Moral Studies Conflict
UNIT THREE
MORAL AGENT
A) Definition: MORAL AGENT
A being whose actions are capable of moral evaluation.
A competent and reasonably mature human
somebody that has a capacity for making moral judgments and for taking actions that comport with morality.
What characteristics does a moral agent has?
Exist no universal / standard definition of a moral agent
Moral agent possesses three criteria
Moral Content
Moral Form
Moral Dimension
1) MORAL CONTENT
Two important aspects
- societal rules
- human characteristics
Societal Rules
Rules do not exist by themselves, but compiled from the old, new knowledge and experience
Rules include customary rules and reflexive morality
IMPORTANCE OF RULES
Improve the standard of living
Develop intellectual capacity
Protect human life
Defend human rights and people’s welfare
Prevent degradation in behaviour and morals of the society
Human characteristics
An individual should have virtuous characteristics / ethical code
Acquired from parental upbringing, religious education and moral instruction
2) MORAL FORM
PRINCIPALISTIC ETHICS: Based on laws and rules that regulates people – important to avoid unrest
ALTRUISM ETHICS: unselfish concern for the needs or interests of others, providing gratification vicariously or from their responses.
SITUATIONAL ETHICS: absolute standards are considered less important than the requirements of a particular situation. The standards used may, therefore, vary from one situation to another, and may even contradict one another.
3) MORAL DIMENSION
Three dimensions: reasoning, feeling and performance – 3Hs principle
Reasoning: thinking and judging (head)
Feeling: emotion and feeling (heart)
MORAL AGENT
A) Definition: MORAL AGENT
A being whose actions are capable of moral evaluation.
A competent and reasonably mature human
somebody that has a capacity for making moral judgments and for taking actions that comport with morality.
What characteristics does a moral agent has?
Exist no universal / standard definition of a moral agent
Moral agent possesses three criteria
Moral Content
Moral Form
Moral Dimension
1) MORAL CONTENT
Two important aspects
- societal rules
- human characteristics
Societal Rules
Rules do not exist by themselves, but compiled from the old, new knowledge and experience
Rules include customary rules and reflexive morality
IMPORTANCE OF RULES
Improve the standard of living
Develop intellectual capacity
Protect human life
Defend human rights and people’s welfare
Prevent degradation in behaviour and morals of the society
Human characteristics
An individual should have virtuous characteristics / ethical code
Acquired from parental upbringing, religious education and moral instruction
2) MORAL FORM
PRINCIPALISTIC ETHICS: Based on laws and rules that regulates people – important to avoid unrest
ALTRUISM ETHICS: unselfish concern for the needs or interests of others, providing gratification vicariously or from their responses.
SITUATIONAL ETHICS: absolute standards are considered less important than the requirements of a particular situation. The standards used may, therefore, vary from one situation to another, and may even contradict one another.
3) MORAL DIMENSION
Three dimensions: reasoning, feeling and performance – 3Hs principle
Reasoning: thinking and judging (head)
Feeling: emotion and feeling (heart)