Ethics and Philosophy

Ethics Overview

• Philosophy is described as a principle, perspective, beliefs
• Counter-balance recognizes diverse views, conscience votes without bribery, giving until it no longer hurts, and peaceful communication

Pilosopo according to Mabaquiao

• True Pilosopo reasons to know the truth, not to annoy, avoid arguments, or cover up

Coining of Philosophy

• The term Philosophy was coined by Pythagoras

Common Meanings of Philosophy

• Common meanings include ideas, beliefs, perspective, activity of reasoning, and academic degree

Practicing Philosophy

• Practicing involves questioning everything to widen knowledge, not just accepting views, especially from famous people, or rejecting universal truths as propaganda

Good Philosophy in Life

• Someone who evokes a powerful rhetoric to evade truth is someone who does not have good philosophy of life

Practicing Philosophy

• Practicing involves questioning everything to widen knowledge rather than not listening to different perspectives, accepting views from famous people, or rejecting universal truths

Philosophy according to Aristotle

• Philosophy is a science that explores the ultimate causes, principles, and reasons of all things using human reason
• Philosophy uses human reasons as its toolkit as a science

Moral Standard Examples

• "Thou shall not kill" is associated with morality
• Doing something for your family is good
• Stealing to feed family is an instance of morality
• Society uses a code of conduct as measure of doing what is morally acceptable or not
• "Be honest!" is associated with goodness
• "We should study always" is right, whereas attitude to wear an ID to school is more legal

Branches of Ethics

• Metaethics investigates the origin and meaning of ethical principles
• Normative ethics focuses on creating a standard

Types of Dilemmas

• True Dilemmas are when there appears to be no immediately obvious acceptable decision of what choice to make, can be something like choosing what lover to stay with
• Decision-making scenarios involving family and children are true dilemmas

Moral Agency

• A Moral agent accepts principles only after scrutinizing them
• A moral agent is impartial, listens to facts, and examines implications

Ethical Topics

• Abortion involves applied ethics and many considerations to be considered when discussing ethically

Meta-Ethics

• Meta-Ethics investigates the meaning of ethical terms
• Morality is derived from Metaphysical issues and debates

Objectivism vs Relativism

• Objectivism and Relativism are two major debates in meta-ethics
• Relativism means things will change based on background and experience

Dilemma Examples

• Practicing euthanasia or mercy killing is an example of a Real Dilemma
• "Marijuana is okay in Mexico," applies to what is legal
• Polygamy vs. Monogamy touches on debates on metaphysical issues.

Philosophy According to Jaspers

• Philosophy is a discipline where questions are more important than answers, and answers generate further questions

Factors That Influence Ethical Viewpoints

• Emotions, feelings, opinion and circumstances influence moral people

Relativism

• Relativism is the understanding that things will change based on background and experience
• Relativism means actions are best understood in that specific context

Subjectivism

• Actions are understood on the basis of "going with the flow"
• Truths are subjective, relying on one's feelings, opinions, and circumstances

Ethical Dilemmas

• Objectivism focuses on seeking one's pleasure
• Altruism focuses on helping others

Morality

• Morality, according to Egoism, is for the fulfillment of personal joy

Egoism vs Altruism

• Helping the poor involves Altruism, whereas taking care of others involves Egoism

Rights and Principles

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights operates under objective truths
• Protecting human rights in society shows objectivism

Science and the Role of God

• Science and the belief of God can agree on one another

Subjectivism Dangers

• Dangers of Subjectivism include that actions can be allowed even if they are repugnant, facts become useless because decision making depends on a person approval and emotions
• Ethical truths depend on an individual
• Subjectivism is when the ethical truths depend on the individual, also when one is not listening to the experts and only listening to oneself.

Ethical Truths

• Statements that "killing is always wrong" demonstrate Objectivism because it is universal and will always be true
• The statement "Morality is always good or bad" is an example of objectivism

Moral Absolutes

• Actions will not be tolerated if they were a result of "not going with the flow"

Altruism

• Altruism is the term best understood as the ability to be selfless

Factors in Actions Being Performed

• To ensure that actions are understood "the actions perform by a certain culture will be properly understood by looking at a wider context of an action"
• The quotation "Morality is nothing more a fulfillment of personal joy" is an example of Egoism

Reason To Include Religion

• Including ethical teachings of a supernatural religion, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, there stems from that a core teaching centers on love

Philosophical Arguments

• The Big Bang Theory and Evolutionary Theory both show the existence of the source or a god

Arguments in Making Ethical or Moral Decisions

• Scientific Theories and the belief in God are not contradictory
• A building needing an engineer supports intelligent design as a way of understanding how God can and might exist

Actions that should not be Tolerated

• Actions that involve human rights are not to be tolerated, as they should uphold human-personhood

How to act Ethically

• Act ethically buy practicing one's self interest

Morality Standard

• The statement "Truth remains a truth even if many people do not accept it; Lie remains a lie even many people believes it." is related to objectivism