What Would a

Satisfactory Moral Theory

Look Like?

PHIL 2525Lec 22

Derek Parfit

Some people Some people believe that there believe that there cannot be progress cannot be progress in Ethics, since in Ethics, since everything has everything has already been said...already been said...

I believe the I believe the opposite..opposite..

Timothy Vermeulen 2002Timothy Vermeulen 2002

“Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?”

Carl Sagan 1934 - 1996

Carl Sagan’s Cosmic Time ChartsPre December Dates (approximate, of

course)January 1January 1 Big BangBig BangMay 1May 1 Origin of the Milky WayOrigin of the Milky WaySeptember 9September 9 Origin of the Solar SystemOrigin of the Solar SystemSeptember 14September 14Formation of the EarthFormation of the EarthSeptember 25September 25Origin of life on EarthOrigin of life on EarthOctober 2October 2 Formation of the oldest rocks known on EarthFormation of the oldest rocks known on EarthOctober 9October 9 Date of oldest fossils (bacteria and blue-Date of oldest fossils (bacteria and blue-green algaegreen algaeNovember 1November 1 Invention of sex (by micro-organisms)Invention of sex (by micro-organisms)November 12November 12 Oldest fossil photosynthetic plantsOldest fossil photosynthetic plantsNovember 15November 15 Eukaryotes (first cells with nuclei) flourishEukaryotes (first cells with nuclei) flourish

From From The Dragons of EdenThe Dragons of Eden by Carl by Carl SaganSagan

December

“The life of man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster.”

David Hume David Hume (1711-1776)(1711-1776)

Charles DarwinCharles Darwin

Steven Pinker’s list of inherited moral concerns:

HarmFairnessCommunityAuthorityPurity

Steven Pinker’s list of inherited moral concerns:

HarmFairnessCommunityAuthorityPurity

We are rational beings...

We consider optionsWe consider optionsWe weigh consequencesWe weigh consequencesWe choose to behave one way rather We choose to behave one way rather

than anotherthan anotherWe can articulate the reasons for our We can articulate the reasons for our

choiceschoices

We are rational beings...

ConsistencyConsistency (not making an exception of yourself, (not making an exception of yourself, or your group, or your gender, or your or your group, or your gender, or your nationalitynationality…)…)

ImpartialityImpartiality (taking everyone’s interests into (taking everyone’s interests into accountaccount…)…)

Ethical Egoism: Ethical Egoism: prescriptive prescriptivePsychological Egoism: descriptivePsychological Egoism: descriptive

Rachels says that Rachels says that psychological psychological egoism is not egoism is not true...we do not true...we do not always act only always act only for our own self for our own self interest.interest.

P 175: Pleasing theoretical fit...

13.2 Treating People as They Deserve...

Remember Kant’s ‘respect for persons’Remember Kant’s ‘respect for persons’

If we don’t adjust our actions to reflect If we don’t adjust our actions to reflect our judgments of others’ actions we our judgments of others’ actions we may be denying their status as free may be denying their status as free agents...agents...

But...But...

Bertrand Russell

If when a man writes a poem or commits a murder, the bodily movements involved in his act result solely from physical causes, it would seem absurd to put up a statue to him in the one case and to hang him in the other.

Challenges to the existence of free will

The challenge from Logic

The challenge from Theology

The challenge from Science

Daniel Dennett: Elbow Room:The Varieties of Free Will Worth Wanting

Nature has Nature has played a played a devious devious trick on us. trick on us.

Dennett’s Dennett’s book book suggests suggests we should we should grin and grin and bear it. bear it.

Are we just letting ourselves off easy?Are we just letting ourselves off easy?

or…or… Are we respecting them as free agents?Are we respecting them as free agents?

Are we teaching them something?Are we teaching them something?

and… and… is that patronizing?is that patronizing?

13.3 Reasons to ignore impartiality

Our lives will go better if...we love Our lives will go better if...we love our children, enjoy our friends, take our children, enjoy our friends, take pride in our work, pride in our work, keep our keep our promises.....promises.....

13.3 Reasons to ignore impartiality

13.4 Multiple-Strategies Utilitarianism

Human welfare as a moral standard...Human welfare as a moral standard...

Keep your promises Keep your promises (but not always)(but not always)Refrain from hurting people Refrain from hurting people (but not (but not

always)always)Never tell a lie Never tell a lie (except sometimes)(except sometimes)Never put yourself first Never put yourself first (except (except

sometimes)sometimes)

13.4 Multiple-Strategies Utilitarianism

Acting in accordance with your BEST Acting in accordance with your BEST PLAN...PLAN...

Think about personalizing it:Think about personalizing it:MotivesMotivesVirtuesVirtuesDecision-making strategiesDecision-making strategies

13.5 The Moral Community

Everyone and everything that can Everyone and everything that can suffersuffer

and prefers not to is part of our moraland prefers not to is part of our moral

community. Near and far. community. Near and far.

Present and future. Present and future.

13.6 Justice and Fairness

13.7 Conclusion(s)

The Trolley Problem... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WB3Q5EF4Sg

Neuroethics and the Trolley Problem...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=NOfKyjyWiU0&feature=related

Neurobiology and Neurobiology and social science social science

study how study how humans develop humans develop moral awarenessmoral awareness

Harvard’s Moral Sense Test

One Nurse’s Story...

““Mercy...please Mercy...please just let me go.”just let me go.”

““Murderer!...God Murderer!...God help patients help patients who get you for a who get you for a nurse!”nurse!”

The Ethics of Erasing a

Bad Memory

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnSgSe2GzDchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnSgSe2GzDc

Marc Hauser on Moral Minds

Neuroethics and neuroanthropologyNeuroethics and neuroanthropology

Barry Schwartz on Practical Wisdom

Jonathan Haidt o Jonathan Haidt o

http://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_our_loss_of_wisdom.html