Ethics, Morality and Moral Theories

Course Information

• Course code: SP326
• Course title: Social and Professional Issues
• Topic: Critical Reasoning and Moral Theory

Course Objectives

• Explain the terms "ethics" and "morality"
• Identify and discuss different moral theories
• Discuss different forms of ethical reasoning
• Appreciate the value of ethics and morality in daily life

Morality and Ethics

• Ethics: Derived from the Greek word "ethos," meaning custom, habit, character, or disposition.
• Ethics is a set of rules or standards that govern the conduct of a person or group. It involves learning what is right or wrong, and doing the right thing. Also known as moral philosophy.
• Morality: The human attempt to define what is right and wrong in actions and thoughts, and what is good and bad about being who we are. Can be synonymous with "goodness" or "rightness." Derived from a code of conduct from a particular philosophy, religion or culture, or a universal standard.

Moral Theories

• Moral theory: A way of defining morality, explaining what makes an action right or a person good. Focuses on the nature of rightness or goodness, not on specific actions or persons.
  • Religious Ethics: A set of ethical standards for followers of a particular religion, defining "doing the right thing" according to religious dictates. Sets the standard for acceptable behavior.
  • Divine Command Theory: X is good because God commands it, and for no other reason. Morality is dependent on God, and obligation comes from obeying God's commands. Morality is ultimately based on God's commands or character. The morally right action is what God commands or requires.
  • Cultural Relativism: An action is judged good or bad based on the standards of one's own society. Different cultures cannot be judged against each other. Focuses on understanding a culture on its own. Examples include Religious Practices, Dietary Customs, Social Norms and Work Place Diversity.
  • Virtue Theory: Focuses on the nature of virtue and what it means to have virtue- the character of the person making the decision. Once you can imagine a good person, you should behave like that person in any situation.
  • Utilitarianism: A consequentialist moral theory stating the right decision is the one that causes the most happiness. Promotes the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people.
  • Consequentialism: Judges whether something is right by its consequences; consequences of an action, not the motivation behind it, determines the action as good or bad.
  • Deontological Ethics: Focuses on rights, duties, obligations, and rules. In philosophy, ethical theories that emphasize the relationship between duty and morality.
  • Contractarianism: A moral or political theory that employs the idea of a contract (agreement) among individuals. Accounts for individuals' rights and responsibilities in interaction.
    • Explains why we have a duty to obey the law, why states punish those who break the law, and when civil disobedience is justified.
  • Ethics of Justice: Ethical theories that emphasize impartiality (every person treated equally) and universality (a decision is correct for everyone with a similar decision to make). Impartial application of a theory for all people.
  • Examples of Justice in different fields: Healthcare prioritization, Criminal Justice, Government.
  • Ethics of Caring: A normative ethical theory that holds that moral action centers on interpersonal relationships as a virtue and care or benevolence.
  • Proposed by Nel Noddings, emphasizes whether we care for those around us defines goodness. Includes caring relationships naturally long to be in, caring for others provides motivation for moral actions.

Ethical Reasoning

• Deliberative Critical Discussion: A discussion starts with the premise of intelligent, knowledgeable people with good intentions rationally disagreeing about an ethical issue.
• Guidelines for discussion: Acknowledge the well-intentioned nature of everyone taking part, avoid rhetoric without a substantive basis, no winner, common ground
• Ethical Arguments and Context: Ethical arguments differ from other types of arguments (like math). Ethical arguments are similar to legal arguments.
• Context is extremely important in ethical arguments.
• Reasoning by analogy (Casuistry): The determination of right and wrong in questions of conduct by applying general ethical principles.

Case Study

• Professor Cooper's rule about laptops in class, Brianna working on other class homework, Arnold reporting Briana to the professor.
• Reflection Question: Was Arnold's action ethical?

Understanding ethics and morality is crucial for navigating daily life. Ethics are a set of rules determining conduct, while morality defines right and wrong in actions and thoughts. Various moral theories provide frameworks for ethical reasoning.