Handout 1

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Apr 28, 2024

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Ethics and Values Handout 1 Ethical Theories and Fallacies (Rosenstand, pages 1-30, Module 1 Moral Theories and fallacies and related websites) What is philosophy and what does the word literally mean (Internet Research)? What are the 4 classic branches of philosophy (Rosenstand, p. 7)? What is the difference, if any, between the meaning of the words, ethics and morality (Rosenstand, p. 8)? What is the difference between moral, non-moral and amoral values (Rosenstand, p. 11)? Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline. The 4 branches of philosophy are Epistemology, metaphysics, value theory, logic. There arent alot of differences between ethics and morals they both essentially mean the way we conduct right and wrong. But morals is more of a personal set of rules while ethics is an external set of laws. Amoral is not showing any concern whether or not an act is morally wrong or right. Describe the difference between normative, meta and applied ethics (Rosenstand, p. 124 and Canvas Module 1)? What is the difference between a descriptive claim and a normative claim (Canvas Module 1)? Normative and applied focus on the question “what is moral?”while metaethics focus “what is morality itself?”. Normative claims use terms like such and such ought to be the case but descriptive is more certain saying such and such is the case. Briefly define and explain the moral theories listed below. In your definition, also briefly describe how these theories ‘work’ in regards to ‘solving’ moral problems, i.e., how does one use these moral theories, how does one discover what is right and/or wrong using these theories, what are the key features of each theory. In short, what do these theories say make an action right/wrong/good/bad/moral/immoral ?
1. Moral Nihilism, Skepticism, and Subjectivism (Rosenstand, p. 116-118). These theories aim to deny or raise about various roles of reason in morality. Also that the world doesn't have any moral features and so there is nothing for moral claims to be true of. 2. Ethical Relativism and Cultural Relativism (Rosenstand, p. 118-119 and p. 123 Ethical relativism and cultural relativism state that there is a right or wrong based on culture and beliefs. Basically we all just decide as a community if it is right or wrong. 3. Emotivism/Emotionalism (Rosenstand, pp. 200-201, That all opinions or moral stance on something is caused by an emotion surrounding that stance. 4. Egoism—psychological and ethical Psychological egoism claims that we are self interested by nature, whether we know it or not. Ethical egoism claims that we have the power to choose for ourselves and we have the option to act for own self interest if we want too. 5.Divine Command Theory ( iep.utm.edu/divine-c/ Divine law theory is propelled from the belief about a higher being and that higher being has a plan for you and knows whats best so he there are laws and rules given from the higher being that we must follow. 6. Natural Law Theory ( http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/natural-law-ethics/ That human being has inner values that govern our reasoning and beliefs. That all people are born with the knowledge of right and wrong. Also this natural law is given by god at birth. 7. Consequentialism (Rosenstand, pp. 218-249 and Canvas Module 1) The theory states that the morality of the action is to be judged solely on the consequences of the action and thats how we know whether something is moral or not. 8. Deontology (Rosentand, pp. 272-279— The theory that uses written rules to understand between right and wrong. Such as dont lie, cheat or steal. It disagrees with the notion that we should base it off of its consequences. 9. Virtue Theory (Rosenstand, pp. 383-384 and 436-450). A broad term for theories that emphasizes the role of character and virtue in its morals. These morals allow us to gain virtuous characteristics such as honesty, courage, compassion etc.
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