My thoughts on Ethics
Friends University
Nicholas Harris
In the beginning of the class our first assignment was to read to intro to the text. This covered various terms and definitions of moral and ethical types that classify person’s beliefs. I would like to first cover a few, by briefly defining, and describing them. In case you have interest in reading the book, it’s called “Contemporary Moral Issues” Diversity and Consensus, by Lawrence M. Hinman. The first is one of the most common followed by the 2nd most common.
1. Moral Absolutism: claims that there is a single, ultimate answer to the question or problem being posed. Basically an absolutist is convinced that their truth is the only truth.
2. Moral Relativism: believe that what is good for one might not be good for another. No one is wrong; everyone is right in his or her own mind. There is no real resolution in this thought.
3. Moral Pluralism: this simply states that there are moral truths. Moral truths are real, but partial. There are many moral truths and they all conflict with each other.
On page xvi about the third paragraph the text makes a wonder point. As individuals, and a society –to forge a common ground that acknowledges the legitimacy of the conflicting insight but also establishes a minimal are of agreement so that we can live together with our differences, disagreements, compromise, and consensus are signs of vitality.
a. Morality as consequences: People, who do something for the sole purpose that their action has a positive consequence or outcome, are called consequentialists. There only fault is they each believe there consequence is correct.
4. Ethical Egoism: usually are called ethical egoists, they believe that each of us should look only at the consequences that affect us (self interest).
5. Utilitarianism: at the core of this one, utilitarianism believes that we ought to do what produces the greater good overall. Consequences for everyone, not just for