Chapter 9 - The Right Actions PDF

CHAPTER 9 What are the Right Actions?  EMPHASIS CHARACTER RULES RESULTS Virtue Ethics Deontology Consequentialism Are my actions motivated by Are my actions compatible What...

CHAPTER 9 What are the Right Actions?  EMPHASIS CHARACTER RULES RESULTS Virtue Ethics Deontology Consequentialism Are my actions motivated by Are my actions compatible What will the outcome of my virtue? with some imperative? actions be? The Golden Mean  VIRTUE ETHICS AND ARISTOTLE’S GOLDEN MEAN Ethics aim to build a virtuous character. We need moral exemplars to follow. The golden mean is a moral school that is based on the concepts of moderation and balance. For Aristotle, a virtuous life—the way that we ought to live—involves a balanced and harmonious integration of the various behaviors, values, emotions, and attitudes, in accordance with the Golden Mean. Deficiency/Vice Mean/Virtue Excess/Vice Cowardice Courage Foolhardiness Inhibition Temperance Overindulgence Stinginess Generosity Profligacy  KANT’S DEONTOLOGY Deontology: the only actions that are moral are those performed out of one's duty to follow the moral laws. Deontologists are intent on discovering the moral duties that all people in all situations should follow.  KANT’S DEONTOLOGY For Kant fulfilling your potential as a moral person involves: Developing a clear understanding of the necessary and universal moral a priori laws that apply to all people in all circumstances. Observing people in their daily lives tells us what they are doing, not what they ought to be doing. Morals are a priori, valuable in themselves. Therefore, Kant’s aim can only be achieved through pure reason.  CATEGORICAL AND HYPOTHETICAL IMPERATIVES Hypothetical Categorical Means to something other then value itself. Seeks the value independently for itself. A posteriori A priori Relative and contingent Universal and necessary If- then conditional statements: if x, then y Unconditional: x for the sake of x e.g: If I do charity, I’ll go to heaven e.g: I’ll do charity as charity is good. THE LOGICAL FORM OF MORAL MAXIMS Instead of the action's content, consequences, intention, or the character of the individual acting Kant focuses on the logical form of moral maxims. A moral action is one that a rational person can consistently universalize as a moral law applicable to all rational creatures. “Act only according to that maxim which you can at the same time will that it should be a universal moral law.” Example: If a logical inconsistency or contradiction arises with the universality formulation, then the action is immoral Would you lie to protect a decent person’s reputation? - I do not want him to get hurt. - I would lie - Everybody should lie to protect decent people reputation. - However if this becomes universal, people won’t believe anyone and so will suspect all the decent people. THE LOGICAL FORM OF MORAL MAXIMS SELFISH IS IRRATIONAL (ILLOGIC MAXIM) The believe that you are different from others— special, unique, superior—is an irrational belief. It is apparent that as rational creatures, all people share the same intrinsic worth. To claim that you are special, unique, or superior simply because you are you is logically absurd. “Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end.”  CONSEQUENTIALISM Aristippus & Epicurus Hedonism: The proper moral action is one which maximizes pleasure and minimizes pain. Epicurus Intellectual pursuits are higher pleasures, sensual gratifications are lower pleasures UTILITARIANISM; JEREMY BENTHAM The principle of utility : promoting the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people. This was a response to the industrial age in England. Applying hedonism to groups rather than individuals. For it to work, we need democracy, social equality and public education. UTILITARIANISM; JEREMY BENTHAM Pleasure and Pain are the two sovereign masters that control humans. A society designed according to the principle of utility will be the most conducive to personal happiness...but how to measure utility? Through the hedonistic calculus Problems with utilitarianism : What counts as a unit of pleasure?? Hedon? Is the formula workable? The world is much complex. Consequences have no ethical content, unless provided by a virtue. What about motivations and the good will? UTILITARIANISM; JOHN STEWART MILL Pleasures are not equal. There are higher (intellectual , aesthetic , contemplative) pleasures, and lower (physical, sensual) pleasures. “ it is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied…” … but how to determine the higher pleasures? AUTHENTICITY: EXISTENTIALIST ETHICS “We must begin from the subjective” - Sartre Kierkegaard “The crowd is untruth” Viewing yourself in term of the others-> Inauthenticity -> Immorality Morality starts with respecting what it means to be human. “Truth is subjectivity” The Abstract principle of levelling: People reduced to abstractions. Nietzsche All life is governed by the “will to power” Morality is striving to exert your will to power. Compassion, sacrifice, humility,…etc all constitutes a “ slave morality” The slave mentality resents superior individuals The evolving of ubermensch (overman) who creates values. Sartre “ we are condemned to be free” There are no absolute moral codes. Moral codes are too general to provide guidance in specific situations. Choosing which ethical system/characters to follow is in itself an act that reflects underlying values that already exist within us ( a vicious circle). Therefore, it’s our choices in either case that determines our moral code. We choose what is good; Our choices create the image of the way humans should act.  “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” ― Simone de Beauvoir. "Judging whether life is or isn't worth living, that is the fundamental question of philosophy". ― Albert Camus