LAWS 6048-24F Lecture 1 PDF

LAWS 6048-24F Course Introduction LAWS-6048-24F - Lecture 1 G.R. Labbé 1  Introduction to Ethics WHAT IS ETHICS? ❑ Ethics is a term that we often hear, but it can be a difficult thing to define. ❑ Ethics is the study of:...

LAWS 6048-24F Course Introduction LAWS-6048-24F - Lecture 1 G.R. Labbé 1  Introduction to Ethics WHAT IS ETHICS? ❑ Ethics is a term that we often hear, but it can be a difficult thing to define. ❑ Ethics is the study of: Right and Wrong Good and Evil Obligations and Rights Justice Social and Political ideals ❑ Ethics is a set of moral principles that guide our actions, behaviours, decisions and practices. ❑ Ethics is one of the four main branches of philosophy which are: ❖ Logic, Epistemology, Metaphysics and Ethics. LAWS-6048-24F - Lecture 1 G.R. Labbé 2  LOGIC ▪ Is the attempt to codify the rules or rational thought. ▪ It is a particular way of thinking, especially a way that is reasonable and based on “Good Judgement”. EPISTEMOLOGY ▪ Is the study of knowledge itself. It is the extraction of knowledge from evidence. ▪ The part of philosophy that is about the study of how we know things. METAPHYSICS ▪ Is the study of the nature of things. It reason about such things as whether or not people have free will, in what sense abstract objects can be said to exist and how the brain is able to generate minds. ▪ The part of philosophy that understand existence and knowledge. ETHICS ▪ Is the study of right and wrong and good and evil. ▪ It is the foundation of morality and the practical considerations of the fine details of moral conduct. LAWS-6048-24F - Lecture 1 G.R. Labbé 3  Principles of Ethics o The Principles of Ethics help us define, analyze, evaluate and resolve moral problems. o They help us develop good moral criteria to guide human behaviour with the goal of differentiating between good and bad or right and wrong. o Our Principles of Ethics originated from four (4) prominent philosophers who are: ✓ Aristotle ✓ John Locke ✓ Immanuel Kant ✓ John Stuart Mill o We will explore each of their theories, which have evolved over centuries and are still relevant in the application of Ethics today. LAWS-6048-24F - Lecture 1 G.R. Labbé 4  ARISTOTLE 384 BC – 322 BC ► Aristotle was a Greek philosopher during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. He has been called the “Father of Western Philosophy” because of his writings and teachings on many subjects: physics, biology, zoology, logic, ethics, poetry, linguistics, economics, and politics and government. His philosophy has had a unique influence on almost every form of knowledge in the West and continues to be a subject of contemporary philosophical discussion. ✓ Key Principle: Virtue Ethics: Aristotle observed that the goodness of an act, object, or individual depended on their function or goal. ✓ Key Points: The quality of one’s character is measured by the virtues that are inherent in that individual. Every virtue is a compromise between two extremes or vices. The goal of all individuals should be to find the perfect balance between the extremes of excess and deficiency. ✓ In Practice: The lessons to be learned from Aristotle’s theory come from the need to seek a compromise or happy medium or balance in order to resolve an ethical dilemma. LAWS-6048-24F - Lecture 1 G.R. Labbé 5  JOHN LOCKE 1632 – 1704 ► John Locke was an English philosopher and physician. He has been regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the Enlightenment and is commonly called the “Father of Liberalism”. His work greatly influenced the development of epistemology and political philosophy. His contributions to classical republicanism and liberal theory are reflected in the American Declaration of Independence. ✓ Key Principle: Rights Ethics ✓ Key Points: Locke’s rights-based theory suggests that everyone has rights that arise from their very existence as human beings. The rights of the individual must be recognized because we all have a duty not to infringe on each other’s rights. ✓ In Practice: Locke’s ideas have formed the foundation of political thought in Britain, France, the United States, and Canada. His theory provides the basis for constitutional governance, including Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In addition to individual rights, Locke has identified other rights related to the working environment, discrimination, and employer responsibilities. LAWS-6048-24F - Lecture 1 G.R. Labbé 6  IMMANUEL KANT 1724 – 1804 ► Immanuel Kant was an influential German philosopher in the Age of the Enlightenment. He believed that reason is the source of morality, and that aesthetics arise from a faculty of disinterested judgment, His views continue to have a major influence on contemporary philosophy, especially in the fields of epistemology, ethics, political theory, and post-modern aesthetics. ✓ Key Principle: Duty Ethics ✓ Key Points: According to Kant’s duty ethics (also called formalism), every individual has a fundamental duty to act in an ethical manner. This is based on the belief that everyone's conscience imposes an absolute imperative to follow the proper course of action. Kant calls this the “Categorical Imperative”. This theory emphasizes that it is the intention to do one’s duty that is significant, not the actual results or consequences. ✓ In Practice: Kant’s theory applies the universal concept of being honest, being fair, not hurting others, keeping promises, and obeying the law. In general, Kant believes that every individual has a duty to prevent harm to human life and to consider the welfare of society as being paramount. LAWS-6048-24F - Lecture 1 G.R. Labbé 7  JOHN STUART MILL 1806 – 1873 ► John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher, political economist, and civil servant. He was one of the most influential thinkers in the history of classical liberalism as contributed widely to social theory, political theory, and political economy. He is commonly referred to as “the most influential English-speaking philosopher of the nineteenth century”. His conception of liberty justified the freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state and social control. ✓ Key Principle: Utilitarianism ✓ Key Points: According to Mill’s utilitarianism, the best choice in an ethical dilemma is that which produces the maximum benefit for the greatest number of people. This theory provides the most common justification for ethical decisions in modern society. This theory emphasizes that it is the intention to do one’s duty that is significant, not the actual results or consequences. Three factors can be used to determine the “maximum benefit” that can be achieved in the decision-making process: Intensity, Duration, and Number of People Affected. The benefit to oneself must not be given any greater value or importance than the same benefit to any other individual. ✓ In Practice: The utilitarian theory is consistent with the concept of democracy. Benefits should be calculated without regard to discrimination based on nationality, creed, colour, race, language, sex, etc. This theory informs contemporary ideas about civil rights. LAWS-6048-24F - Lecture 1 G.R. Labbé 8 Principles of Ethics in Action Today ❖ How is it that these ancient philosophers are still relevant today? ❖ These classic ethical theories have evolved into modern customs and laws. The principles of criminal and civil law are formal, codified statements of these ethical theories. ❖ In fact, criminal codes are remarkably similar. ❖ Ethical theories also prompt professional associations to write and enforce regulations, by-laws, and Codes of Ethics. These Codes of Ethics outline acceptable conduct for engineers, technologists, nurses, and a variety of other professions. LAWS-6048-24F - Lecture 1 G.R. Labbé 9  NEXT We’ll continue with Ethics in the Workplace Very interesting video from TED Talk on Train Track Ethical Dilemma available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg16u_bzjPE Don’t forget to submit your Self-Reflection in its respective Drop Box on 11th September no later than 06:00 pm (18:00 hour). LAWS-6048-24F - Lecture 1 G.R. Labbé 10