Ethics: The Moral Agent PDF

Ethics The moral Agent Fernandino J. Pancho Prayer before Study, St. Thomas Creator of all things, true source of light and wisdom, origin of all being, graciously let a ray of your light penetrate the darkness of my understanding. Take from me the double darkness in wh...

Ethics The moral Agent Fernandino J. Pancho Prayer before Study, St. Thomas Creator of all things, true source of light and wisdom, origin of all being, graciously let a ray of your light penetrate the darkness of my understanding. Take from me the double darkness in which I have been born, an obscurity of sin and ignorance. Give me a keen understanding, a retentive memory, Prayer before Study, St. Thomas and the ability to grasp things correctly and fundamentally. Grant me the talent of being exact in my explanations and the ability to express myself with thoroughness and charm. Point out the beginning, direct the progress, and help in the completion. I ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. objectives ▪ Explain why only human beings can be ethical ▪ Articulate the role of virtue in crafting an ethical life ▪ Determine the role of habit in the formation of a virtuous character ▪ Determine the stages of moral development  Why only Humans are Ethical? Human Being-a Moral Agent Instincts are what functions to animals such as a pack of wolves that need to survive, suicide attacks of worker honeybees that protect the colony from intruders, and when chimpanzees scratch each other’s back as an example of altruism (Thrivers,1971). Rationality is a concept of decision-making when people act on their best to attain their needs, preferences, priorities, and principles (IRMA, 2015). We are free to act. Human Being-a Moral Agent Thus: Only human beings are rational, autonomous, and self-conscious Only human beings can act morally or immorally Only human beings are part of the moral community Only beings capable of ethics because of free moral judgment. Develop-Moral Character The term “character” is derived from the Greek word “charakter”, which was initially used as a mark impressed upon a coin. Moral character refers to the existence or lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, strength, honesty, and loyalty. A certain person has a good moral character means that he/she is a good person and good citizen with a sound moral compass. Develop-Moral Character The word character gives a distinct mark by which one thing was distinguished from others, and then primarily to mean the collection of qualities that distinguish one person to another. The moral character traits that constitute a person’s moral character are characteristically understood as behavioral and affective dispositions. Develop-Moral Character Moral character, in philosophical sense, refers to having or lacking moral virtue. If one lacks virtue, he/she may have any of the moral vices, or he/she may be marked by condition somewhere in between virtue and vice, such as continence or incontinence. Develop-Moral Character Moral character traits are those dispositions of character for which a person is deserving of a positive reactive attitude, such as praise or gratitude, is a virtue. On the other hand, a vice is a moral character trait for which the agent is deserving of negative reactive attitude, such as resentment or blame. Develop-Moral Character A good moral character is practically a disposition to do virtuous acts. Oppositely, a bad moral character is, in effect, a disposition to do malicious deeds. Virtue-a Habit for Human Being Virtue- “arete” in Greek means excellence Excellence in Greek thought is how a thing/being fulfills its function in accordance with its nature Example: A knife is considered excellent if it cuts/slices sharply , durably and properly. Fulfilling its essence as a tool for cutting and slicing. Thus, it can be called a “virtuous knife” Virtue-a Habit for Human Being Virtue is a state of character which makes a person good and capable of fulfilling his/her end (telos) as character, it emphasizes a certain consistency or constancy in facing different situations (it is a mean between excess and difficiencies-mesotes) is a result of one’s character that is the result of choice (governed by prudence or practical wisdom-phronesis) Virtue-a Habit for Human Being Virtuous –means to exhibit one’s capacity to fulfill one’s essence or purpose in such a way that one’s potentiality as a particular being may be said to be actualized in the most excellent way. Example: A horse who consistently wins in a race is a virtuous horse A dog who consistently bark at night because there is an intruder is virtuous dog Virtue-a Habit for Human Being How a Human Being becomes Virtuous? A virtuous Human Being Intellectual Moral A virtuous Human Being Intellectual has to do in harnessing reason’s contemplative/reflective activity for arriving at knowledge. its existence and development arises from teaching/instruction excellence of thought A virtuous Human Being Moral has to do with excellence in the performance of decisions relating to moral and practical activity excellence of character it arises from habitual practice (ethos) Moral Virtue-a Habit for Human Being All persons have the latent potentiality to develop moral virtues, only if they habitually do excellent deeds The role of practice and habit is necessary in developing moral virtue It is only by practice that we come to know that we truly know how to do something Moral Virtue-a Habit for Human Being we become morally virtuous by doing morally virtuous. we become just by doing just acts. we become temperate by doing temperate acts we become courageous by doing courageous acts. 6 stages of Moral Development The American psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-1987) is best known for his theory of stages of moral development. In principle, he agreed with the Swiss clinical psychologist Jean Piaget’s (1896-1980) theory of moral development but wanted to develop his ideas further. 6 stages of Moral Development Level 1: Pre-Conventional Morality Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation Stage 2: Individualism and Exchange of Favors Level 2: Conventional Morality Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationship Stage 4: Maintaining the Social Order Level 3: Post-Conventional Morality Stage 5: Social Contract and Individual Rights Stage 6: Universal Principles Note: Conventional means formed by agreement Getting to the Highest Level: Conscience-Based Moral Decisions Respect for power and punishment Stage 1 In this level, to be right, one ought (Age 1-5) to be obedient to the people in power and, thus, avoid punishment. Motto: “Might makes right” Getting to the Highest Level: Conscience-Based Moral Decisions Looking out for #1 Instead of loyalty, gratitude, or Stage 2 justice, the case is more a matter (Age 5-10) of “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” Motto: “What’s in it for me?” Getting to the Highest Level: Conscience-Based Moral Decisions “GOOD BOY” or “NICE GIRL” They seek approval and thus conform to Stage 3 someone else’s expectations. When charged of doing something wrong, their (Age behavior is likely to be justified by stating 8-16) “everyone else is doing it” or “I didn’t intend to hurt anyone.” The motto here: “I want to be nice.” Getting to the Highest Level: Conscience-Based Moral Decisions LAW AND ORDER THINKING In this stage, individuals believe that Stage 4 everyone breaking the rules deserves to (Age 16 be punished and “pay his/her debt to and older) society.” The motto here is: “I’ll do my duty.” Getting to the Highest Level: Conscience-Based Moral Decisions JUSTICE THROUGH DEMOCRACY In this stage, people understand the underlying moral purposes that are supposed to be served by the laws and social customs. Stage 5 It is said that only about 20-25% of today’s (adults) adults ever reach this stage and most of those that do supposedly only get there after their mid-twenties. The motto here: “I’ll live by rules or try to change them”. Getting to the Highest Level: Conscience-Based Moral Decisions DECIDING ON BASIC MORAL PRINCIPLES BY WHICH YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE AND RELATE TO EVERYONE FAIRLY In this stage, rare people have evaluated many values and have rationally chosen a philosophy of life that Stage 6 truly guides their life. Individuals judiciously elect fundamental principle to (adults) follow, such as caring for and respecting every living thing, feeling that people are all equal and thus deserve equal opportunities. conscience-based moral decisions. Motto: subscribing to the Golden Rule; Principle of Consistency; Principle of Justice  Level Age Range Stage Nature of Moral Reasoning Level I: Seen in Stage 1: People make decisions Pre-conve preschool Punishment based on what is best for ntional children, most - avoidance themselves, without regard Morality elementary and for other’s needs or school obedience feelings. students, some They obey rules only if junior high established by more school powerful individuals; they students, and a may disobey if they aren’t new high likely to get caught. school students “Wrong” behaviors are those that will be punished.  Level Age Range Stage Nature of Moral Reasoning Level I: Seen in Stage 2: People recognize that Pre-conve preschool Exchange others also have need. ntional children, most of favors They may try to satisfy Morality elementary other’s needs if their own school need are also met (“you students, some scratch my back, I’ll junior high scratch yours”). They school continue to define right students, and a and wrong primarily in new high terms of consequences to school students themselves.  Level Age Range Stage Nature of Moral Reasoning Level II: Seen in a few Stage 3: People make decisions Convention older Good based on what actions will -al Morality elementary boy/girl please others, especially school students, authority figures and other some junior high individuals with high status students, and (e.g., teacher, popular peers). They concerned about many high maintaining relationships school students through sharing trust, and loyalty, and they take other people’s perspective and intention to account when making decisions.  Level Age Range Stage Nature of Moral Reasoning Level II: Seen in a few Stage 4: People look to society as a Convention older Law and whole for guidelines about -al Morality elementary order right or wrong. school students, They know rules are some junior high necessary for keeping society students, and running smoothly and believe it is their “duty” to obey them. many high However, they perceive rules school students to be inflexible; they don’t (Stage 4 necessarily recognize that as typically does society’s needs change, rules not appear until should change as well. the high school years)  Level Age Range Stage Nature of Moral Reasoning Level III: Rarely seen Stage 5: People recognize that rules represent agreements among many Post-conve before college Social individuals about appropriate ntion-al (Stage 6 is contract behavior. Morality extremely rare Rules are seen as potentially useful mechanisms that can maintain the even in adults) general social order and protect individual rights, rather than as absolute dictates that must be obeyed simply because they are “the law.” People also recognize the flexibility of rules; rules that no longer serve society’s best interests can and should be changed.  Level Age Range Stage Nature of Moral Reasoning Level III: Rarely seen Stage 6: Stage 6 is a hypothetical, Postconven before college Universal “ideal” stage that few people -tional (Stage 6 is ethical ever reach. People in this stage adhere to a Morality extremely rare principle few abstract, universal even in adults) principles (e.g., equality of all people, respect for human dignity, commitment to justice) that transcend specific norms and rules. They answer to a strong inner conscience and willingly disobey laws that violate their own ethical principles.