Syllabus Review: Moral Sentiment
PhilClass No. 1
Today: -Syllabus review -Ethics intro Homework: -Read Chapter 1 in Rachels -Read “Moral Sentiment” article Next time: -Ethics introduction continued -“Moral Sentiment”
9/15/12 9:40 PM
-First assignment distributed (P.E.T.) Personal Essay Topic – Ethical issue that you find interesting and will want to use/refer to throughout the rest of the course.
What is ethics? -Philosophy à 1. Epistemology – what do we know, and how do we know it? 2. Metaphysics – The nature of reality. What exists, why? And what is it like? 3. Ethics – How should we live our lives? What is “right”? What is “wrong”? Why do we need to study ethics? Helps you psychologize towards people Helps you successfully interact and understand people’s thought …show more content…
Descriptive 2. Normative 3. Metaethics: the study of nature of ethical claims and the nature of ethical judgment. • (A) What do ethical claims mean? o Expressions of facts about the world vs. expressions of subjective opinion. • (B) What is the scope of ethical claims or judgment? o 1. Absolutism o 2. Relativism o 3. Skepticism • (C) How ethical claims are justified? o Results of reason, learned through experience, basic, intuitions, there are no sources of knowledge?
Some Basic Distinctions: 1. Ethics: Right vs. wrong action 2. Morality: Good vs. bad outcome/consequences 3. Legality: Legal vs. illegal action. What is ethical is not always illegal and vice versa, etc.
4. Character: Virtuous vs. vicious/unvirtuous personality traits. 5. Etiquette: Polite vs. rude behavior (not really discussed in this course) 6. Motive: Good vs. bad/evil intentions
Taxonomy if Action in Ethics: - Impermissible: You should not do X - Permissible: It is acceptable/right to do X - Obligatory: You must do X [more strict than permissible] - Neutral: Neither right nor wrong [ex. Blinking of your eyes. Who cares? This is something that is not important and is not discussed] - Supererogatory: To do X is heroic, good but unnecessary *CONTEXT
Today: -Syllabus review -Ethics intro Homework: -Read Chapter 1 in Rachels -Read “Moral Sentiment” article Next time: -Ethics introduction continued -“Moral Sentiment”
9/15/12 9:40 PM
-First assignment distributed (P.E.T.) Personal Essay Topic – Ethical issue that you find interesting and will want to use/refer to throughout the rest of the course.
What is ethics? -Philosophy à 1. Epistemology – what do we know, and how do we know it? 2. Metaphysics – The nature of reality. What exists, why? And what is it like? 3. Ethics – How should we live our lives? What is “right”? What is “wrong”? Why do we need to study ethics? Helps you psychologize towards people Helps you successfully interact and understand people’s thought …show more content…
Descriptive 2. Normative 3. Metaethics: the study of nature of ethical claims and the nature of ethical judgment. • (A) What do ethical claims mean? o Expressions of facts about the world vs. expressions of subjective opinion. • (B) What is the scope of ethical claims or judgment? o 1. Absolutism o 2. Relativism o 3. Skepticism • (C) How ethical claims are justified? o Results of reason, learned through experience, basic, intuitions, there are no sources of knowledge?
Some Basic Distinctions: 1. Ethics: Right vs. wrong action 2. Morality: Good vs. bad outcome/consequences 3. Legality: Legal vs. illegal action. What is ethical is not always illegal and vice versa, etc.
4. Character: Virtuous vs. vicious/unvirtuous personality traits. 5. Etiquette: Polite vs. rude behavior (not really discussed in this course) 6. Motive: Good vs. bad/evil intentions
Taxonomy if Action in Ethics: - Impermissible: You should not do X - Permissible: It is acceptable/right to do X - Obligatory: You must do X [more strict than permissible] - Neutral: Neither right nor wrong [ex. Blinking of your eyes. Who cares? This is something that is not important and is not discussed] - Supererogatory: To do X is heroic, good but unnecessary *CONTEXT