1. Introduction to Ethics
and Moral Philosophy
A General Overview...
Prof. Mario V. Cardone, PhL.

3. What is Ethics?

4. What is Ethics?
Ethics involves asking questions about the good life; it
requires examining “right” and “wrong” conduct, “good”
and “bad” values.

5. What is Ethics?
Ethics involves asking questions about the good life; it
requires examining “right” and “wrong” conduct, “good”
and “bad” values.
An ethical life is the life of imperfect mortal beings. But being
imperfect and mortal is what makes life so interesting. You’ve got
only so much time to live, so your choices matter to you. Because
your choices matter to you, you have to give them purpose and
meaning. That involves making hard choices, and balancing
conflicting duties, goals and values.

6. What is Ethics?
Ethics involves asking questions about the good life; it
requires examining “right” and “wrong” conduct, “good”
and “bad” values.

7. What is Ethics?
Ethics involves asking questions about the good life; it
requires examining “right” and “wrong” conduct, “good”
and “bad” values.
Morality : Are the rules utilized by society to
govern the “right conduct” of members.
Ethics: Branch of philosophy that seeks to
understand the nature, purposes, justification,
and founding principles of moral rules and the
systems they comprise.

8. What is Ethics?

9. What is Ethics?
Ethics (also known as moral philosophy is a branch of
philosophy which seeks to address questions about
morality, such as what the fundamental semantic,
ontological, and epistemic nature of ethics or morality is
(meta-ethics), how moral values should be determined
(normative ethics), how a moral outcome can be
achieved in specific situations (applied ethics), how
moral capacity or moral agency develops and what its
nature is (moral psychology), and what moral values
people actually abide by (descriptive ethics).

11. Ethics’ Three Basic Aspects

12. Ethics’ Three Basic Aspects
Human Nature
What are the physical / metaphysical correlates that permit
humanity to be ethical, and why/how does it exist? Are
animals ethical...if so to what extent? What makes humanity
ethical / unique?
Theoretical
What are the systems of thought or ways of developing the
theories behind how humanity expresses and maintains its
moral standards and why?
Practical
How can / is theory applied to everyday life and particular
situations? How can ethical theory guide one’s behavior?

13. Ethics’ Three Basic Aspects

14. Ethics’ Three Basic Aspects
Ethics is comprised of three areas that are interdependent:
Theory incorporates its understanding of human action
based upon a development of human nature to address
practical applications that people can utilize to guide
future actions.

16. Simply Put...

17. Simply Put...
Socrates said, “Ethics concerns no small matter but
how we ought to live.”
Are there ethical and non-ethical actions. Maybe?
Ethics is a part of everyone’s everyday life.
Ethical dilemmas can be “big” (abortion) or
“small” (Whether someone overweight should or
should not eat an extra burger).

18. Simply Put...

19. Simply Put...
Ethics is an everyday aspect of human life,
and in order to live the ethical life one has
certain commitments and beliefs on which
they act.

20. Simply Put...
Ethics is an everyday aspect of human life,
and in order to live the ethical life one has
certain commitments and beliefs on which
they act.
Find a place, where ethical issues have been worked
out in your mind so you have worked out your own
beliefs and commitments, and are leading the best,
most consistent, ethical life you can.

22. Why Study Ethics?
Some of the Big Issues:

23. Why Study Ethics?
Some of the Big Issues:
Abortion Just War Theory
Murder: Capital Torture
Punishment Genetic Manipulation
Euthanasia Cloning
Eugenics Pre-Marital Sex
Stem Cell Research Homosexual “Marriage”
Transgender Surgery Medical Ethics
Cheating Holocaust

24. Why Study Ethics?
Some of the Big Issues:

25. Why Study Ethics?
Some of the Big Issues:
Rape? Child Abuse? Genocide?
Plagiarism???

26. Why Study Ethics?
Some of the Big Issues:

27. Why Study Ethics?
Some of the Big Issues:
Being able to determine the ethical nature of these and many
other ethical questions permits the world, one’s society, and the
individual, to seek out and find fulfilling lives in relation to
each other in each circumstance accordingly.
?Otherwise Anarchy?

28. Why Study Ethics?
Some of the Big Issues:
Being able to determine the ethical nature of these and many
other ethical questions permits the world, one’s society, and the
individual, to seek out and find fulfilling lives in relation to
each other in each circumstance accordingly.
?Otherwise Anarchy?
Is this motive enough?
Why bother, do people really care?
Can ethics be avoided? Should people be able to do
whatever they want, whenever they want?

29. Why Study Ethics?
Some of the Big Issues:

30. Why Study Ethics?
Some of the Big Issues:
More importantly, can you contribute to these
great debates of our time and history?

32. Ethical Language

33. Ethical Language
When starting to think about ethics, you should think about the
importance of the words you use: it’s important to be aware of
how they affect one’s thinking about an ethical dilemma.

34. Ethical Language
When starting to think about ethics, you should think about the
importance of the words you use: it’s important to be aware of
how they affect one’s thinking about an ethical dilemma.
(1) “Abortion is the killing of an innocent fetus.”

35. Ethical Language
When starting to think about ethics, you should think about the
importance of the words you use: it’s important to be aware of
how they affect one’s thinking about an ethical dilemma.
(1) “Abortion is the killing of an innocent fetus.”
(2) “Abortion is simply the removal of an insignificant
scrap of organic tissue.”

36. Ethical Language
When starting to think about ethics, you should think about the
importance of the words you use: it’s important to be aware of
how they affect one’s thinking about an ethical dilemma.
(1) “Abortion is the killing of an innocent fetus.”
(2) “Abortion is simply the removal of an insignificant
scrap of organic tissue.”
Speakers can emotionally load their language and use
provocative language to get people on their side, or use language to
turn people away from beliefs that oppose their own.

37. Ethical Language

38. Ethical Language
Emotionally loaded language assumes that one already
knows what is right and wrong.

39. Ethical Language
Emotionally loaded language assumes that one already
knows what is right and wrong.
Instead of playing on people’s emotions, appeal to their
reason.

41. Circular Reasoning

42. Circular Reasoning
Circular Reasoning: Is any train of argument
in which the conclusion being argued for is
already stated, implicitly or explicitly, in the
supporting reasons given for that conclusion.
P is true because of P
“It is wrong to have an abortion because
abortions are wrong.”

44. Labeling

45. Labeling
Labeling: Is the term used to put actions,
people, or objects into overly simplistic categories
or stereotypes.
e.g. A comatose individual should never be
referred to as a “vegetable” or “invalid” in
proper ethical debates.

47. Ethical Dilemmas

48. Ethical Dilemmas
A dilemma arises whenever a choice has to be
made in which something good has to be given
up or something bad has to be suffered no
matter what is chosen.
An ethical dilemma forces us to choose in a way
that involves breaking some ethical norm or
contradiction some ethical value.

49. Ethical Dilemmas

50. Ethical Dilemmas
Remember that what on first glance seems to be an
ethical dilemma with no happy solutions might not be.
Always assume that there are more options than just
two. Then try to think of all the factors that bear on
the issue at hand.

51. Ethical Dilemmas
Remember that what on first glance seems to be an
ethical dilemma with no happy solutions might not be.
Always assume that there are more options than just
two. Then try to think of all the factors that bear on
the issue at hand.
Not all ethical dilemmas involve choosing between
two happy options. Sometimes an ethical dilemma
involves having to choose between two actions, both
of which are undesirable options.

53. Values Vs. Preferences

54. Values Vs. Preferences
Value: is something that has worth, at least for some
people. It points out a good that we should go after
either because it is valuable in itself (what ethicists call
an “intrinsic” value e.g. happiness) or because it is a
way to reach some other value or good (what ethicists
call an “instrumental” value e.g. money).
Personal Preferences: Are personal likes and
dislikes that aide individuals in making decisions or
even behaving accordingly.

55. Values Vs. Preferences

56. Values Vs. Preferences
(1) Values are the result of evaluations, or value
judgements. Evaluations judge things, situations, and
actions along a scale ranging from good to bad.

57. Values Vs. Preferences
(1) Values are the result of evaluations, or value
judgements. Evaluations judge things, situations, and
actions along a scale ranging from good to bad.
(2) A value is held by some group of persons. This is
crucial, because it shows how values are different
from personal preferences.

58. Values Vs. Preferences
(1) Values are the result of evaluations, or value
judgements. Evaluations judge things, situations, and
actions along a scale ranging from good to bad.
(2) A value is held by some group of persons. This is
crucial, because it shows how values are different
from personal preferences.
(3) Values are different from facts since values have a
societal efficacious nature that ethically voided facts do
not.

59. Values Vs. Preferences
(1) Values are the result of evaluations, or value
judgements. Evaluations judge things, situations, and
actions along a scale ranging from good to bad.
(2) A value is held by some group of persons. This is
crucial, because it shows how values are different
from personal preferences.
(3) Values are different from facts since values have a
societal efficacious nature that ethically voided facts do
not.
(4) Some values possess intrinsic worth.

60. Values Vs. Preferences

61. Values Vs. Preferences
Ethical values come in degrees from less to more, but not all
values fit this model: others are “all or nothing,” which means
you either have them or you do not. (e.g. human rights)

62. Values Vs. Preferences
Ethical values come in degrees from less to more, but not all
values fit this model: others are “all or nothing,” which means
you either have them or you do not. (e.g. human rights)
When stating a personal preference, one is describing a fact
about themselves, but when stating a value, although it might
seem the same as stating a fact, one is really saying something
more in that others should value it as well.

64. The Big Picture and
Meta-Ethics

65. The Big Picture and
Meta-Ethics
Meta-ethics concerns itself with the meaning of
ethical judgments and/or prescriptions and with
the notion of which properties, if any, are
responsible for the truth or validity thereof.

66. The Big Picture and
Meta-Ethics
Meta-ethics concerns itself with the meaning of
ethical judgments and/or prescriptions and with
the notion of which properties, if any, are
responsible for the truth or validity thereof.
Meta-ethics emphasizes that one should concern
oneself with second order questions about ethics;
specifically the semantics, epistemology,
and ontology of ethics.

68. Ethical Semantics

69. Ethical Semantics
The ethical semantics (dealing with language and words)
divides into descriptivism and non-descriptivism.

70. Ethical Semantics
The ethical semantics (dealing with language and words)
divides into descriptivism and non-descriptivism.
Descriptivism: ethical language (including commands and
duties) is a subdivision of descriptive language and has meaning
in virtue of the same kind of properties as descriptive
propositions. (Ethical language has “power/efficaciousness”
from its linguistic assertions and communicative basis)Ethics
is what it is described as...

71. Ethical Semantics
The ethical semantics (dealing with language and words)
divides into descriptivism and non-descriptivism.
Descriptivism: ethical language (including commands and
duties) is a subdivision of descriptive language and has meaning
in virtue of the same kind of properties as descriptive
propositions. (Ethical language has “power/efficaciousness”
from its linguistic assertions and communicative basis)Ethics
is what it is described as...
Non-descriptivism: contends that ethical propositions
are irreducible in the sense that their meaning cannot be
explicated sufficiently in terms of descriptive truth-
conditions. (Ethical language is not the only basis for its
“power/ efficaciousness”) Ethics is more then its description..

73. Ethical Epistemology

74. Ethical Epistemology
The epistemology of ethics divides into cognitivism and
non-cognitivism.

75. Ethical Epistemology
The epistemology of ethics divides into cognitivism and
non-cognitivism.
Non-Cognitivism: (stronger) Ethical claims reach beyond the
scope of human cognition into areas such as consequences, utility,
etc. (weaker) Ethics is concerned with actions rather than with
the knowledge involved in the actions.

76. Ethical Epistemology
The epistemology of ethics divides into cognitivism and
non-cognitivism.
Non-Cognitivism: (stronger) Ethical claims reach beyond the
scope of human cognition into areas such as consequences, utility,
etc. (weaker) Ethics is concerned with actions rather than with
the knowledge involved in the actions.
Cognitivism: Ethics is essentially concerned with judgments
of the same kind as knowledge judgments; namely about
matters of fact. (the ethical arena is fought in the mind/

78. Ontological Ethics

79. Ontological Ethics
The ontology of ethics is concerned with value-bearing
properties or any ideas, objects, and aspects of reality that can
give ethics a fundamental grounding in reality.

80. Ontological Ethics
The ontology of ethics is concerned with value-bearing
properties or any ideas, objects, and aspects of reality that can
give ethics a fundamental grounding in reality.
Non-descriptivists (Ethics is not what it does but more) and
non-cognitivists (Ethics: mind has limited or no role) will
generally tend to argue that ethical claims do not require a specific
ontology. (Called “anti-realism” or ethics that has no grounding in
the world. Subjective and Relative...)

81. Ontological Ethics
The ontology of ethics is concerned with value-bearing
properties or any ideas, objects, and aspects of reality that can
give ethics a fundamental grounding in reality.
Non-descriptivists (Ethics is not what it does but more) and
non-cognitivists (Ethics: mind has limited or no role) will
generally tend to argue that ethical claims do not require a specific
ontology. (Called “anti-realism” or ethics that has no grounding in
the world. Subjective and Relative...)
Realists have to explain what kinds of entities, properties, or states
are relevant for ethics and why they have the normative status
characteristic of ethics. (They have to defend what they consider to

83. Normative Ethics

84. Normative Ethics
Normative Ethics: The study of what makes actions right and
wrong. (Why is child abuse wrong? The answer is an argued norm/average of
tolerated or intolerable behavior (guideline theory) that can be applied to other
moral circumstances)

85. Normative Ethics
Normative Ethics: The study of what makes actions right and
wrong. (Why is child abuse wrong? The answer is an argued norm/average of
tolerated or intolerable behavior (guideline theory) that can be applied to other
moral circumstances)
Normative theories offer an overarching moral principle to
which one could appeal in resolving difficult moral decisions.

86. Normative Ethics
Normative Ethics: The study of what makes actions right and
wrong. (Why is child abuse wrong? The answer is an argued norm/average of
tolerated or intolerable behavior (guideline theory) that can be applied to other
moral circumstances)
Normative theories offer an overarching moral principle to
which one could appeal in resolving difficult moral decisions.
During the middle of the 20th century, the study of normative
ethics declined as meta-ethics grew in prominence. This focus on
meta-ethics was in part caused by an intense linguistic focus in
analytic philosophy and by the popularity of logical positivism.

87. Normative Ethics
Normative Ethics: The study of what makes actions right and
wrong. (Why is child abuse wrong? The answer is an argued norm/average of
tolerated or intolerable behavior (guideline theory) that can be applied to other
moral circumstances)
Normative theories offer an overarching moral principle to
which one could appeal in resolving difficult moral decisions.
During the middle of the 20th century, the study of normative
ethics declined as meta-ethics grew in prominence. This focus on
meta-ethics was in part caused by an intense linguistic focus in
analytic philosophy and by the popularity of logical positivism.
There is currently a renewed interest in normative ethics and a
stepping away from linguistic focuses and/or cognitive-
ethics.

88. Normative Ethics

89. Normative Ethics
Norms are regular ways of doing things that
everybody agrees on. Unlike other conventions, ethical
norms regulate all aspects of our lives in ways that are
crucial for the existence of society.
No norms, no society.

90. Sentencing Vs. Culpability
Sentencing is when an individual is decidedly deserving of
punishment in a court of law for breaking a law that entails
either an immoral act or a criminal act that is not immoral
has been committed.
Culpability is the degree of blame-worthiness that does
not necessarily mean that the guilty party should be
punished according to the law, though they might be.
Murder can be both immoral and criminal. Culpable and
sentence-able.
Underage smoking may just be immoral and not criminal
pending the ethical theory used. Culpable but not sentence-
able.

92. Which Ethical Norms should be put into

93. Which Ethical Norms should be put into
Should drinking in public be illegal? Is it
unethical?

94. Which Ethical Norms should be put into
Should drinking in public be illegal? Is it
unethical?
Should women legally be allowed to go topless as
men do? Is it unethical?

95. Which Ethical Norms should be put into
Should drinking in public be illegal? Is it
unethical?
Should women legally be allowed to go topless as
men do? Is it unethical?
Should sex with animals be illegal? Is it unethical?

96. Which Ethical Norms should be put into
Should drinking in public be illegal? Is it
unethical?
Should women legally be allowed to go topless as
men do? Is it unethical?
Should sex with animals be illegal? Is it unethical?
Should transgender surgery be illegal? Is it
unethical?

97. Which Ethical Norms should be put into

98. Which Ethical Norms should be put into
Moral consciousness permits people to determine the
differences between personal preferences, values, ethical,
unethical, legal, and illegal actions as well as any action
that is a mixture of all or some of the stated options.

99. Which Ethical Norms should be put into

100. Which Ethical Norms should be put into
Moral conscience consists of the ability to almost
automatically empathize with others, to identify yourself
with them, and to feel their pain as if it were your own.

101. Which Ethical Norms should be put into
Moral conscience consists of the ability to almost
automatically empathize with others, to identify yourself
with them, and to feel their pain as if it were your own.
The moral attitude is simply a kind of mental projection,
a putting yourself in the shoes of the other. Its a way of
mentally registering the fact that the needs of others
matter as much to them as your needs matter to you .

102. Which Ethical Norms should be put into
Moral conscience consists of the ability to almost
automatically empathize with others, to identify yourself
with them, and to feel their pain as if it were your own.
The moral attitude is simply a kind of mental projection,
a putting yourself in the shoes of the other. Its a way of
mentally registering the fact that the needs of others
matter as much to them as your needs matter to you .
Having registered this fact, the moral person concludes that
each person’s needs deserve to be weighed equally, and that
pursuing one’s goals at the expense of others’ is wrong.
Emotivism: Feelings determine right or wrong.

103. Which Ethical Norms should be put into

104. Which Ethical Norms should be put into
Laws are meant to guide behavior of a society, why are
certain behaviors tolerable to some and intolerable to
others?

105. Which Ethical Norms should be put into
Laws are meant to guide behavior of a society, why are
certain behaviors tolerable to some and intolerable to
others?
In the end there is always the question of who or what
has the moral authority to guide human behavior on an
individual, societal, or global scale.

107. The Point of Doing Ethics

108. The Point of Doing Ethics
The point of doing ethics is not to get people to
change their mind about things, or to get them to think
about ethics in one particular way. It is to get people to
think about why they value certain things -like charity-
and why they think it is right to practice them and how
to solve ethical dilemmas.

109. The Point of Doing Ethics
The point of doing ethics is not to get people to
change their mind about things, or to get them to think
about ethics in one particular way. It is to get people to
think about why they value certain things -like charity-
and why they think it is right to practice them and how
to solve ethical dilemmas.
Sometimes thinking through one’s beliefs and their
reasons for having them will lead them to conclude
that they were wrong, that they do not agree with
different reasons, and that maybe they need to change
their beliefs and actions accordingly.

110. The Point of Doing Ethics

111. The Point of Doing Ethics
Dogmatism:
Is the stubborn refusal to consider
challenges to your own ethical point-
of-view. It is also the out-of-hand
rejection of competing ethical theories
or explanations.

113. Authority and Ethics

114. Authority and Ethics
Why is murder wrong?

115. Authority and Ethics
Why is murder wrong?
A. Because your parents said so.

116. Authority and Ethics
Why is murder wrong?
A. Because your parents said so.
B. Because your pastor/rabbi/priest said so.

117. Authority and Ethics
Why is murder wrong?
A. Because your parents said so.
B. Because your pastor/rabbi/priest said so.
C. Because your best friend said so.

118. Authority and Ethics
Why is murder wrong?
A. Because your parents said so.
B. Because your pastor/rabbi/priest said so.
C. Because your best friend said so.
D. Because you read it in the paper.

119. Authority and Ethics
Why is murder wrong?
A. Because your parents said so.
B. Because your pastor/rabbi/priest said so.
C. Because your best friend said so.
D. Because you read it in the paper.
E. Because the organization you belong to is against it.

120. Authority and Ethics
Why is murder wrong?
A. Because your parents said so.
B. Because your pastor/rabbi/priest said so.
C. Because your best friend said so.
D. Because you read it in the paper.
E. Because the organization you belong to is against it.
F. Because God said so.

121. Authority and Ethics
Why is murder wrong?
A. Because your parents said so.
B. Because your pastor/rabbi/priest said so.
C. Because your best friend said so.
D. Because you read it in the paper.
E. Because the organization you belong to is against it.
F. Because God said so.
G. Because you flipped a coin.

122. Authority and Ethics
Why is murder wrong?
A. Because your parents said so.
B. Because your pastor/rabbi/priest said so.
C. Because your best friend said so.
D. Because you read it in the paper.
E. Because the organization you belong to is against it.
F. Because God said so.
G. Because you flipped a coin.
H. Because your doctor said so.

123. Authority and Ethics

124. Authority and Ethics
Reasons why authority is not the best solution for
ethical dilemmas and moral principles to live by.

125. Authority and Ethics
Reasons why authority is not the best solution for
ethical dilemmas and moral principles to live by.
1. What makes the authority an authority on morals and
ethics? A specific authority, say parent or doctor, has no general
authority in the realm of enforcing/mandating ethical values.
Authorities on this level are relativistic.

126. Authority and Ethics
Reasons why authority is not the best solution for
ethical dilemmas and moral principles to live by.
1. What makes the authority an authority on morals and
ethics? A specific authority, say parent or doctor, has no general
authority in the realm of enforcing/mandating ethical values.
Authorities on this level are relativistic.
2. Believing something only because someone important to
you said so is no real reason for accepting a moral principle
or a solution to an ethical dilemma.

127. Authority and Ethics
Reasons why authority is not the best solution for
ethical dilemmas and moral principles to live by.
1. What makes the authority an authority on morals and
ethics? A specific authority, say parent or doctor, has no general
authority in the realm of enforcing/mandating ethical values.
Authorities on this level are relativistic.
2. Believing something only because someone important to
you said so is no real reason for accepting a moral principle
or a solution to an ethical dilemma.
3. One never should have to accept all the beliefs and
convictions of any one particular group even if to maintain
a membership with them. (Were all Germans Nazis?)

128. Authority and Ethics
Authority, however, is not always bad to cite in ethical
debates and should be given or recognized according to
the capacity, specialization, and power relevant to the
subject in question.

129. Authority and Ethics
Authority, however, is not always bad to cite in ethical
debates and should be given or recognized according to
the capacity, specialization, and power relevant to the
subject in question.

130. Authority and Ethics
Authority, however, is not always bad to cite in ethical
debates and should be given or recognized according to
the capacity, specialization, and power relevant to the
subject in question.
The Catholic Church believes itself to be a moral
authority. Should people recognize this claim? Why or
why not?

132. Partiality and Impartiality

133. Partiality and Impartiality
You are standing outside a burning building and
trapped inside are the following three people of
which you only have enough time to save one, they
are all equidistant from your entrance:

134. Partiality and Impartiality
You are standing outside a burning building and
trapped inside are the following three people of
which you only have enough time to save one, they
are all equidistant from your entrance:
1. Your beloved mother.

135. Partiality and Impartiality
You are standing outside a burning building and
trapped inside are the following three people of
which you only have enough time to save one, they
are all equidistant from your entrance:
1. Your beloved mother.
2. A Scientist close to finding a cure for cancer.

136. Partiality and Impartiality
You are standing outside a burning building and
trapped inside are the following three people of
which you only have enough time to save one, they
are all equidistant from your entrance:
1. Your beloved mother.
2. A Scientist close to finding a cure for cancer.
3. A highly intelligent ape that holds the secret
to the missing link in evolution.

137. Partiality and Impartiality
You are standing outside a burning building and
trapped inside are the following three people of
which you only have enough time to save one, they
are all equidistant from your entrance:
1. Your beloved mother.
2. A Scientist close to finding a cure for cancer.
3. A highly intelligent ape that holds the secret
to the missing link in evolution.
Which would you choose to save and
why?

138. Partiality and Impartiality

139. Partiality and Impartiality
Partial Reasons: are reasons that show our biases for
or against persons based on our relationships with them
or other personal preferences. e.g. Racists are partial in
that they treat one type of person different then another
based upon personal preferences.

140. Partiality and Impartiality
Impartial Reasons: are reasons not at all based upon
subjective decisions in any dealings with other people. A
doctor should be impartial and treat all of his patients
equally and with the same amount of care and dedication.
Partial Reasons: are reasons that show our biases for
or against persons based on our relationships with them
or other personal preferences. e.g. Racists are partial in
that they treat one type of person different then another
based upon personal preferences.

141. Partiality and Impartiality
Impartial Reasons: are reasons not at all based upon
subjective decisions in any dealings with other people. A
doctor should be impartial and treat all of his patients
equally and with the same amount of care and dedication.

142. Partiality and Impartiality

143. Partiality and Impartiality
To what extent is this possible in real life?
1. Suppose a doctor working in the ER comes across his
daughter after a bad car accident and has to choose
between her and her friend to start treatment?
2. Suppose that a judge has to sentence a war criminal for
crimes against humanity? Can he be impartial?

145. Skepticism Vs. Cynicism

146. Skepticism Vs. Cynicism
Skepticism: Refers to both a philosophical
stance and an everyday attitude of doubting- but
not necessarily denying- the truth of commonly
held beliefs. It entails the willing suspension of
belief, and requires that reason is applied to all
ideas that one is presented with.

147. Skepticism Vs. Cynicism
Skepticism: Refers to both a philosophical
stance and an everyday attitude of doubting- but
not necessarily denying- the truth of commonly
held beliefs. It entails the willing suspension of
belief, and requires that reason is applied to all
ideas that one is presented with.
Cynicism: Is the view that we can never come to
an appropriate understanding of what is right and
wrong. It holds that all ethical principles and
theories are flawed and it is pointless to do ethics.

148. The Moral Act:
Evaluating different theories and human nature...
Handouts
Moral Act
Ill Father
Inglorious Bastards

150. Basic God Talk and Ethics

151. Basic God Talk and Ethics
God = Omnipotent, Omniscient, Personal,
Truth, Goodness, Entity and Creator of
Temporal Reality (ex nihilo). e.g. squared circle,
bolder so heavy?

152. Basic God Talk and Ethics
God = Omnipotent, Omniscient, Personal,
Truth, Goodness, Entity and Creator of
Temporal Reality (ex nihilo). e.g. squared circle,
bolder so heavy?
What is the connection between God and Ethics?

153. Basic God Talk and Ethics
God = Omnipotent, Omniscient, Personal,
Truth, Goodness, Entity and Creator of
Temporal Reality (ex nihilo). e.g. squared circle,
bolder so heavy?
What is the connection between God and Ethics?
Can a nonbeliever be ethical?

154. Basic God Talk and Ethics
God = Omnipotent, Omniscient, Personal,
Truth, Goodness, Entity and Creator of
Temporal Reality (ex nihilo). e.g. squared circle,
bolder so heavy?
What is the connection between God and Ethics?
Can a nonbeliever be ethical?
Can ethics be based on the Bible?

155. Basic God Talk and Ethics
God = Omnipotent, Omniscient, Personal,
Truth, Goodness, Entity and Creator of
Temporal Reality (ex nihilo). e.g. squared circle,
bolder so heavy?
What is the connection between God and Ethics?
Can a nonbeliever be ethical?
Can ethics be based on the Bible?
Were do believers stand in relation to non-
believers ethically?

156. Basic God Talk and Ethics

157. Basic God Talk and Ethics
What is the true relationship between
Good and Evil?

158. Basic God Talk and Ethics
What is the true relationship between
Good and Evil?
1. Good = Evil (Identity vs Power)

159. Basic God Talk and Ethics
What is the true relationship between
Good and Evil?
1. Good = Evil (Identity vs Power)
2. Good < Evil

160. Basic God Talk and Ethics
What is the true relationship between
Good and Evil?
1. Good = Evil (Identity vs Power)
2. Good < Evil
3. Good > Evil

161. Basic God Talk and Ethics
What is the true relationship between
Good and Evil?
1. Good = Evil (Identity vs Power)
2. Good < Evil
3. Good > Evil
4. Good and Evil need each other to exist.
(Symbiotic / Yin Yang)

162. Basic God Talk and Ethics
What is the true relationship between
Good and Evil?
1. Good = Evil (Identity vs Power)
2. Good < Evil
3. Good > Evil
4. Good and Evil need each other to exist.
(Symbiotic / Yin Yang)
*If they are equal in identity they cancel each other out
because good is bad and bad is good.

163. Basic God Talk and Ethics

164. Basic God Talk and Ethics
Is good the lack of evil or evil the lack of good?
(Entailing only one really exists?)

165. Basic God Talk and Ethics
Is good the lack of evil or evil the lack of good?
(Entailing only one really exists?)
Can there ever be too much Evil?

166. Basic God Talk and Ethics
Is good the lack of evil or evil the lack of good?
(Entailing only one really exists?)
Can there ever be too much Evil?
Can there ever be too much Good?

167. Basic God Talk and Ethics
Is good the lack of evil or evil the lack of good?
(Entailing only one really exists?)
Can there ever be too much Evil?
Can there ever be too much Good?
How can they be symbiotic or equal if too much good
does not make any sense and too much evil is always
intolerable?

168. Basic God Talk and Ethics
Is good the lack of evil or evil the lack of good?
(Entailing only one really exists?)
Can there ever be too much Evil?
Can there ever be too much Good?
How can they be symbiotic or equal if too much good
does not make any sense and too much evil is always
intolerable?
The Catholic Church holds that Good is greater than
Evil, Goodness is its own entity while evil is the lack of
Good and depends on the good to exist: Coherent?

170. Divine Command Theory

171. Divine Command Theory
Divine Command Theory: is any ethical theory
that is centered around a belief in a God that
entails specific regulations of one’s behaviors,
relationships with others, as well as with God
Himself.
It is good because God says it and bad
because God condemns it.

172. Divine Command Theory

173. Divine Command Theory
Bad Argument 1.

174. Divine Command Theory
Bad Argument 1.
1. Acting ethically involves obeying some ethical norm.

175. Divine Command Theory
Bad Argument 1.
1. Acting ethically involves obeying some ethical norm.
2. Ethical norms are a set of general commands that are
supposed to be true for everyone, at all times and all
places

176. Divine Command Theory
Bad Argument 1.
1. Acting ethically involves obeying some ethical norm.
2. Ethical norms are a set of general commands that are
supposed to be true for everyone, at all times and all
places
3. Humans can not be the authors of such commands,
because then the commands would not be true for
everyone everywhere.

177. Divine Command Theory
Bad Argument 1.
1. Acting ethically involves obeying some ethical norm.
2. Ethical norms are a set of general commands that are
supposed to be true for everyone, at all times and all
places
3. Humans can not be the authors of such commands,
because then the commands would not be true for
everyone everywhere.
4. Whoever makes these commands must be eternal and
exist everywhere at all times.

178. Divine Command Theory
Bad Argument 1.
1. Acting ethically involves obeying some ethical norm.
2. Ethical norms are a set of general commands that are
supposed to be true for everyone, at all times and all
places
3. Humans can not be the authors of such commands,
because then the commands would not be true for
everyone everywhere.
4. Whoever makes these commands must be eternal and
exist everywhere at all times.
5. 1-4 entail that acting ethically involves following God’s
Laws.

179. Divine Command Theory

180. Divine Command Theory
Bad Argument 2.

181. Divine Command Theory
Bad Argument 2.
1. Most people would act unethically if they could get
away with it.

182. Divine Command Theory
Bad Argument 2.
1. Most people would act unethically if they could get
away with it.
2. Fear of punishment and desire for reward are what
keep people in check.

183. Divine Command Theory
Bad Argument 2.
1. Most people would act unethically if they could get
away with it.
2. Fear of punishment and desire for reward are what
keep people in check.
3. Earthly punishment and reward are not good enough
incentives, because people know they can get away with
things as well as not receive a just reward.

184. Divine Command Theory
Bad Argument 2.
1. Most people would act unethically if they could get
away with it.
2. Fear of punishment and desire for reward are what
keep people in check.
3. Earthly punishment and reward are not good enough
incentives, because people know they can get away with
things as well as not receive a just reward.
4. What keeps most people in check is punishment and
reward in a life hereafter.

185. Divine Command Theory
Bad Argument 2.
1. Most people would act unethically if they could get
away with it.
2. Fear of punishment and desire for reward are what
keep people in check.
3. Earthly punishment and reward are not good enough
incentives, because people know they can get away with
things as well as not receive a just reward.
4. What keeps most people in check is punishment and
reward in a life hereafter.
5. So most people would act unethically unless there is a
God watching them for the after life.

187. Divine Morality...problems

188. Divine Morality...problems
Atheists and Agnostics have a hard time
accepting GOD as the moral authority.

189. Divine Morality...problems
Atheists and Agnostics have a hard time
accepting GOD as the moral authority.
Appealing to God as the moral authority only
works for those who believe in that moral
authority.... true? or false?

190. Divine Morality...problems
Atheists and Agnostics have a hard time
accepting GOD as the moral authority.
Appealing to God as the moral authority only
works for those who believe in that moral
authority.... true? or false?
Can God say that an immoral act is not
immoral? (e.g. Abraham killing his son.)

191. Divine Morality...problems
Atheists and Agnostics have a hard time
accepting GOD as the moral authority.
Appealing to God as the moral authority only
works for those who believe in that moral
authority.... true? or false?
Can God say that an immoral act is not
immoral? (e.g. Abraham killing his son.)
Besides the ten commandments...how is Divine
Command Theory practical on a daily basis?
Bible interpretations?

192. Divine Morality...problems

193. Divine Morality...problems
What about fanatical religion and doing God’s will?
Is there anything wrong or immoral about Jihad?
Why or Why not?

194. Divine Morality...problems
What about fanatical religion and doing God’s will?
Is there anything wrong or immoral about Jihad?
Why or Why not?
Which religion is the one true religion?
Can there be more than one religious truth for reality?
Why or Why not? Which morality should one follow and
why? !!!!

196. Why Obey God?

197. Why Obey God?
1) heaven
2) hell
3) beauty
4) love
5) truth
6) nobody better to follow
7) God made me...
8) God knows best...

199. Religion and Reality

200. Religion and Reality
World View (Epistemology)
+ = Morality
Truth (Ontology)
Epistemology + Ontology = Correct Opinion
Epistemology - Ontology = Incorrect Opinion

202. Faith or Reason

203. Faith or Reason
What is faith? The acceptance of certain answers
concerning reality that have yet to be, or may never be,
proven or rationally established.

204. Faith or Reason
What is faith? The acceptance of certain answers
concerning reality that have yet to be, or may never be,
proven or rationally established.
What is reason? The logical application of understanding
towards the human experience of reality regarding both the
known and the unknown.

205. Faith or Reason
What is faith? The acceptance of certain answers
concerning reality that have yet to be, or may never be,
proven or rationally established.
What is reason? The logical application of understanding
towards the human experience of reality regarding both the
known and the unknown.
Which should guide moral action more? WHY?Are Faith
and Reason always at odds with each other? or are they two
different tools to approach reality?

206. Faith or Reason
What is faith? The acceptance of certain answers
concerning reality that have yet to be, or may never be,
proven or rationally established.
What is reason? The logical application of understanding
towards the human experience of reality regarding both the
known and the unknown.
Which should guide moral action more? WHY?Are Faith
and Reason always at odds with each other? or are they two
different tools to approach reality?
Notes Summary...

208. The Moral Guide of Science...

209. The Moral Guide of Science...
What does science have to offer the moral
philosopher?

210. The Moral Guide of Science...
What does science have to offer the moral
philosopher?
Are there genes that guide behavior good or bad?
To what extent?

211. The Moral Guide of Science...
What does science have to offer the moral
philosopher?
Are there genes that guide behavior good or bad?
To what extent?
Most ethical arguments concern disagreements
about facts. Science can help clarify those facts.
Being properly informed is key to making right
decisions.

212. The Moral Guide of Science...
What does science have to offer the moral
philosopher?
Are there genes that guide behavior good or bad?
To what extent?
Most ethical arguments concern disagreements
about facts. Science can help clarify those facts.
Being properly informed is key to making right
decisions.
Science offers fact evaluations to counteract
fanatical sentiments and fanatical ethics.

213. The Moral Guide of Science...

214. The Moral Guide of Science...
What can science offer to argue against fanatical religious
groups such as the one’s guilty for 9/11?

215. The Moral Guide of Science...
What can science offer to argue against fanatical religious
groups such as the one’s guilty for 9/11?
Can science find an objective ground to say they acted
unethically despite their claim to do God’s will?

217. is/ought
David Hume

218. is/ought
David Hume
The is / ought dilemma states that one cannot make
any ought statements from is facts.

219. is/ought
David Hume
The is / ought dilemma states that one cannot make
any ought statements from is facts.
The child is playing with friends.

220. is/ought
David Hume
The is / ought dilemma states that one cannot make
any ought statements from is facts.
The child is playing with friends.
The child ought to share with his friends.

221. is/ought
David Hume
The is / ought dilemma states that one cannot make
any ought statements from is facts.
The child is playing with friends.
The child ought to share with his friends.
The ought statement is not grounded in the is
statement, but is a subjective/relative moral
judgment.

222. is/ought
David Hume
The is / ought dilemma states that one cannot make
any ought statements from is facts.
The child is playing with friends.
The child ought to share with his friends.
The ought statement is not grounded in the is
statement, but is a subjective/relative moral
judgment.
The is statement is objective and factual and has
no efficacious relation to subjective ethical

223. is/ought
David Hume

224. is/ought
David Hume
Does science have anything to do with ought
statements? or is science concealed to only factual is
statements?

225. is/ought
David Hume
Does science have anything to do with ought
statements? or is science concealed to only factual is
statements?
Bye bye ethics? or is there more to reality than
science can show or argue?

226. The Naturalistic Fallacy
G. E. Moore
What is the definition of good without saying
“this” or “that” is good?

227. The Naturalistic Fallacy
G. E. Moore
What is the definition of good without saying
“this” or “that” is good?
...the term "good" (in the sense of intrinsic value) is indefinable, because it
names a simple, non-natural property. It is, rather, "one of those
innumerable objects of thought which are themselves incapable of definition,
because they are the ultimate terms by reference to which whatever is capable of
definition must be defined" (Principia Ethica § 10 ¶ 1). Many ethical philosophers
have tried to prove some of their claims about ethics by appealing to an analysis of
the meaning of the term "good"; they held that "good" can be defined in terms of
one or more natural properties which we already understand (as "pleasure", in the
case of hedonists).
Moore coined the term "naturalistic fallacy" to describe these arguments; he
explains that the fallacy is also another type of fallacy, which we might call the
"definitional fallacy". The fallacy is committed whenever a statement
to the effect that some object has a simple indefinable property is
misunderstood as a definition that gives the meaning of the simple
indefinable property.

228. The Naturalistic Fallacy
G. E. Moore
…the assumption that because some quality or combination
of qualities invariably and necessarily accompanies the quality
of goodness, or is invariably and necessarily accompanied by it,
or both, this quality or combination of qualities is
identical with goodness.
If, for example, it is believed that whatever is pleasant is and
must be good, or that whatever is good is and must be pleasant,
or both, it is committing the naturalistic fallacy to infer
from this that goodness and pleasantness are one and the same
quality. The naturalistic fallacy is the assumption that because
the words 'good' and, say, 'pleasant' necessarily describe the
same objects, they must attribute the same quality to them.

229. The Naturalistic Fallacy
G. E. Moore
The naturalistic fallacy is related to (and even confused
with) the is-ought problem, which comes from Hume's
Treatise. The term is sometimes used loosely to describe
arguments that claim to draw ethical conclusions from
natural facts.

231. Can Science Go Too far?

232. Can Science Go Too far?
Cloning, Genetic Engineering, etc... Frankenstein? Clones
for organs? If there is no God is there anything to stop
scientists from doing whatever they want whenever they
want as long as it is possible? (Nazi research finds cure...Do we use it?)

233. Can Science Go Too far?
Cloning, Genetic Engineering, etc... Frankenstein? Clones
for organs? If there is no God is there anything to stop
scientists from doing whatever they want whenever they
want as long as it is possible? (Nazi research finds cure...Do we use it?)
Plato argued all knowledge is technical expertise, including
knowledge of right and wrong. Are scientists justified in
claiming moral authority? Why or why not?

234. Can Science Go Too far?
Cloning, Genetic Engineering, etc... Frankenstein? Clones
for organs? If there is no God is there anything to stop
scientists from doing whatever they want whenever they
want as long as it is possible? (Nazi research finds cure...Do we use it?)
Plato argued all knowledge is technical expertise, including
knowledge of right and wrong. Are scientists justified in
claiming moral authority? Why or why not?
Can ethics be placed on a firm foundation through science?
or will it always be a matter of belief ? How far can science
take ethics?

235. Can Science Go Too far?
Cloning, Genetic Engineering, etc... Frankenstein? Clones
for organs? If there is no God is there anything to stop
scientists from doing whatever they want whenever they
want as long as it is possible? (Nazi research finds cure...Do we use it?)
Plato argued all knowledge is technical expertise, including
knowledge of right and wrong. Are scientists justified in
claiming moral authority? Why or why not?
Can ethics be placed on a firm foundation through science?
or will it always be a matter of belief ? How far can science
take ethics?
Should ethics be done away with all together and let science
just lead the way? Why not?

237. Science and Religion

238. Science and Religion
Why not both?

239. Science and Religion
Why not both?
The way to reconcile science and religion is to
say that science and ethics are different, but
equally necessary, perspectives for viewing the
world. (Explain the elephant and the blind mice)

240. Science and Religion
Why not both?
The way to reconcile science and religion is to
say that science and ethics are different, but
equally necessary, perspectives for viewing the
world. (Explain the elephant and the blind mice)
In other words, science gives you one angle of
the elephant, while religion another perspective,
and ethics yet another perspective... They are all
looking at the same thing from a different view
point.

241. Science and Religion

242. Science and Religion
Unlike the scientific method, which stops where the cold facts
begin, the method of moral reflection has no end.

243. Science and Religion
Unlike the scientific method, which stops where the cold facts
begin, the method of moral reflection has no end.
Man needs religion and ethics to give their lives meaning and
purpose. Science can tell us what the most efficient means are
for achieving our ends, but it can’t tell us which ends are the
right ones.

244. Science and Religion
Unlike the scientific method, which stops where the cold facts
begin, the method of moral reflection has no end.
Man needs religion and ethics to give their lives meaning and
purpose. Science can tell us what the most efficient means are
for achieving our ends, but it can’t tell us which ends are the
right ones.
This is because the right ones are questions of value, not a
question of fact.

245. Science and Religion
Unlike the scientific method, which stops where the cold facts
begin, the method of moral reflection has no end.
Man needs religion and ethics to give their lives meaning and
purpose. Science can tell us what the most efficient means are
for achieving our ends, but it can’t tell us which ends are the
right ones.
This is because the right ones are questions of value, not a
question of fact.
Ethics and religion still need science because science tells us
what can and cannot be said, argued, or, done.

246. Science and Religion
Unlike the scientific method, which stops where the cold facts
begin, the method of moral reflection has no end.
Man needs religion and ethics to give their lives meaning and
purpose. Science can tell us what the most efficient means are
for achieving our ends, but it can’t tell us which ends are the
right ones.
This is because the right ones are questions of value, not a
question of fact.
Ethics and religion still need science because science tells us
what can and cannot be said, argued, or, done.
e.g. A way out of fanatical God justifications.

247. Ego Ethics

248. Ego Ethics
“No matter what we do, we always act out of
self-interest: That even if we think we are acting
for charitable reasons, we are just plain wrong.”

249. Ego Ethics
“No matter what we do, we always act out of
self-interest: That even if we think we are acting
for charitable reasons, we are just plain wrong.”
“We should always act on our own self-interest =
the best moral approach to the ethical life.”

250. Ego Ethics
“No matter what we do, we always act out of
self-interest: That even if we think we are acting
for charitable reasons, we are just plain wrong.”
“We should always act on our own self-interest =
the best moral approach to the ethical life.”
Is unselfishness possible? Is it even desirable?

251. Self-Interested?

252. Self-Interested?
1) Helping little old ladies with heavy groceries.
2) Putting coins in other peoples’ parking meters
so they do not get parking tickets.
3) Giving money to homeless people on the
street.
4) Grabbing a dog before it runs out into traffic.
5)Raking up your neighbor’s leaves.
6) Giving a ride to a friend to go somewhere.

253. Self-Interested?

254. Self-Interested?
Is there a difference between acting with self-interest
and acting selfishly?

255. Self-Interested?
Is there a difference between acting with self-interest
and acting selfishly?
Self-Interest is acting upon one’s concerns everything
considered.

256. Self-Interested?
Is there a difference between acting with self-interest
and acting selfishly?
Self-Interest is acting upon one’s concerns everything
considered.
Selfishness is when one’s concerns out weigh those of
others.

257. Psychological Egoism

258. Psychological Egoism
States that it is human nature to act selfishly. It is
hardwired in our genes. All moral acts are
motivated by self-interest.

259. Psychological Egoism
States that it is human nature to act selfishly. It is
hardwired in our genes. All moral acts are
motivated by self-interest.
Can any action be interpreted as done solely
because of self-interests?

260. Psychological Egoism
States that it is human nature to act selfishly. It is
hardwired in our genes. All moral acts are
motivated by self-interest.
Can any action be interpreted as done solely
because of self-interests?
People only do what they want to do...

261. Psychological Egoism
States that it is human nature to act selfishly. It is
hardwired in our genes. All moral acts are
motivated by self-interest.
Can any action be interpreted as done solely
because of self-interests?
People only do what they want to do...
Mother Theresa was only doing what she
wanted to do, nothing more to it.

262. Psychological Egoism
States that it is human nature to act selfishly. It is
hardwired in our genes. All moral acts are
motivated by self-interest.
Can any action be interpreted as done solely
because of self-interests?
People only do what they want to do...
Mother Theresa was only doing what she
wanted to do, nothing more to it.
Doing good acts makes us feel really
good about ourselves.

263. Psychological Egoism

264. Psychological Egoism
Psychological egoists claim that:

265. Psychological Egoism
Psychological egoists claim that:
1. We only do things because we really want to, so we
should not be praised for doing good acts.

266. Psychological Egoism
Psychological egoists claim that:
1. We only do things because we really want to, so we
should not be praised for doing good acts.
2. We want the good feelings that come with doing good
things, so doing good acts is really self-serving.

267. Psychological Egoism
Psychological egoists claim that:
1. We only do things because we really want to, so we
should not be praised for doing good acts.
2. We want the good feelings that come with doing good
things, so doing good acts is really self-serving.
Do you agree? or see anything wrong with these claims?

268. Ethical Egoism

269. Ethical Egoism
There is an important difference between
Psychological Egoism and Ethical Egoism.

270. Ethical Egoism
There is an important difference between
Psychological Egoism and Ethical Egoism.
Psychological Egoism makes claims about
how we do behave: we act from self-interested
motives.

271. Ethical Egoism
There is an important difference between
Psychological Egoism and Ethical Egoism.
Psychological Egoism makes claims about
how we do behave: we act from self-interested
motives.
Ethical Egoism makes claims about how we
should behave: We should always act on our
own self-interest.

272. Ethical Egoism

273. Ethical Egoism
Ethical Egoists say we only have one duty, and that is to ourselves
not others.

274. Ethical Egoism
Ethical Egoists say we only have one duty, and that is to ourselves
not others.
Ethical Egoism is an individualist theory. It starts with the
individual’s rights and freedoms.

275. Ethical Egoism
Ethical Egoists say we only have one duty, and that is to ourselves
not others.
Ethical Egoism is an individualist theory. It starts with the
individual’s rights and freedoms.
The common good is not as important as individual goods.

276. Ethical Egoism
Ethical Egoists say we only have one duty, and that is to ourselves
not others.
Ethical Egoism is an individualist theory. It starts with the
individual’s rights and freedoms.
The common good is not as important as individual goods.
Altruism is seen in this theory as bad and limits men because the
individual is lost to another’s will or wants.

277. Ethical Egoism
Ethical Egoists say we only have one duty, and that is to ourselves
not others.
Ethical Egoism is an individualist theory. It starts with the
individual’s rights and freedoms.
The common good is not as important as individual goods.
Altruism is seen in this theory as bad and limits men because the
individual is lost to another’s will or wants.
You might do nice things for other people but only in so far as it helps you
out in the long run.

278. Ethical Egoism
Ethical Egoists say we only have one duty, and that is to ourselves
not others.
Ethical Egoism is an individualist theory. It starts with the
individual’s rights and freedoms.
The common good is not as important as individual goods.
Altruism is seen in this theory as bad and limits men because the
individual is lost to another’s will or wants.
You might do nice things for other people but only in so far as it helps you
out in the long run.
What is the difference between hedonism and ethical egoism?

279. Ethical Egoism
Ethical Egoists say we only have one duty, and that is to ourselves
not others.
Ethical Egoism is an individualist theory. It starts with the
individual’s rights and freedoms.
The common good is not as important as individual goods.
Altruism is seen in this theory as bad and limits men because the
individual is lost to another’s will or wants.
You might do nice things for other people but only in so far as it helps you
out in the long run.
What is the difference between hedonism and ethical egoism?
Pleasure vs Self-Interest?

280. Ethical Egoism
Ethical Egoists say we only have one duty, and that is to ourselves
not others.
Ethical Egoism is an individualist theory. It starts with the
individual’s rights and freedoms.
The common good is not as important as individual goods.
Altruism is seen in this theory as bad and limits men because the
individual is lost to another’s will or wants.
You might do nice things for other people but only in so far as it helps you
out in the long run.
What is the difference between hedonism and ethical egoism?
Pleasure vs Self-Interest?
Sometimes pleasure is not in my best Self-Interest.

281. Egoism: Pros

282. Egoism: Pros
Ethical Egoism is morally right because it
encourages individuals to look out for
themselves. Since we know best what is in our
self-interests, ethical egoism is better than
theories that encourage us to “do for others”.

283. Egoism: Pros
Ethical Egoism is morally right because it
encourages individuals to look out for
themselves. Since we know best what is in our
self-interests, ethical egoism is better than
theories that encourage us to “do for others”.
Promoting altruism and charity is bad because it
places the individual at the mercy of society. If we
want a society that is really all it can be, we need to
encourage individuals to be great, and not
sacrifice themselves for the common good. Great
societies are born of great individuals.

284. Objections:

285. Objections:
Do people only do things because they really want
to?

286. Objections:
Do people only do things because they really want
to?
People do things all the time that they do not want
to do, rather they are done out of obligation.

287. Objections:
Do people only do things because they really want
to?
People do things all the time that they do not want
to do, rather they are done out of obligation.
To say that people only do things they want to do is
a truism and misses the point that people do not
have to do any particular action wether they want
to or not.

288. Objections:
Do people only do things because they really want
to?
People do things all the time that they do not want
to do, rather they are done out of obligation.
To say that people only do things they want to do is
a truism and misses the point that people do not
have to do any particular action wether they want
to or not.
If there is an inner struggle to do something, perhaps
sometimes simply wanting to do a good thing is not
enough. “Wants are not always so clear-cut”.

289. Objections:

290. Objections:
Another objection states that if everyone is selfish there is
no criteria to distinguish between good and bad people
which is absurd. If everyone is selfish no one is “good”.

291. Objections:
Another objection states that if everyone is selfish there is
no criteria to distinguish between good and bad people
which is absurd. If everyone is selfish no one is “good”.
Mother Theresa’s wants were different from say a
murder’s.

292. Objections: II

293. Objections: II
Which comes first wanting that good feeling for
doing something good or wanting to do good for
others?

294. Objections: II
Which comes first wanting that good feeling for
doing something good or wanting to do good for
others?
The good feeling always follows good acts not the
other way around.

295. Objections: II
Which comes first wanting that good feeling for
doing something good or wanting to do good for
others?
The good feeling always follows good acts not the
other way around.
Should there not be benefits for being a good
person? Should people not be properly motivated
to be good?

296. Objections: II

297. Objections: II
One major Theoretical Inconsistency:

298. Objections: II
One major Theoretical Inconsistency:
Since it is to one’s advantage that others not act
egotistically, it follows that it would be immoral for one to
publicly advocate ethical egoism.

299. Objections: II
One major Theoretical Inconsistency:
Since it is to one’s advantage that others not act
egotistically, it follows that it would be immoral for one to
publicly advocate ethical egoism.
This combined with the idea of anti-social (individual
over the group) mentality that it is insufficient to be
properly called a “morality”.

300. Objections: II
One major Theoretical Inconsistency:
Since it is to one’s advantage that others not act
egotistically, it follows that it would be immoral for one to
publicly advocate ethical egoism.
This combined with the idea of anti-social (individual
over the group) mentality that it is insufficient to be
properly called a “morality”.
(Morality = Social Behavior rules of good and bad
conduct.)

301. Ethical Subjectivism

302. Ethical Subjectivism
Ethical Subjectivism = does not tell us what is
good or bad, right or wrong. Rather, it tells us
only that what moral judgments come down to is
an expression of opinion.

303. Ethical Subjectivism
Ethical Subjectivism = does not tell us what is
good or bad, right or wrong. Rather, it tells us
only that what moral judgments come down to is
an expression of opinion.
Ethical subjectivism makes you an expert on all
moral issues.

304. Ethical Subjectivism
Ethical Subjectivism = does not tell us what is
good or bad, right or wrong. Rather, it tells us
only that what moral judgments come down to is
an expression of opinion.
Ethical subjectivism makes you an expert on all
moral issues.
Whatever an individual believes is right and
wrong is right and wrong for that individual.
There is no “higher” court of appeal.

305. Main Ideas: Subjectivism

306. Main Ideas: Subjectivism
1. Ethical beliefs come down to feelings. Feelings
are subjective. (Emotivism)

307. Main Ideas: Subjectivism
1. Ethical beliefs come down to feelings. Feelings
are subjective. (Emotivism)
2. Individuals just do not agree on what is right
and wrong. (There is only opinion even among
theories.)

308. Main Ideas: Subjectivism
1. Ethical beliefs come down to feelings. Feelings
are subjective. (Emotivism)
2. Individuals just do not agree on what is right
and wrong. (There is only opinion even among
theories.)
3. Ethical Beliefs are not objectively provable.
One cannot prove that unicorns exist, not because they do not exist but because
evidence always points to what is...

309. What Is Wrong With
Subjectivism?

310. What Is Wrong With
Subjectivism?
Is it true that ethical beliefs are only based on
individual feelings? (What about reason, experience,
imagination, etc...)

311. What Is Wrong With
Subjectivism?
Is it true that ethical beliefs are only based on
individual feelings? (What about reason, experience,
imagination, etc...)
To say morals only depend on individual feelings is
an oversimplification of morality.

312. What Is Wrong With
Subjectivism?
Is it true that ethical beliefs are only based on
individual feelings? (What about reason, experience,
imagination, etc...)
To say morals only depend on individual feelings is
an oversimplification of morality.
Feelings can also be misguided when based upon
false beliefs. Trolly dilemma: push man or hit train switch to save the group? Feelings
change the answer but not the consequences...

313. What Is Wrong With
Subjectivism?
Is it true that ethical beliefs are only based on
individual feelings? (What about reason, experience,
imagination, etc...)
To say morals only depend on individual feelings is
an oversimplification of morality.
Feelings can also be misguided when based upon
false beliefs. Trolly dilemma: push man or hit train switch to save the group? Feelings
change the answer but not the consequences...
The fact that you and I have different beliefs about
moral issues does not mean that there is no truth of
the matter. (correct vs. incorrect opinion)

314. What Is Wrong With
Subjectivism?

315. What Is Wrong With
Subjectivism?
There are also very good ways to weigh
arguments for or against something so that one
can see that some moral positions are better
than others despite the claim that the good and
bad are matters of opinion.
In other words, some opinions are better than
others for objective reasons.

316. Ethical Subjectivism:
A Contradiction

317. Ethical Subjectivism:
A Contradiction
A subjectivist has no choice but to hold both of
the following positions:

318. Ethical Subjectivism:
A Contradiction
A subjectivist has no choice but to hold both of
the following positions:
Pornography is immoral.

319. Ethical Subjectivism:
A Contradiction
A subjectivist has no choice but to hold both of
the following positions:
Pornography is immoral.
Pornography is not immoral.

320. Ethical Subjectivism:
A Contradiction
A subjectivist has no choice but to hold both of
the following positions:
Pornography is immoral.
Pornography is not immoral.
If two people hold these positions, and it is true
for both of them, then subjectivists have to say
that pornography is both moral and immoral.

321. Ethical Subjectivism:
A Contradiction
A subjectivist has no choice but to hold both of
the following positions:
Pornography is immoral.
Pornography is not immoral.
If two people hold these positions, and it is true
for both of them, then subjectivists have to say
that pornography is both moral and immoral.
(A = -A) Is a logical contradiction.

322. Ethical Subjectivism:
A Contradiction

323. Ethical Subjectivism:
A Contradiction
Therefore, do people that believe in ethical subjectivism
have any moral beliefs at all?

324. Ethical Subjectivism:
A Contradiction
Therefore, do people that believe in ethical subjectivism
have any moral beliefs at all?
What good is a moral belief if you do not think others
should follow it as well?

325. Ethical Subjectivism:
A Contradiction
Therefore, do people that believe in ethical subjectivism
have any moral beliefs at all?
What good is a moral belief if you do not think others
should follow it as well?
Remember ethics is social by nature.

326. Ethical Subjectivism:
A Contradiction
Therefore, do people that believe in ethical subjectivism
have any moral beliefs at all?
What good is a moral belief if you do not think others
should follow it as well?
Remember ethics is social by nature.
Is “moral progress” possible? (e.g. End of Slavery?) Or is it
only about how people feel about slavery?

327. Ethical Subjectivism:
A Contradiction
Therefore, do people that believe in ethical subjectivism
have any moral beliefs at all?
What good is a moral belief if you do not think others
should follow it as well?
Remember ethics is social by nature.
Is “moral progress” possible? (e.g. End of Slavery?) Or is it
only about how people feel about slavery?
What good is ethics if everybody is right and nobody is
wrong?

328. Ancient Greek Virtue Ethics

329. Ancient Greek Virtue Ethics
A character trait is an ingrained part of your identity that
habitually influences almost everything you do.
Good traits are virtues and bad traits are vices.

330. Ancient Greek Virtue Ethics
A character trait is an ingrained part of your identity that
habitually influences almost everything you do.
Good traits are virtues and bad traits are vices.
People usually have several virtues and vices at the same time.
If you have too many vices are you morally corrupt? Can one
have to many virtues? Is that morally praise-able?

331. Ancient Greek Virtue Ethics

332. Ancient Greek Virtue Ethics
Virtues: Vices:
Generosity Selfishness
Courage Cowardice
Kindness Thoughtlessness
Thoughtfulness Rudeness
Politeness Malevolence
Honesty Dishonesty
Loyalty Infidelity

333. Ancient Greek Virtue Ethics

334. Ancient Greek Virtue Ethics
For every virtue there are two vices one of
excess and one of defect.
A virtue is always the mean between two vices.
Prudence is used to find the right virtue and
degree of virtue for the right moment and
person.
Always act with moderation accordingly.
e.g. Courage and the Soldier

335. Why be Virtuous?

336. Why be Virtuous?
A life without virtue is an unhappy life.

337. Why be Virtuous?
A life without virtue is an unhappy life.
Pleasures and pains are fleeting states of mind.
Happiness, by contrast, is a more enduring state
of fulfillment and well-being achievable only
through virtue. (Contra Hedonism)

338. Why be Virtuous?
A life without virtue is an unhappy life.
Pleasures and pains are fleeting states of mind.
Happiness, by contrast, is a more enduring state
of fulfillment and well-being achievable only
through virtue. (Contra Hedonism)
Happiness is an end-in-itself and perhaps the
most important end-in-itself. (as opposed to an
end-for-another end)

339. Why be Virtuous?

340. Why be Virtuous?
Can a master criminal who never got caught for stealing
billions of dollars ever be truly happy?

341. Why be Virtuous?
Can a master criminal who never got caught for stealing
billions of dollars ever be truly happy?
Lacking essential non-criminal virtues, like honesty
(honest criminal?) the master criminal and his gang of
thugs will have a hard time trusting each other. Bad
company is as bad company does.

342. Why be Virtuous?
Can a master criminal who never got caught for stealing
billions of dollars ever be truly happy?
Lacking essential non-criminal virtues, like honesty
(honest criminal?) the master criminal and his gang of
thugs will have a hard time trusting each other. Bad
company is as bad company does.
The only way to get rid of vice - and get happy - is by
becoming virtuous.

343. Objectivity and Virtues

344. Objectivity and Virtues
Virtues - good character traits - are good for the
soul, or make for the soul’s happiness - because
they are directly linked to things that are good
for us objectively.

345. Objectivity and Virtues
Virtues - good character traits - are good for the
soul, or make for the soul’s happiness - because
they are directly linked to things that are good
for us objectively.
Virtues are universally recognized by almost all
societies as human excellences.

346. Objectivity and Virtues
Virtues - good character traits - are good for the
soul, or make for the soul’s happiness - because
they are directly linked to things that are good
for us objectively.
Virtues are universally recognized by almost all
societies as human excellences.
Man pursues excellence and virtue for their own
sake as they are the direct cause of “happiness.”

347. Habit: Virtue and Vice

348. Habit: Virtue and Vice
One’s character traits are so deeply embedded in
their personality that they cannot really control
their expression. A man is the product of many
years of training, experience, and habit
formation.

349. Habit: Virtue and Vice
One’s character traits are so deeply embedded in
their personality that they cannot really control
their expression. A man is the product of many
years of training, experience, and habit
formation.
To what extent can a person break a habit? Are
all habits “breakable”? Why are habits hard to
break?

350. Habit: Virtue and Vice
One’s character traits are so deeply embedded in
their personality that they cannot really control
their expression. A man is the product of many
years of training, experience, and habit
formation.
To what extent can a person break a habit? Are
all habits “breakable”? Why are habits hard to
break?
Can evil people, or at any rate people
committing immoral acts, be virtuous?
(Robin-hood)

351. Habit: Virtue and Vice

352. Habit: Virtue and Vice
Any virtue can become a vice when in service of evil.
Even more disturbing, a person who excels in all the
virtues can still commit horrible crimes out of sheer
ignorance of what they are doing.

353. Habit: Virtue and Vice
Any virtue can become a vice when in service of evil.
Even more disturbing, a person who excels in all the
virtues can still commit horrible crimes out of sheer
ignorance of what they are doing.
Aristotle recognized that we are all uniquely different
from one another in capacities and circumstances, so that
the proper model of happiness for one person is not
necessarily fit for another person.

354. “Natural Ethics”

355. “Natural Ethics”
What is nature and what is natural?
(Beaver vs Man)

356. “Natural Ethics”
What is nature and what is natural?
(Beaver vs Man)
Can nature be used as a criteria to determine if
something is immoral?
Does unnatural = immoral ?

357. “Natural Ethics”
What is nature and what is natural?
(Beaver vs Man)
Can nature be used as a criteria to determine if
something is immoral?
Does unnatural = immoral ?
Is homosexuality wrong because it is unnatural?

358. “Natural Ethics”
What is nature and what is natural?
(Beaver vs Man)
Can nature be used as a criteria to determine if
something is immoral?
Does unnatural = immoral ?
Is homosexuality wrong because it is unnatural?
Is masturbation wrong because it defeats the
purpose of the natural end of sex? What about
oral sex?

359. “Natural Ethics”

360. “Natural Ethics”
Though there are difficulties in knowing what is natural
and unnatural, we will see that the idea of human nature
plays a very important role in justifying basic rights that
are universally valid for all human society.
All men are natural and a part of nature.
If there is a common ethical standard inherent in man’s
nature it is universally defensible.

361. Nature as a Moral Order

362. Nature as a Moral Order
Nature is orderly... (laws of physics, biology, etc.)

363. Nature as a Moral Order
Nature is orderly... (laws of physics, biology, etc.)
A dog has a natural behavior and so does a
human. Therefore, it is unnatural and immoral
for a man to act like a dog.

364. Nature as a Moral Order
Nature is orderly... (laws of physics, biology, etc.)
A dog has a natural behavior and so does a
human. Therefore, it is unnatural and immoral
for a man to act like a dog.
In some instances when a living thing behaves
abnormally we also attach a value judgment. It
is said to be sick or defective.

365. Nature as a Moral Order
Nature is orderly... (laws of physics, biology, etc.)
A dog has a natural behavior and so does a
human. Therefore, it is unnatural and immoral
for a man to act like a dog.
In some instances when a living thing behaves
abnormally we also attach a value judgment. It
is said to be sick or defective.
Defective = not being or acting as it is expected.

366. Nature as a Moral Order

367. Nature as a Moral Order
The phrase “in order to” emphasizes the idea that there
is some purpose or end that a behavior, person, or
animal serves.

368. Nature as a Moral Order
The phrase “in order to” emphasizes the idea that there
is some purpose or end that a behavior, person, or
animal serves.
This means that function, nature, and morality are all
intertwined in purpose and meaning.

369. Nature as a Moral Order
The phrase “in order to” emphasizes the idea that there
is some purpose or end that a behavior, person, or
animal serves.
This means that function, nature, and morality are all
intertwined in purpose and meaning.
But does everything have a purpose or not ?!?!?!

370. Nature as a Moral Order
The phrase “in order to” emphasizes the idea that there
is some purpose or end that a behavior, person, or
animal serves.
This means that function, nature, and morality are all
intertwined in purpose and meaning.
But does everything have a purpose or not ?!?!?!
Does every kind of thing have it’s own nature,
and does that nature prescribe a standard of
perfection and purpose for it?

371. Nature as a Moral Order
The phrase “in order to” emphasizes the idea that there
is some purpose or end that a behavior, person, or
animal serves.
This means that function, nature, and morality are all
intertwined in purpose and meaning.
But does everything have a purpose or not ?!?!?!
Does every kind of thing have it’s own nature,
and does that nature prescribe a standard of
perfection and purpose for it?
What is “perfection” ?

372. Natural Morality

373. Natural Morality
People can develop their humanity more or less
well. People ought to be as naturally human as
possible, and do nothing that lowers the human
standard to any animalistic standard.

374. Natural Morality
People can develop their humanity more or less
well. People ought to be as naturally human as
possible, and do nothing that lowers the human
standard to any animalistic standard.
For every kind of thing there is a standard of
well-being, excellence, and virtue.

375. Natural Morality
People can develop their humanity more or less
well. People ought to be as naturally human as
possible, and do nothing that lowers the human
standard to any animalistic standard.
For every kind of thing there is a standard of
well-being, excellence, and virtue.
Do dogs have virtues and excellences as dogs?

376. Natural Morality
People can develop their humanity more or less
well. People ought to be as naturally human as
possible, and do nothing that lowers the human
standard to any animalistic standard.
For every kind of thing there is a standard of
well-being, excellence, and virtue.
Do dogs have virtues and excellences as dogs?
Virtues are relative to the entities nature.

377. St. Thomas Aquinas

378. St. Thomas Aquinas
Aquinas added Christianity into the Aristotelian
view of nature.

379. St. Thomas Aquinas
Aquinas added Christianity into the Aristotelian
view of nature.
However, in contrast to Aristotle, he held that
nature was created by God and reflected His
purposes.

380. St. Thomas Aquinas
Aquinas added Christianity into the Aristotelian
view of nature.
However, in contrast to Aristotle, he held that
nature was created by God and reflected His
purposes.
The ultimate purpose of life was not happiness
here on earth, but happiness in heaven and the
hereafter.

381. Natural Perfection:
Aquinas and Aristotle

382. Natural Perfection:
Aquinas and Aristotle
Aquinas accepted the following from Aristotle:

383. Natural Perfection:
Aquinas and Aristotle
Aquinas accepted the following from Aristotle:
1. In nature everything has a purpose. Lower kinds of
nature exist in order to serve higher kinds. Each kind
strives to develop its own nature as much as possible.
Humans strive to develop reason.

384. Natural Perfection:
Aquinas and Aristotle
Aquinas accepted the following from Aristotle:
1. In nature everything has a purpose. Lower kinds of
nature exist in order to serve higher kinds. Each kind
strives to develop its own nature as much as possible.
Humans strive to develop reason.
2. Because every living thing has a nature that is
appropriate to the kind of thing it is, failure to develop
this nature to its fullest extent is an imperfection. It is
immoral to be imperfect because higher perfections
depend upon lower entities’ perfections.

385. Natural Perfection:
Aquinas and Aristotle

386. Natural Perfection:
Aquinas and Aristotle
3. Nature and its moral laws are knowable through
common sense and reason. Every human being naturally
possesses common sense and reason, everyone in principle
can know nature’s moral laws, which are one and the
same for all people.

387. Natural Perfection:
Aquinas and Aristotle
3. Nature and its moral laws are knowable through
common sense and reason. Every human being naturally
possesses common sense and reason, everyone in principle
can know nature’s moral laws, which are one and the
same for all people.
Aquinas argued that any rational person - even an atheist
- could know what nature prescribes in the way of right
behavior... not just the Christians...

388. Natural Law Doctrine:
God, Nature, and Men

389. Natural Law Doctrine:
God, Nature, and Men
The highest standards for judging right and wrong are not the customs
or laws of any particular society, but the universal laws of human
nature, as these are known by reason.

390. Natural Law Doctrine:
God, Nature, and Men
The highest standards for judging right and wrong are not the customs
or laws of any particular society, but the universal laws of human
nature, as these are known by reason.
Eternal Law: God’s standard for the universe itself.

391. Natural Law Doctrine:
God, Nature, and Men
The highest standards for judging right and wrong are not the customs
or laws of any particular society, but the universal laws of human
nature, as these are known by reason.
Eternal Law: God’s standard for the universe itself.
Natural Law: Man’s participation in God’s standard as man.

392. Natural Law Doctrine:
God, Nature, and Men
The highest standards for judging right and wrong are not the customs
or laws of any particular society, but the universal laws of human
nature, as these are known by reason.
Eternal Law: God’s standard for the universe itself.
Natural Law: Man’s participation in God’s standard as man.
Human Law: Man made laws to guide people to the natural
law of the universe and in participation of the eternal law.