Overview of Ethics. Ethics is a philosophical debate about how we should behave, so. Why think about ethics: The Milgram experiment

Transcription

1 Overview of Ethics MARK GREENE Department of Philosophy University of Delaware Ethics is a philosophical debate about how we should behave, so Core philosophical skills Exegesis Thesis Argument Style remember the 4 core skills Why think about ethics: The Milgram experiment Is it ok to subject a innocent person with a heart condition to severe electric shocks? Knowing vs. understanding what s right Also Hard puzzles High stakes Fun 1

2 Ethical Disputes Where do they come from and how can we understand them? Recognizing Ethical Issues: Disputes arise from clashes Understanding ethical disputes Look at the components that go into an ethical judgment to work out precisely where disagreement lies 2

3 Beware! Facts = 4 Malaria kills people Values Cats are cute Pain is bad Is Human embryos are innocent humans Ought We ought not abort human embryos Ethical Theories A sampling of influential theoretical approaches to negotiating ethical issues. Two basic questions What is the Good? What should we do? Value theory Descriptive Normative theory Prescriptive 3

4 Two basic answers Consequentialism Non-Consequentialism Various answers Various answers Maximize the good There is at least one case in which we are not required to maximize the good Consequentialist: E.g. Jeremy Bentham Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do More pleasure, less pain Maximize the good Consequentialist: E.g. John Stuart Mill It is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied Pleasure; the higher the better Maximize the good 4

5 Deontologist: E.g. Immanuel Kant Beneficence Autonomy Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law. Treat humanity, in every case, as an end in itself, never as a means only. Rights & duties Various answers Negative rights Generate negative duties to refrain E.g. A negative right to life would generate a duty not to kill 1. Avoid violating negative rights 2. Fulfil positive rights Positive Rights Generate positive duties to act E.g. A positive right to life would generate a duty to save Virtue ethicist: E.g. Aristotle Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim. Fulfilling proper purpose Develop good character Right action follows 5

6 Contractarian: E.g. John Rawls Agreement under fair bargaining conditions The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance. Behind the veil Hypothetical Fair bargaining Rationality Self-interest Outside the veil Real Unfair bargaining Imperfect reason Mixed motivation Contractarian: More from John Rawls Rawls s principles of justice agreed behind the veil 1. Most extensive liberties compatible with a similar scheme of liberties for others. 2. Inequalities must Be to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged Be attached to positions open to all under fair equality of opportunity. Mid-Level Principles: E.g. Tom Beauchamp & Jim Childress Autonomy Beneficence Non-Maleficence Justice 6

7 Reflective Equilibrium Yep Rawls again What s wrong with relativism? Don t panic! Relativity is just fine. Mark Greene mkgreene@udel.edu La Philosophy philosophie gives donne the means moyen to de speak parler with vraisemblement apparent authority de toutes on all matters, choses, et and se to faire make admirer oneself admired des moins by savants; the less que la learned; jurisprudence, while law, medicine médicine et les and autres the other sciences sciences apportent bring honor des honneurs and riches et des upon richesses their à practitioners. ceux qui les cultivent. Rene Descartes, Discourse de on la Method méthode 7