Approaches to the Study of Morality

Approaches to Morality

• The scientific or descriptive approach focuses on studying morality as it is, describing what people believe and do, and identifying patterns and trends.
• The philosophical approach, on the other hand, is concerned with what morality should be, and is divided into two parts: normative or prescriptive ethics, and metaethics or analytic ethics.

Normative or Prescriptive Ethics

• This part of the philosophical approach deals with specific moral principles and values, and tries to determine what is right or wrong.
• Examples of ethical theories that fall under this category include virtue ethics, deontology, and consequentialism.

Problems with Internal Norms

• Relying solely on internal norms like 'be true to yourself' can be problematic because it ignores the possibility of moral objectivity and the need for universal moral standards.
• It can lead to moral relativism, where what is right or wrong is determined by individual preferences or cultural norms.

Metaethics or Analytic Ethics

• This part of the philosophical approach focuses on the nature of morality, analyzing ethical language and the rational foundations of ethical systems.
• It examines questions like "What is the nature of moral truth?" and "How can we know what is right or wrong?"

Moral Objectivity

• The text argues that morality is not solely based on individual opinions or cultural norms, but rather there is an objective norm or standard of morality.
• The question of what this objective standard is, is a central concern in the study of morality.

Problems with Moral Relativism

• The text argues that relying solely on majority opinion in society is not a reliable way to determine moral truth.
• It also argues against the approach that prioritizes what is useful or convenient over what is objectively right.

Moral Absolutes

• Actions like rape, murder, and adultery are considered wrong because they violate universal moral standards, not just because they are socially unacceptable.
• The text argues that these actions are objectively wrong, regardless of individual opinions or cultural norms.