MORALITY Chapter 11

MORALITY DEFINED

Basis for a choice among significant options Right vs. Wrong Among the first words babies learn are

good and bad Samuel Butler defined it as, “the customs of

one’s country, and the current feelings of one’s peers.” Divided by subgroups even further ex. which

peers? which part of the country?

MORALITY AND THE ARTS

Arts have played a prominent part in influencing moral attitudes

Some encourage censorship “for the good of society”

The Scarlet Letter- questions if an inflexible moral code was more sinful than an adulterous relationship which grew out of sincere love.

OUTRAGE OVER MORAL WRONGS

Picasso’s Guernica remains one of the most potent statements about the horrors of attacking an enemy city and killing civilians.

Sentiment has been echoed by Christians and Muslims, by opponents of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Non-supporters of war ask whether even a just cause can excuse acts of inhumanity

FIVE MORAL QUESTIONS IN PHILOSOPHY- Does the end ever justify the means? Are punishment and the fear of punishment

the only things that keep us from doing wrong?

Doe the needs of society outweigh the needs of the individual?

Should all economic resources be controlled by individuals or communities?

Are results all that matter, or do intentions count also?

MORAL SYSTEMS

Network of related values on which moral choices are based is called a moral system

Most religions believe a divinity has set down certain rules that must be followed whether or not they interfere with your personal desires

Usually outlined in the holy book

ALTERNATE MORAL SYSTEMS

Based on reason, not faith Reason determines what is right and

therefore doing wrong is irrational May consult a moral authority

(philosopher, friend, religious official) If the two sources offer different

opinions, which one do we follow? Intuition? Self-interest? Follow moral

authority?

MORALITY OF SELF-INTEREST

GLAUCON SOCRATES

Everyone does the right thing out of motives that have nothing to do with reason or innate goodness

Society expects virtue to be only an appearance, the result of societal pressure

Always on side of reason

Nothing bad can happen to a good person

Good is done for it’s own sake

“To know the good is to do the good”

PHILOSOPHER KING

Plato admits majority of people (governed and governing) will be driven by self-interest unless held in check by one supreme ruler

Leader should be motivated solely by reason, advises rules because he has a clear vision of justice

Who chooses the credentials of the “wisest person in society?” Only the wisest could do that!

HENRY DAVID THOREAU

-Transcendentalist- he refused to pay a tax for the privilege of voting, announced he was “seceding from the Union” and moved to a woodland hut.

-Individualism

“ ‘That government is best which governs least’ ….I also believe- ‘That government is best which governs not at all…’”

“ENLIGHTENED SELF-INTEREST”-SERVING THE SELF ORDER TO MAKE AN EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT THAT PROVIDES BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE THAN THEY COULD FOR THEMSELVES

MACHIAVELLI THOMAS HOBBES

Wrote The Prince, which offers advice to all aspiring rulers

Suggests leaders intimidate, exhibit signs of their power, to impress their subjects

Did not trust citizens enough to make rational decisions

Machiavellian-reference to cynical individuals who considered themselves superior

Tight autocratic control was necessary because the masses were evil and solely out for themselves

Leviathan Monarch must be feared

or order will disintegrate

ECONOMICS AND SELF-INTEREST

ADAM SMITH AYN RAND

Economic well-being is the guiding force in humans

Greed is not necessarily a bad thing as long as you don’t break laws or harm others

Laissez-faire Modern economists agree

there is no such thing as an ideally self-regulating market

Capitalism was close to divine

Believed in encouraging the strong and self-reliant to make the most of their talents without spending a lifetime helping others (they would grow weaker and lose their incentive to help themselves)

ALTRUISM

Transcends self-interest Some argue what seems like altruism

really springs from selfish motives Donating an organ, firemen rushing into a

burning building, Secret Service agent taking a bullet for the president

UTILITARIANISM- BENTHAM /MILL

Greatest good for the greatest number of people

Assign positive or negative values the action might cause for the most people, account for duration and intensity, do the arithmetic and get your answer

Allows for self-interest to be defended and restricted

IMMANUEL KANT

We are born with an innate sense of right and wrong

Categorical Imperative- an intuitive classification of actions and choices as morally acceptable or unacceptable

We should ask, “Would it be ok for everyone else to do this?”

Parable of the lost wallet

RELIGION AND MORALITY

Major world religions provide moral orientation fro most of the world’s population

All believe that the world was not created for humans to do as they please

Humans owe an obligation to God or the moral order of the universe

None are free to behave irresponsibly toward themselves, others, or the Earth

THE MORALITY OF WORK-STUDS TERKEL As people describe their work they reveal

their cherished values (the basis for their decisions).

For job seekers, times of prosperity have offered the opportunity to search for a career that matches their talents and desires. Not finding one diminishes their self-worth. “Liking” a job can seem a luxury, and can create a moral dilemma, should they work even if it is dangerous?

MORAL RELATIVISM

People who feel uncomfortable with an absolute “should” are apt to reject the word in favor of moral relativism

“Who’s to say what is right?” “What’s good for one may not be good for another.”

MORAL RELATIVITY

Flexibility and tolerance Most relativists point out that genocide,

prison and torture have been inflicted by those believing there is only one truth

Globalization had led to increased contact with variety of belief systems causing us to question western viewpoints

“Being human is an art, and nowhere is that assumption more critical than in

moral matters…a ringing declaration in the humanities is that moral integrity is

worth the risk.”