Philosophy Week 3: Ethics Overview

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What does the term 'race' signify according to the provided content?

A religious classification system used to categorize individuals.

A social construction marking human bodies based on physical and cultural attributes. (correct)

A measure of intelligence across different ethnic groups.

A fixed biological characteristic that determines superiority.

How is 'race-making' described in the context of historical practices?

As an inclusive practice that promotes equality.

As a natural occurrence in human evolution over time.

As a process of mutual acknowledgment among different cultures.

As a method rooted in state and colonial practices, facilitating oppression. (correct)

What is a significant aspect of racism as stated in the content?

It is a temporary social issue without historical roots.

It is a system solely created by individual biases.

It is inherently based on genetic factors of individuals.

It is politically, culturally, and economically produced by institutions. (correct)

Who benefits from being classified 'above the line of human' according to the perspectives presented?

Those whose humanity is recognized, gaining access to rights and resources. Signup and view all the answers

What role does Stuart Hall assign to race in his lecture?

Race functions as a 'floating signifier', lacking fixed meaning. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of racism as discussed in the content?

It includes practices that ascribe value based solely on race. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best illustrates institutional racism in the criminal justice system?

It leads to disproportionate interactions between racialized individuals and the criminal justice system. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the federal prison population do African-Canadians represent, despite making up only 3% of the total population?

10% Signup and view all the answers

What has a House of Commons Committee acknowledged about policing in Canada?

Systemic racism is pervasive in Canadian policing. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the term 'petit apartheid' in the context of the criminal justice system?

Formal and informal interactions leading to disproportionate entry of racialized individuals into the system. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of deontological ethics?

Moral duties and principles Signup and view all the answers

Which ethical theory prioritizes maximizing happiness and minimizing pain?

Act Consequentialism Signup and view all the answers

What does the categorical imperative demand according to deontological ethics?

To recognize the intrinsic value of human dignity Signup and view all the answers

How does utilitarianism assess ethical decisions?

By weighing benefits and harms impartially Signup and view all the answers

According to deontological ethics, what aspect does not influence the moral worth of an action?

Consequences Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes virtue ethics from deontological ethics and utilitarianism?

Importance of character traits and virtues Signup and view all the answers

In ethical decision-making, what do deontologists believe is more important than the outcome of the action?

The actor's intentions and motivations Signup and view all the answers

Which principle states that one ought to help others regardless of personal feelings?

Categorical Imperative Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of virtue ethics?

Becoming a good person and developing virtuous character Signup and view all the answers

What role do habitual actions play in virtue ethics?

They lead to the formation of a virtuous character. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is an example of a virtue according to virtue ethics?

Compassion Signup and view all the answers

What does the Golden Mean represent in virtue ethics?

Finding a balance between excess and deficiency in behavior Signup and view all the answers

How does practical wisdom contribute to ethical decision-making?

It enables understanding of what is good for life as a whole. Signup and view all the answers

Who typically guides individuals in developing virtues?

Parents, teachers, and laws Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the ethical knowledge in virtue ethics?

It involves wisdom and judgment without absolute rules. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best captures the relativistic aspect of Aristotle’s virtue ethics?

Different people may discover varied correct ways of living. Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of police negligence or abuse of power?

It undermines the legitimacy of law enforcement institutions and the state. Signup and view all the answers

What underlies discontent in policing, according to the material?

Systemic issues within the law enforcement community. Signup and view all the answers

What is critical for police officers to consider according to a historically informed approach to ethics?

The history of policing and its impact on community perceptions. Signup and view all the answers

What ethical principle does utilitarianism prioritize?

The greatest total happiness or utility. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes deontological ethics?

It emphasizes moral duty and acting according to a moral principle. Signup and view all the answers

How can officers become ethical according to virtue ethics?

By developing and practicing virtuous behavior. Signup and view all the answers

The principle of utility is crucial in evaluating ethical decisions in which ethical framework?

Utilitarianism Signup and view all the answers

What additional concern does new technology in policing raise?

It raises new ethical questions alongside solving existing problems. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Week 3 Review

Deontological Ethics focuses on moral duty and using the categorical imperative as a principle of morality.
Utilitarianism seeks to maximize happiness/utility and minimize pain through the principle of utility.
In Deontological Ethics, consequences of actions do not bear on moral worthiness.
In Utilitarianism, personal inclinations and motivations behind the action are not relevant in judging ethical conduct.

Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics, inspired by Aristotle, is concerned with the sort of person we should become to live a good life.
Becoming a good person is the “imperative”.
Ethical knowledge involves wisdom and judgment that cannot be expressed in an absolute rule.
Virtue ethics emphasizes the social dimension of human life/community over conflict.
The key ethical question is: what character traits should I acquire?

What are Virtues?

Virtues are personal qualities or traits of character shown through habitual action, which make us excellent people.
Virtues can be:
- Natural qualities (intelligence, strength)
- Learned or acquired qualities
- Qualities relating to temperament
- Religious qualities
- Qualities of character
The repetition of virtuous actions causes a person to develop a virtuous character, which in turn becomes the source of that person’s virtuous actions.
One receives guidance on virtues through parents, teachers, and laws.

Examples of Virtues

Benevolence, Fairness, Loyalty, Civility, Friendliness, Reasonableness, Compassion, Generosity, Self-Confidence, Conscientiousness, Honesty, Self-Discipline, Courage, Justice, Tolerance
Virtues promote human flourishing and well-being, while vices hinder that flourishing.

Golden Mean

Flourishing arises from virtuous activity.
In decision-making, we should aim to find the mean (middle/moderate path) between excess and deficiency to act rightly.
There are different “correct ways” of living for different people.
These “correct ways” can be discovered through trial and error.
Aristotle’s virtue ethics are relativistic because the right thing to do in any situation may not be the same for different people.

Practical Wisdom

People with practical wisdom can effectively deliberate about what is good for their life as a whole, rather than just what is expedient.
Wise people know how to achieve a particular end and understand which ends are worth achieving.
They are able to make judgments based on experience and knowledge of the world,
They understand the complexity of human life and are able to apply their wisdom to specific situations.

Race and Racism

“Race” is a social construction, not a biological reality.
The idea of “race” assigns natural characteristics derived from physical appearance (including color of skin) and culture (including ethnicity, language, religion, etc.) or both.
Race-making is a process of “othering”; historically rooted in state/colonial practices of classification and used as a way to structure oppression.

Clarifying Concepts

Racism is a hierarchy of superiority/inferiority along the line of the human.
Racism is produced and reproduced by the institutions of the colonial-capitalist system.
Those classified as above the line of the human have their humanity recognized and enjoy access to rights, material resources, and social recognition.
The humanity of those “below the line of the human” is questioned and are denied rights, material resources and recognition.

Systemic Racism

Systemic racism in the criminal justice system refers to formal and informal interactions between the criminal justice system and racialized people that may lead to their disproportionate entry into the system.
The police express not only the moral ideals of their profession but also of the broader community.
When police are negligent or abuse power, it undermines the legitimacy of law enforcement institutions and the state as a whole.

System Racism in Canada’s CJ System

African-Canadians make up 3% of the population but account for 10% of the federal prison population.
African-Canadian inmates are more susceptible to the use of force and segregation while in custody.
A House of Commons Committee acknowledges the pervasive nature of systemic racism in policing in Canada.
A United Nations report also concluded that racial discrimination in policing exists in Canada.

Class Exercise

Evaluate capital punishment/the death penalty using utilitarian ethics.

Deontological Ethics v. Utilitarianism v. Virtue Ethics in Summary

Deontological Ethics: Focuses on moral duty and following the categorical imperative. Asks “what ought I to do/how should I act?”
Utilitarianism: Seeks to maximize happiness and utility. Asks “what will be the impact of what I do?”
Virtue Ethics: Focuses on living a good life through virtuous behavior. Asks “what kind of person should I be?”

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz reviews key concepts in ethics, covering deontological ethics, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics. It discusses the principles underlying moral duties, happiness maximization, and the development of personal virtues according to Aristotle. Test your understanding of these ethical frameworks and their implications for personal character development.