Ethical Frameworks

January 17, 2024 Ethical Frameworks How can we make moral decisions? Let’s get Ethical: - Virtue Ethics - Emphasizes the natural concern we have with being a good person - Acting well vs Acting rightly Describe terms as virtue vs. Vice: - Torture is cruel - Paying back your debts is just - Speaking up in that situation was courageous Virtue Ethics: It’s about character - Virtue (and vice) tens are not just about the action- we refer to the agents state of character - Example: When a store manager practices business in an honest fashion, is he/she/they doing so as a good way to attract customers and maximize profits? Or because acting honestly is a sign of good character? Virtue Ethics: components of virtue - Habit: reliability, consistency (But-Virtues are developed, not acquired at once) - Reasons for virtuous behavior (value of truth is virtuous on its own) - Emotions & Attitudes: we are happy to perform virtuous deeds; we like people who are virtuous (it’s not about what we owe others, but about what is right) - Natural inclination to act: virtuous actions should come naturally - Phronesis (Practical Wisdom): the ability to reason correctly to make wise choices Virtue ethics: Doctrine of the Mean - Perfect point of moderation between excess and deficiency - What is a virtue that you want to strive to achieve… and why? Deontology: Duty Ethics - Deontology: Greek word “dein” or “deon” - dity; to be obligated - Immanual Kant: Morality of an action lies on the inner motive rather than the external effects (consequentialism) - In duty ethics, Intent (nor character or consequence) is what matters Duty over Inclination - Kant: a person is only acting morally when they suppress their feelings and inclinations and follow obligations - Inclination- doing the things we feel like doing, and thus, no obligation exists - Duties > happiness Categorical imperative - Kant: “act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law (Kant, 1791/1991, p.395) - 1st- what maxim guides your moral reasoning? - 2nd- can that maxim be a universal law governing all rational agents? Principle of Humanity: Respect for others - Principle of humanity (aka principle of ends): the reason why - Concerns respect for the dignity of persons - Rational beings are ends in themselves - Do not treat others as means to ends The Flaw(s) in Deontology - Absolutist: absolute rules no matter the consequences - Allows act that make the world a ‘less good’ place: - Example: Nuclear bombs during WWII - Is it morally permissible to kill to prevent future deaths? - Conflicting Duties - Ross Six prima Facie Duties - 1. Fidelity - 2. Gratitude - 3. Justice - 4. Beneficence - 5. Self improvement - 6. Non-Maleficence Consequentialism: Consequences Matter - The ENDS justify the MEANS - Outcome> Intent or Character - Whether an act is right or wrong depends only on the results of that act - The more “good” that act produces, the better or more “moral” the act is Types of Consequentialism Part I - Utilitarianism - Moral worth of an action is determined by its contribution to the overall “utility” (human well-being or human welfare) - An act is “right” if it leads to the most happiness for the greatest number of people - “For the greater good” Types of Consequentialism Part II - Mohist consequentialism (aka, state of consequentialism) Chinese philosopher Mozi: actions that contribute much to the welfare of the state is of the highest moral worth Mohists believe that morality is based on promoting what is beneficial to “all under heaven” and eliminating what is harmful to “all under heaven” Types of Consequentialism Part III - Hedonism: pleasure is the primary or most important intrinsic good (pleasure should far surpass any amount of pain) - Egoism: People should do whatever is in the person's self interest - Henry Sidgwick argued hedonism benefits society because individuals know best what is good for them African Ethics - ‘African ethics’ refers to mora beliefs and presuppositions of the sub-Saharan African people AND the philosophical clarification and interpretations - Social (non-individualistic) morality: community and shared life - Ubuntu (humanity in Bantu) - humanity towards others Character vs Ethics - Character-based ethics: moral failure is caused by lack of a good character (suban pa) - Why? Society requires members to act with good character, obey moral rules, carry out a moral duty - Moral education occurs by sharing moral proverbs and folktales to younger members Habit and Humanity - 'Character comes from your actions' (or deeds: nneyee) - Persistent performance of a particular action will produce a certain habit, and a corresponding character - Humanism: human welfare, interests and needs are fundamental to morality - Steve Biko: African contribution to the world is its trait of humanism Confucian Ethics - Confucius (Kung Fu Zi – Master Kong, or Greatest teacher) - Emphasizes human relationships and social values - Golden Rule: "Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you" (connections to deontology) What does Confucian ethics say? - Mandate of Heaven – Rule of Law: no person is above the law - We are all relational, role-bearing persons (the roles and situations matter) - - (e.g., the tone you use to speak to your dad is different from the one you use to communicate with a stranger) Relational ontology: If there is only one person, there are no persons Benevolence (kindness to others) is done together or not at all (Idea that we are all in this together) Mencius: "Treat with respect the elders in my family, and then extend that respect to include the elders in other families." Confucian Ethics: The Moral Self - Ultimate goal for human development: junzi (superior person) through self-cultivation - Virtue ethics anyone? - How do you cultivate your moral self? - Two aspects of the self: - "Zi" - engaged self - "Ji" - reflective self The Confucian Model of Moral Development Case study 2: The Social (Experiment) Network