue that ItemArgue that Item X X belongs in Category belongs in Category YY

Scooter Scooter (X)(X) is a murderer is a murderer (Y)(Y)

Evaluative Arguments:Evaluative Arguments:

The next step in Knowledge/CommunicationThe next step in Knowledge/Communication Having defined an item--Having defined an item--X is a YX is a Y We then We then evaluateevaluate that item-- that item--X is a X is a good/badgood/bad Y Y……

The War RoomThe War Room ( (XX) is an ) is an excellent excellent documentary (documentary (YY))

Evaluations Evaluations depend upon depend upon definitionsdefinitions

Ethical ArgumentsEthical Arguments

The next step in Knowledge/CommunicationThe next step in Knowledge/Communication Having Having defineddefined and and evaluatedevaluated an item, we an item, we

assess it’s inherent worth--the assess it’s inherent worth--the valuevalue of its of its beingbeing

But just because something is But just because something is goodgood, does , does this mean it’s this mean it’s rightright??

Question of PurposeQuestion of Purpose

In evaluative arguments our evaluation In evaluative arguments our evaluation of an item stems from the purpose of of an item stems from the purpose of that item,that item,

Nike is a Nike is a goodgood shoe because it shoe because it effectively covers your feet…effectively covers your feet…

But in Ethical Arguments…But in Ethical Arguments…

The purpose differs...The purpose differs... If we discover that third-world labor If we discover that third-world labor

markets are economically and physically markets are economically and physically exploited in making Nike shoes…exploited in making Nike shoes…

Is it Is it rightright to make (or even to to make (or even to ownown) Nike ) Nike products?products?

The purpose is now one of political and The purpose is now one of political and human rights, not covering one’s feet.human rights, not covering one’s feet.

Requirements for Requirements for Ethical Arguments:Ethical Arguments:

Just like evaluations require Just like evaluations require comparison/contrastcomparison/contrast between items within between items within the same category/the same category/genus, sgenus, so to do different o to do different ethical systemsethical systems

AND...AND... Ethical Arguments Ethical Arguments must be couched in must be couched in ethical ethical

terms….terms…. Right vs. Wrong; Moral vs. ImmoralRight vs. Wrong; Moral vs. Immoral

Toulmin Schema:Toulmin Schema: C: Slavery is C: Slavery is wrongwrong R: b/c it violates human rights R: b/c it violates human rights G: Slavery violates human rights; Ev: G: Slavery violates human rights; Ev:

Support that slavery violates HRSupport that slavery violates HR W: Any practice that violates human W: Any practice that violates human

rights is rights is wrongwrong B: Support of ethical systemB: Support of ethical system

Different Ethical Systems…Different Ethical Systems…

Of all value arguments, Of all value arguments, EthicalEthical arguments are the least stable in arguments are the least stable in BackingBacking

Because we have different ways of Because we have different ways of determining determining rightright from from wrongwrong

Naïve EgoismNaïve Egoism

RightRight vs. vs. WrongWrong determined by how it determined by how it affects a given individual or particular affects a given individual or particular group of individualsgroup of individuals

It is It is wrongwrong to hit Michelle because she to hit Michelle because she is a is a womanwoman

Operates under the belief that Operates under the belief that I am #1I am #1 But how many #1s can there be?But how many #1s can there be?

ConsequentialismConsequentialism

RightRight vs. vs. WrongWrong determined by the determined by the outcome of an action and whether it has outcome of an action and whether it has positivepositive or or negativenegative consequences consequences

It is It is wrongwrong to hit Michelle b/c it will to hit Michelle b/c it willhurthurt Operates under a Operates under a utilitarian utilitarian framework framework

where we seek to provide the greatest where we seek to provide the greatest goodgood for the greatest for the greatest numbernumber

OR the OR the endsends justify the justify the meansmeans

PrinciplismPrinciplism

RightRight vs. vs. WrongWrong determined not by determined not by outcome of action, but by the action outcome of action, but by the action itselfitself, whether it conforms to or upholds , whether it conforms to or upholds a belief or a belief or principleprinciple

It is It is wrongwrong to hit Michelle b/c it violates to hit Michelle b/c it violates the the Golden RuleGolden Rule

But what happens if two principles come But what happens if two principles come into conflict…?into conflict…?