Morality and Ethics: Understanding Normative and Descriptive Approaches

12 Questions

What is the primary purpose of a moral system?

To prevent or alleviate harm and suffering

What type of ethics focuses on the consequences of an action?

Utilitarian ethics

What is the main characteristic of a moral system that is considered public?

Everyone knows the rules

What is the primary goal of an ethical theory?

To define an intrinsic good

Which type of ethics focuses on the character of an individual?

Virtue ethics

What is the primary goal of a moral system according to Bernard Gert?

To prevent or alleviate harm and suffering

What is the central idea of Jeremy Bentham's ethics?

The outcome is what ultimately matters

What is the main principle of Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative?

Act on that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law

According to Aristotle, what is the ultimate goal of cultivating virtues?

To live a life of human flourishing

Why is it important to study ethics, according to the text?

To design technology with a moral compass

What is the lesson that can be learned from the example of the Hollerith Machine?

That information technology can be used to abuse people

What is the main idea behind Sophie Scholl's statement?

That someone has to make a start in opposing immoral behavior

Study Notes

Types of Ethics

Ethics is the philosophical study of morality, involving a system of rules guiding human conduct to determine right vs. wrong.

Ethical Theories

3 major ethical theories:
Consequence-based Ethics (utilitarian ethics)
Duty-based Ethics (deontological ethics)
Character-based Ethics (virtue ethics)

Consequence-based Ethics

Primary goal is to produce desirable outcomes for moral agents.
Happiness is an intrinsic good, so choose actions that create the most happiness.
Associated with Jeremy Bentham.

Duty-based Ethics

The will to do good is an intrinsic good, regardless of outcome.
Morality is grounded in moral agents' obligations to one another.
Duty (moral rules) are grounded in logic and reason.
Categorical imperative – always act on that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law.
Intent is what ultimately matters.
Treating people as means to an end they don’t share is always unethical.
Associated with Immanuel Kant.

Character-based Ethics

Morality is grounded in virtues.
Cultivating virtues makes you a better person.
The right actions flow naturally from being virtuous.
Virtue typically lies between extremes (vices).
Being virtuous leads to eudaimonia – human flourishing.
Living a good life is what ultimately matters.
Associated with Aristotle and Elizabeth Anscombe.

Importance of Ethics

Designing technology without a moral compass is extremely dangerous.
Information technology has already been used to abuse people in the worst ways imaginable.
Experts are morally beholden to the public.
Legality is no excuse for immoral behavior.
Professional obligations and profitability are not excuses for immoral behavior.
Studying ethics can inspire heroism.

Morality vs. Ethics

Morality refers to a system of rules guiding human conduct.
Ethics is the philosophical study of morality.

Normative vs. Descriptive

Descriptive: the way people are (facts) - studied by sociologists, psychologists, etc.
Normative: the way people should be (values) - studied by ethicists.

Moral System

A system of principles for evaluating moral rules.
Purpose: prevent or alleviate harm and suffering, and possibly promote human flourishing.
Characteristics: public (everyone knows the rules), informal (not enforced by law), rational (based on logical principles), and impartial (equitable application to all participants).