04/08/23 1

The Moral Point The Moral Point of Viewof View

K.D. Borcoman

Embellished from template by Hinman©

04/08/23 2

Why Study Ethics?Why Study Ethics? Moral concerns are unavoidable in Moral concerns are unavoidable in

life.life. Analogy: morality is a lot like Analogy: morality is a lot like

nutrition.nutrition. Principal concern: healthPrincipal concern: health The role of expertsThe role of experts DisagreementDisagreement

04/08/23 3

Ethics as an Ongoing Ethics as an Ongoing ConversationConversation

Professional discussions of ethical Professional discussions of ethical issues in journals.issues in journals.

We come back to ideas again and We come back to ideas again and again, finding new meaning in them.again, finding new meaning in them.

04/08/23 4

Ethics and MoralityEthics and Morality

Morality:Morality: first-order set of beliefs first-order set of beliefs and practices about how to live a and practices about how to live a good lifegood life

Ethics:Ethics: a second-order, conscious a second-order, conscious reflection on the adequacy of our reflection on the adequacy of our moral beliefs.moral beliefs.

04/08/23 5

Moral HealthMoral Health

The goal of ethical reflection is The goal of ethical reflection is moral health.moral health.

Thus we seek to determine what will Thus we seek to determine what will nourish our moral life and what will nourish our moral life and what will poison it.poison it.

04/08/23 6

The Moral Point of ViewThe Moral Point of View

What makes something a moral What makes something a moral issue?issue? Content: Content:

duties, rights, human welfare, suffering, duties, rights, human welfare, suffering, character, etc.character, etc.

Perspective: Perspective: impartial, compassionate, etc.impartial, compassionate, etc.

04/08/23 7

Example: CheatingExample: Cheating

Imagine a situation in which you see a Imagine a situation in which you see a classmate cheating. There are several classmate cheating. There are several elements from a moral point of view:elements from a moral point of view: Some people are hurt by the cheatingSome people are hurt by the cheating There is deception in the situationThere is deception in the situation Cheating seems to be unfair to those who Cheating seems to be unfair to those who

don’t cheatdon’t cheat There are conflicting values—honesty, There are conflicting values—honesty,

loyalty, etc.loyalty, etc. There are questions of character.There are questions of character.

04/08/23 8

The Language of Moral The Language of Moral ConcernsConcerns

Some philosophers have argued that Some philosophers have argued that moral issues are characterized by a moral issues are characterized by a particular kind of language—terms particular kind of language—terms such as duty, obligation, right, and such as duty, obligation, right, and good.good.

04/08/23 9

ImpartialityImpartiality

Many philosophers have argued that Many philosophers have argued that the moral point of view is the moral point of view is characterized by impartiality, that characterized by impartiality, that is, I don’t give my own interest is, I don’t give my own interest any special weight.any special weight. Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill

04/08/23 10

CompassionCompassion

Other philosophers have seen the Other philosophers have seen the origin of the moral life to be in origin of the moral life to be in compassion, feeling for the suffering compassion, feeling for the suffering of other sentient beings.of other sentient beings.

Josiah Royce: “Such as that is for Josiah Royce: “Such as that is for me, so is it for him, nothing less.”me, so is it for him, nothing less.”

04/08/23 11

Universally BindingUniversally Binding

Moral obligations, some Moral obligations, some philosophers maintain, are philosophers maintain, are universally binding and that is universally binding and that is what gives them their distinctive what gives them their distinctive character.character.

Kant: morality is a matter of Kant: morality is a matter of categorical imperatives. categorical imperatives. Distinguish between hypothetical and Distinguish between hypothetical and

categorical imperatives.categorical imperatives.

04/08/23 12

Concern for CharacterConcern for Character

Philosophers from Aristotle onward Philosophers from Aristotle onward have seen the primary focus of have seen the primary focus of morality to be character.morality to be character.

Two questions:Two questions: What ought I to do? (Kant and Mill)What ought I to do? (Kant and Mill) What kind of person ought I to be? What kind of person ought I to be?

(Aristotle)(Aristotle)

04/08/23 13

The Focus of EthicsThe Focus of Ethics

Ethics as the Evaluation of Other Ethics as the Evaluation of Other People’s BehaviorPeople’s Behavior We are often eager to pass judgment on We are often eager to pass judgment on

othersothers Ethics as the Search for Meaning Ethics as the Search for Meaning

and Value in Our Own Livesand Value in Our Own Lives

04/08/23 14

Ethics as the Evaluation Ethics as the Evaluation of Other People’s of Other People’s

BehaviorBehavior Ethics often used as a weaponEthics often used as a weapon HypocrisyHypocrisy Possibility of knowing other peoplePossibility of knowing other people The right to judge other peopleThe right to judge other people The right to interveneThe right to intervene Judging and caringJudging and caring

04/08/23 15

Ethics as the Search for Ethics as the Search for Meaning and Value in Meaning and Value in

Our Own LivesOur Own Lives Positive focusPositive focus Aims at discerning what is goodAims at discerning what is good Emphasizes personal responsibility Emphasizes personal responsibility

for one’s own lifefor one’s own life

04/08/23 16

What to Expect from a What to Expect from a Moral TheoryMoral Theory

Functions of theory:Functions of theory: DescribeDescribe ExplainExplain Give strength (Stockdale)Give strength (Stockdale) Prescribe Prescribe

Open new possibilitiesOpen new possibilities Wonder Wonder

04/08/23 17

What to Expect from a What to Expect from a Moral Theory, 2Moral Theory, 2

What is ethics like?What is ethics like? PhysicsPhysics

Clear-cut, definitive answersClear-cut, definitive answers EngineeringEngineering

Several possible ways of doing things, Several possible ways of doing things, many ways that are wrongmany ways that are wrong

04/08/23 18

The Point of Ethical The Point of Ethical ReflectionReflection

Ethics as the evaluation of other people’s Ethics as the evaluation of other people’s behaviorbehavior Sources of mistrust about moral judgmentsSources of mistrust about moral judgments

HypocrisyHypocrisy Knowing other peopleKnowing other people The right to judgeThe right to judge Judging and interventionJudging and intervention Judging and caringJudging and caring

Ethics as the search for the meaning of Ethics as the search for the meaning of our own livesour own lives

04/08/23 19

Conclusion:Conclusion:Ethics & Good HealthEthics & Good Health

Ethics is like nutritionEthics is like nutrition One studies bodily health, the other One studies bodily health, the other

moral healthmoral health Significant disagreement in both fieldsSignificant disagreement in both fields Still there is a significant common Still there is a significant common

ground.ground.