ETIC211 REVIEWER (WEEK 1-5)

out the correct moral action that they

W E E K 1: OV E R V I E W AND should take. Philosophers such as
Socrates and John Stuart Mill are
INTRODUCTION included in this branch of ethics.
What is Ethics? 2. Meta-Ethics - This branch seeks to
understand the nature of ethical
- The Latin word mos or moris (and its properties and judgments such as if truth
plural mores) from which the adjective values can be found and the theory
moral is derived is i l behind moral principals.
- Etymologically, et i i 3. Applied Ethics - This is the study of
patterns of behavior that is done by the applying theories from philosophers
human being in general or a society in regarding ethics in everyday life. For
particular. example, this area of ethics asks
- Ethics, generally speaking is about questions such as "Is it right to have an
matters such as the good thing that we abortion?" and "Should you turn in your
should pursue and the bad thing that we friend at your workplace for taking home
should avoid; the right ways in w/c we office supplies?"
could or should act and the wrong ways 4. Moral Ethics - This branch questions
of acting. It is about what is acceptable how individuals develop their morality,
and unacceptable in human behavior. It why certain aspects of morality differ
may involve obligations that we are. between cultures and why certain aspects
Ethics as a subject for us to study is about of morality are generally universal.
determining the grounds for the values w/ 5. Descriptive Ethics - This branch is more
particular and special significance to scientific in its approach and focuses on
human life. how human beings actually operate in the
real world, rather than attempt to theorize
about how they should operate.

WEEK 3: SOURCES OF
W E E K 2: INTRODUCTION TO A U T H OR I T Y
ETHICS Law, Religion, and Culture
Morality and Ethics Law - It is supposed the law is one’s guide to
- The term “morals” may be used to refer ethical behavior. The term positive law refers to
to specific beliefs or attitudes that people the different rules and regulations that are posited
have or to describe acts that people or put forward by an authority figure that require
perform. compliance.
- The term “ethics” can be spoken of as the Religion
discipline of studying and understanding
ideal human behavior and ideal ways of 1. The Presumed Connection between
thinking. Morality and Religion
2. The Divine Command Theory
Branches of Ethics: 3. Religion and moral issues
1. Normative Ethics - The largest branch,
it deals with how individuals can figure
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Culture - Culture is the beliefs, behaviors, The problem with subjectivism is that it seems to
objects, and other characteristics shared by imply that moral statements are less significant
groups of people. Given this, someone could very than most people think they are - this may of
well say that they are influenced by internet course be true without rendering moral
culture, rather than an ethnicity or a society! statements insignificant.
Culture could be based on shared ethnicity,
gender, customs, values, or even objects. "If I approve of something, it must be good"
1. Moral statements seem more than
statements about feelings
W E E K 4: SENSES OF T H E S E L F 2. How can we blame people if moral truths
are always subjective?
Subjectivism
Psychological Egoism
- The starting point of subjectivism is the
recognition that the individual thinking - Human beings are naturally self-
person (the subject) is at the heart of all centered, so all our action are always
moral valuations. She is the one who is already motivated by self-interest.” This
confronted with the situation and is theory that describes the underlying
burdened with the need to make a dynamic behind all human actions. As a
decision or judgment. From this point, descriptive theory, it does not direct one
subjectivism leaps to the more radical to act in any particular way. Instead, it
claim that the individual is the sole points out that there is already an
determinant of what is morally good or underlying basis for how one acts. The
bad, right or wrong. ego or self has its desires and interest, and
all our actions are geared toward
Ethical Subjectivism: satisfying these interests.
- The basic thought of Ethical Ethical egoism
Subjectivism is the idea that our moral
opinions are based on our feelings and - Ethical egoism differs from
nothing more. On this view, there is no psychological egoism in that it does not
such thing as “objective” right and suppose all our actions are already
wrong. inevitably self-serving. Instead, ethical
egoism prescribes that we should make
Good Points of Subjectivism: our own ends, our own interest, as the
1. Reflects the subjective elements of single overriding concern . We may act in
morality a way that is beneficial to others, but we
2. Reflects the evaluative elements of moral should do that only if it ultimately
statements benefits us.
3. Shows that moral judgements - Prisoner's Dilemma
communicate dis/approval - Ayn Rand's Objectivism
4. May clarify what people are arguing
about
5. Reflects the persuasive intentions behind W E E K 5: MODEL F OR
ethical discussions E T H I C A L DECISION MAKING
Bad Points of Subjectivism: AND L A W R E N C E K O L B E R G ’ S
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STAGES OF MORAL decision that can be made without further

deliberations.
DEV E L OP MENT 6. Weigh The Consequences-
Model for ethical decision making If the principles do not yield a clear
decision, then a consideration of the
1. Gather The Facts - Frequently ethical consequences of the remaining available
dilemmas can be resolved simply by alternatives is in order. Both positive and
clarifying the facts of the case in negative consequences are to be
question. considered. They should be informally
2. Determine The Ethical Issues- weighed, since some positive
The ethical issues are stated in terms of consequences are more detrimental than
competing interests or goods. It’s these others.
conflicting interests that actually make 7. Make A Decision-
for an ethical dilemma. Deliberations cannot go on forever. At
3. What Ethical Principles Have A Bearing some point, a decision must be made.
On The Case- Realize that one common element in
In any ethical dilemma, there are certain ethical dilemmas is that there are no easy
moral values or principles that are central and painless solutions to
to the conflicting positions being taken. them. Frequently the decision that is
It is critical to identify these principles, made is one that involves the least
and in some cases, to determine whether number of problems or negative
some principles are to be weighted more consequences, not one that is devoid of
heavily than others. them.
4. List The Alternatives-
Part of the creative thinking involved in Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral
resolving an ethical dilemma involves Development.
coming up with various alternative
- Lawrence Kohlberg, a professor of
courses of action. Although there will be
psychology in Harvard University is a
some alternatives that you will rule out
prominent moral development theorist,
without much thought, in general the
but his thinking grew out of Jean Piaget’s
more alternatives that are listed, the
writing on children’s intellectual
better the chance that your list will
development. His theory is descriptive,
include some high-quality ones. In
rather than, proven facts.
addition, you may come up with some
very creative alternative that you had not
considered before.
5. Compare The Alternatives With The
Principles-
At this point, the task is one of
eliminating alternatives according to the
moral principles that have a bearing on
the case. In many instances, the case will
be resolved at this point, since the
principles will eliminate all alternatives
except one. In fact, the purpose of this
comparison is to see if there is a clear
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Ethical Dilemma
- also known as a moral dilemmas, are
situations in which there is a choice to be
made between two options, neither of
which resolves the situation in an
ethically acceptable fashion. In such
cases, societal and personal ethical
guidelines can provide no satisfactory
outcome for the chooser.
Ethical Dilemma Situations:
- Personal Friendships
- Societal Dilemmas