Ethical Beliefs

Idealism

• Our morals are based on insight not an impulse

• Sympathy is an emotional impulse• Insight is a true account of our duty to others– This required us to realize our Future Self and

discipline ourselves for long-term perspective– The realization of neighbor calls us to duty to

attend to them as real people and as we would treat our future self

Cultural Relativism

• Your culture sets the standards• The way people are trained is the way they

will act• Ethics has no value without culture• Ethics derives from basic impulses and the

need to survive• There is a need to be Tolerant of other

cultures/beliefs

Universal Morality

• Four levels of moral discourse:• 1. Immediate response (emotional) • 2. Moral—rules of conduct/reaction• 3. Ethical—principles behind the rules (why)• 4. meta-ethical—beyond, analysis of meanings

or terms, metaphysical or religious meaning• Ethical principles are implicit in all people• “The Golden Rule” is universal

The Objective Basis of Morality

• Resentment is a universal point of view– Hurt, want things to be different, bad luck– I’ve been wronged– It doesn’t depend on your own experiences, if you

see someone being wronged, you resent it– It applies to anyone (anyone can be wronged)– A moral contract is created to prevent resentment

for yourself and others

Religious Morality

• God created the world and gets to make the rules

• Moral life leads to salvation, reward, heaven, etc

• It is a social contract to avoid punishment (natural and social)

• God gave us rational minds to make moral decisions

More on Religious Morality

3 Claims between Religion and Morality:1. Religion supplies motive (reward,

punishment, love of God or others)2. Moral understanding come from God3. Interpretation of religious teachings causes

questions about which is correct

Humanism Morality

• Humans have all the intellect and understanding to have moral, ethical lives– Love, care, kindness, gentleness are human nature

not gifts from God– Morality is the basis for God?– Religion can actually get in the way of morals

Empiricism

• Theory of Knowledge—our quest for truth• All knowledge comes from experience (senses)• All truth must come from a previous impression or

experience• Our senses dictate our morals and our psyche gives us

our behavior• Pleasure and pain are indicators of our moral compass• Ethics don’t really exist, only behavior exists• Ethics is just part of our psychology

Utilitarianism

• Pleasure/pain principle• Morality=happiness• Morality is an equation of pleasures minus

pains. If pleasure beats pain, it is morally acceptable. (Ethical naturalism)

• A private ethic b/c only you know what is pleasurable to you.

• Consequentialism—the consequence is what matters

Categorical Imperative

• Duty to self and others• Will to act in a way that your actions conform to

moral law (thou shalt)• Rules are necessary and give us a sense of

obligation or duty• Your own intrinsic worth (self-respect) is most

important• Rules are always to be followed—it is our duty

to obey

Lack of Ethical Values

• Chaos—everyone does as they please with no concern for how their actions will effect those around them or themselves

• Chance Ethics—all things are based on chance and people have no control over what happens other than the choices a person makes which are somewhat inconsequential