1 Ethics Chapter 2 Good and Evil. 2 Good and Evil Good and Evil Plato says good was the source of...

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EthicsEthics

Chapter 2Chapter 2

Good and EvilGood and Evil

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Good and EvilGood and Evil Plato says good was the source of all being Plato says good was the source of all being

and morality, good is defined as pleasureand morality, good is defined as pleasure And that the opposite of good is evilAnd that the opposite of good is evil

Manicheans and Zoroastrians believed that Manicheans and Zoroastrians believed that good and evil were two independent, equally good and evil were two independent, equally powerful forces that were always in conflictpowerful forces that were always in conflict

St. Augustine said evil was not a real being at St. Augustine said evil was not a real being at all, but merely an absence of the good all, but merely an absence of the good

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Good and EvilGood and Evil Others attribute evil to the devilOthers attribute evil to the devil The Hedonistic Approach identifies the The Hedonistic Approach identifies the

good with pleasure and happiness and good with pleasure and happiness and evil with pain and sufferingevil with pain and suffering

Ask yourself this, how could a good God Ask yourself this, how could a good God permit evil? (Nazis)permit evil? (Nazis)

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Good and EvilGood and Evil Benn has a purely naturalistic account of Benn has a purely naturalistic account of

evil evil Any object, property or happening Any object, property or happening

about which it is both intelligible and about which it is both intelligible and correct to say that it would be a better correct to say that it would be a better state of affairs if that object did not state of affairs if that object did not exist or occur exist or occur

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Billy Budd by MelvilleBilly Budd by Melville Would you describe Billy as good or evil?Would you describe Billy as good or evil?

Why?Why? Would you describe John Claggart as Would you describe John Claggart as

good or evil?good or evil? Why?Why?

Was there any conflict between Budd Was there any conflict between Budd and Claggart?and Claggart?

Why does Melville state that Claggart Why does Melville state that Claggart and Budd in effect changed places?and Budd in effect changed places?

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Billy Budd by MelvilleBilly Budd by Melville How would you describe Captain Vere?How would you describe Captain Vere?

Why?Why? How would you describe the other How would you describe the other

members that comprise the “jury”?members that comprise the “jury”? Why?Why? What is their question to Billy? (or What is their question to Billy? (or

should they be asking Claggart)should they be asking Claggart)

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Billy Budd by MelvilleBilly Budd by Melville What is Captain Vere’s dilemma?What is Captain Vere’s dilemma?

What is his decision?What is his decision? What is his reasoning for the decision?What is his reasoning for the decision? Do you think he was right in handling Do you think he was right in handling

the way that he did?the way that he did? Why?Why? How would you have handled the How would you have handled the

situation?situation?

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Billy Budd by MelvilleBilly Budd by Melville What does Vere mean when he says,What does Vere mean when he says,

But do these buttons that we wear But do these buttons that we wear attest that our allegiance is to nature? attest that our allegiance is to nature? No, to the King No, to the King

That in receiving our commissions we That in receiving our commissions we in the most important regards ceased in the most important regards ceased to be natural free agents to be natural free agents

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But let not warm hearts betray heads But let not warm hearts betray heads that should be cool. Ashore in a that should be cool. Ashore in a criminal case, will an upright judge criminal case, will an upright judge allow himself off the bench to be allow himself off the bench to be waylaid by some tender kinswoman of waylaid by some tender kinswoman of the accused seeking to tough him the accused seeking to tough him with her tearful plea?with her tearful plea?

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Billy Budd by MelvilleBilly Budd by Melville And the sailing master saysAnd the sailing master says

Can we not convict and yet mitigate Can we not convict and yet mitigate the penalty?the penalty?

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Consider the consequences of such Consider the consequences of such clemency and arbitrary disciplineclemency and arbitrary discipline

No, to the people the foretopman’s No, to the people the foretopman’s deed, however it be worded in the deed, however it be worded in the announcement, will be plain homicide announcement, will be plain homicide committed in a flagrant act of mutiny. committed in a flagrant act of mutiny. What penalty for that should follow, What penalty for that should follow, they know. But it does not follow. Why? they know. But it does not follow. Why?

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Should a man-of-war’s violent killing Should a man-of-war’s violent killing at sea of a superior in grade be at sea of a superior in grade be allowed to pass for aught else than a allowed to pass for aught else than a capital crime demanding prompt capital crime demanding prompt infliction of the penalty?infliction of the penalty?

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Billy Budd by MelvilleBilly Budd by Melville Billy Budd was formally convicted and Billy Budd was formally convicted and

sentenced to be hung at the yardarm in sentenced to be hung at the yardarm in the early morning watchthe early morning watch

The next morning, Billy Budd was The next morning, Billy Budd was hangedhanged

Billy’s last words were “God bless Billy’s last words were “God bless Captain Vere” Captain Vere”

The “Prodigal Son Parable” The “Prodigal Son Parable”

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The Brothers Karamazov by The Brothers Karamazov by DostoevskyDostoevsky Why is there Evil?Why is there Evil?

How would you describe Ivan?How would you describe Ivan? WhyWhy

How would you describe Alyosha?How would you describe Alyosha? Why?Why?

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The Brothers Karamazov by DostoevskyThe Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky Why is there Evil?Why is there Evil?

Ivan questions?Ivan questions? Did man invent God?Did man invent God? If God was invented, could the idea If God was invented, could the idea

come from such a savage, vicious beast?come from such a savage, vicious beast? Why is there suffering in the world? So Why is there suffering in the world? So

we can know good and evil? Why does it we can know good and evil? Why does it cost so much to know good and evil? cost so much to know good and evil?

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The story of the General and the boyThe story of the General and the boy Were the actions of the General Were the actions of the General

just?just? How did his actions affect him How did his actions affect him

afterwards?afterwards?

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Are men themselves to blame for good Are men themselves to blame for good and evil?and evil?

They were given paradise, they They were given paradise, they wanted freedom, and stole fire from wanted freedom, and stole fire from heaven, though they knew they heaven, though they knew they would become unhappy, so there is would become unhappy, so there is no need to pity themno need to pity them

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Ivan’s question to Alyosha is why do Ivan’s question to Alyosha is why do the children have to suffer? the children have to suffer?

What have they done to deserve What have they done to deserve suffering?suffering?

Would they have grown up to deserve Would they have grown up to deserve suffering too?suffering too?

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What about the punishers of evil, are What about the punishers of evil, are they not in fact evil?they not in fact evil?

Should we forgive everyone for their Should we forgive everyone for their acts of evil?acts of evil?

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Sophie’s Choice by StyronSophie’s Choice by Styron What is Sophie’s position?What is Sophie’s position? What is her choice?What is her choice? How would you choose if you were in How would you choose if you were in

this situation?this situation? Do you think you can answer truthfully Do you think you can answer truthfully

without experiencing the moment?without experiencing the moment?

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The New Slavery by BalesThe New Slavery by Bales Is there such evil in the world that Is there such evil in the world that

people can treat other humans like Seba people can treat other humans like Seba was treated?was treated? What would compel a person to What would compel a person to

commit such acts?commit such acts? Is this the reason we need morality? Is this the reason we need morality?

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The New Slavery by BalesThe New Slavery by Bales First Come, First ServeFirst Come, First Serve

How is it that a 4 year old child can How is it that a 4 year old child can understand this simple concept, yet understand this simple concept, yet adults allow discrimination and adults allow discrimination and segregation to happen?segregation to happen?

Slavery ended in the U.S. in 1865. Slavery ended in the U.S. in 1865. Bales learned that emancipation was Bales learned that emancipation was a process, not an event.a process, not an event.

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The New Slavery by BalesThe New Slavery by Bales What Does Race Have To Do With It?What Does Race Have To Do With It?

Ethnic and racial differences were Ethnic and racial differences were used to explain and excuse slaveryused to explain and excuse slavery

The otherness of the slaves made it The otherness of the slaves made it easier to employ the violence and easier to employ the violence and cruelty necessary for total controlcruelty necessary for total control

Otherness could be defined in almost Otherness could be defined in almost any way, religion, tribe, skin color, any way, religion, tribe, skin color, language, custom, economic class …language, custom, economic class …

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The New Slavery by BalesThe New Slavery by Bales What Does Race Have To Do With It?What Does Race Have To Do With It?

The U.S. founding fathers had to go The U.S. founding fathers had to go through moral, linguistic and political through moral, linguistic and political contortions to explain why their land of contortions to explain why their land of the free was only for white peoplethe free was only for white people

They knew slavery was morally wrong, They knew slavery was morally wrong, but also understood that slavery was but also understood that slavery was lucrative lucrative

Today too the morality of money Today too the morality of money overrides other concernsoverrides other concerns

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From Cruelty to Goodness by HallieFrom Cruelty to Goodness by Hallie Institutionalized cruelty involves the Institutionalized cruelty involves the

undermining of dignity by perpetrating a undermining of dignity by perpetrating a false inequality of worth and powerfalse inequality of worth and power

By degrading the victim, the victimizer By degrading the victim, the victimizer exalts his own perception of self worth, exalts his own perception of self worth, but in reality becomes evilbut in reality becomes evil

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From Cruelty to Goodness by HallieFrom Cruelty to Goodness by Hallie Cruelty comes from the Latin bloodshed Cruelty comes from the Latin bloodshed

or raw flesh and involves the spilling of or raw flesh and involves the spilling of the bloodthe blood

Modern dictionary define cruelty as Modern dictionary define cruelty as disposed to giving paindisposed to giving pain Cruelty involves the maiming of a Cruelty involves the maiming of a

person’s dignity, the crushing of a person’s dignity, the crushing of a person’s self respectperson’s self respect

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From Cruelty to Goodness by HallieFrom Cruelty to Goodness by Hallie As human beings, deep humiliation is As human beings, deep humiliation is

everythingeverything Humans also believe in hierarchiesHumans also believe in hierarchies

When we feel that were are not higher When we feel that were are not higher than dirt or filth, then our lives are than dirt or filth, then our lives are maimed at the very center, in the very maimed at the very center, in the very depths, not some localizable portion or depths, not some localizable portion or our bodiesour bodies

And when our lives are so maimed we And when our lives are so maimed we become things, slaves, instrumentsbecome things, slaves, instruments

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From Cruelty to Goodness by HallieFrom Cruelty to Goodness by Hallie The loss of self respect that the The loss of self respect that the

Saturnalia created in ancient Rome, say, Saturnalia created in ancient Rome, say, made it possible to continue using the made it possible to continue using the slaves as things, since they themselves slaves as things, since they themselves cane to think of themselves as things, as cane to think of themselves as things, as sub human tools of the owners and the sub human tools of the owners and the overseersoverseers

Commitment that overrides all Commitment that overrides all sentimentality transforms cruelty and sentimentality transforms cruelty and destruction not moral nobilitydestruction not moral nobility

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From Cruelty to Goodness by HallieFrom Cruelty to Goodness by Hallie Cruelty and the Power RelationshipsCruelty and the Power Relationships

The power of the majority and the The power of the majority and the weakness of a minority are at the weakness of a minority are at the center of institutional cruelty for center of institutional cruelty for slavery and the Nazisslavery and the Nazis

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One of the most important projects of One of the most important projects of slaveholders & their allies was that of slaveholders & their allies was that of seeing to it that the blacks themselves seeing to it that the blacks themselves thought of themselves in these powerless thought of themselves in these powerless termsterms

They diminished both the respect the They diminished both the respect the victimizers might have for their victims victimizers might have for their victims and the respect the victims might have for and the respect the victims might have for themselvesthemselves

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Cruelty then is a kind of power Cruelty then is a kind of power relationship and imbalance of power relationship and imbalance of power wherein the stronger party becomes wherein the stronger party becomes the victimizer and the weaker the victimizer and the weaker becomes the victimbecomes the victim

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From Cruelty to Goodness by HallieFrom Cruelty to Goodness by Hallie Goodness Personified in Le ChambonGoodness Personified in Le Chambon

They obeyed both the negative and They obeyed both the negative and positive injunctions of ethicspositive injunctions of ethics

They were good by being their They were good by being their brothers keeper, protecting the brothers keeper, protecting the victim…victim…

They were also good in the sense that They were also good in the sense that they obeyed the negative injunctions they obeyed the negative injunctions against killing and betrayingagainst killing and betraying

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The opposite of the cruelties of the The opposite of the cruelties of the camps was not the liberation of the camps was not the liberation of the camps, this was the end of crueltycamps, this was the end of cruelty

The opposite of cruelty was the The opposite of cruelty was the hospitality of the people of Chambonhospitality of the people of Chambon

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At the center of thought was the belief At the center of thought was the belief that God showed how important man that God showed how important man was be becoming himself a human was be becoming himself a human being, and by becoming a particular being, and by becoming a particular sort of human being who was the sort of human being who was the embodiment of sacrificially generous embodiment of sacrificially generous lovelove

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Not only to save the Jews, but also to Not only to save the Jews, but also to save the Nazis and their collaboratorssave the Nazis and their collaborators

They wanted to keep the Nazis from They wanted to keep the Nazis from blackening their souls with more evil, blackening their souls with more evil, he wanted to save the Nazis, the he wanted to save the Nazis, the victimizers, from evil victimizers, from evil

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One of the reasons was the Trocme One of the reasons was the Trocme (the minister) was successful was the (the minister) was successful was the Huguenots had been themselves Huguenots had been themselves persecuted for hundreds of years by persecuted for hundreds of years by the kings of France, they knew what the kings of France, they knew what persecution waspersecution was

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They saw no alternative to their They saw no alternative to their actions and to the way they acted, actions and to the way they acted, and therefore they saw what they did and therefore they saw what they did as necessary, not something to be as necessary, not something to be picked out for praisepicked out for praise

They believed that we are all children They believed that we are all children of God, and we must take care of each of God, and we must take care of each other lovingly other lovingly

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From Cruelty to Goodness by HallieFrom Cruelty to Goodness by Hallie A Choice of PerspectivesA Choice of Perspectives

One of the reasons institutional One of the reasons institutional cruelty exists and persists is that cruelty exists and persists is that people believe that individuals can do people believe that individuals can do nothingnothing

Institutional cruelty blinds us to the Institutional cruelty blinds us to the victim’s point of view and when we victim’s point of view and when we are blind to that point of view we can are blind to that point of view we can perpetrate cruelty with impunityperpetrate cruelty with impunity

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From Cruelty to Goodness by HallieFrom Cruelty to Goodness by Hallie A Choice of PerspectivesA Choice of Perspectives

The Holocaust was storm, lightning, The Holocaust was storm, lightning, thunder, wind, rain and Le Chambon thunder, wind, rain and Le Chambon was the rainbowwas the rainbow

Practice random acts of kindnessPractice random acts of kindness

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Wickedness by BennWickedness by Benn SelfishnessSelfishness

The person pursues their own good, The person pursues their own good, disregarding the rights and good of disregarding the rights and good of othersothers

Conscientious WickednessConscientious Wickedness The person is unconditionally loyal to The person is unconditionally loyal to

a person or group even when it does a person or group even when it does evilevil

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Wickedness by BennWickedness by Benn Heteronomous WickednessHeteronomous Wickedness

The person abdicates personal The person abdicates personal responsibility for their actionsresponsibility for their actions

Pathological wickednessPathological wickedness The person makes evil their highest The person makes evil their highest

valuevalue This is the worst kind of wickedness This is the worst kind of wickedness

because in inverts evil into a value to because in inverts evil into a value to be sought for its own sakebe sought for its own sake

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Beyond Good and Evil by NietzscheBeyond Good and Evil by Nietzsche We all seek not happiness, but to affirm We all seek not happiness, but to affirm

ourselves, to flourish and dominateourselves, to flourish and dominate Since we are essentially unequal in Since we are essentially unequal in

ability, intelligence and imagination, it ability, intelligence and imagination, it follows that the fittest will survive and follows that the fittest will survive and be victorious in the contest with the be victorious in the contest with the weaker and the baserweaker and the baser

Isn’t this the opposite of what Hobbes Isn’t this the opposite of what Hobbes believes? believes?

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Beyond Good and Evil by NietzscheBeyond Good and Evil by Nietzsche But this process is hampered by Judeo But this process is hampered by Judeo

Christian moralityChristian morality Nietzsche calls this “Slave Morality” Nietzsche calls this “Slave Morality”

which was invented by jealous priests, which was invented by jealous priests, that were envious and resentful of the that were envious and resentful of the excellent and powerful, advocates that excellent and powerful, advocates that we become meek and mild, that we we become meek and mild, that we believe the lie of all humans having believe the lie of all humans having equal worthequal worth

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Beyond Good and Evil by NietzscheBeyond Good and Evil by Nietzsche Why do we have society and who is it Why do we have society and who is it

for?for? Nietzsche says society is not allowed to Nietzsche says society is not allowed to

exist for its own sake, but only as a exist for its own sake, but only as a foundation and scaffolding by means of foundation and scaffolding by means of which a select class of beings may be which a select class of beings may be able to elevate themselves to their able to elevate themselves to their higher duties, and in general to a higher higher duties, and in general to a higher existenceexistence

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Beyond Good and Evil by NietzscheBeyond Good and Evil by Nietzsche What is the “Master Morality?”What is the “Master Morality?”

Nobility?Nobility? What is the “Slave Morality?”What is the “Slave Morality?”

Utilitarian?Utilitarian? What are “Middle Class Measuring What are “Middle Class Measuring

Rods?”Rods?”

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On the Origin of Good and Evil by On the Origin of Good and Evil by TaylorTaylor The rules and practices that either The rules and practices that either

promote cooperation toward meeting promote cooperation toward meeting our desires or resolve interpersonal our desires or resolve interpersonal conflict are conflict are rightright rules and practices rules and practices

Rules and practices that hinder Rules and practices that hinder cooperation and conflict resolution are cooperation and conflict resolution are wrongwrong ones ones

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On the Origin of Good and Evil by On the Origin of Good and Evil by TaylorTaylor Men as Conative BeingsMen as Conative Beings

Men have needs, desires and goals, Men have needs, desires and goals, they pursue ends, they have certain they pursue ends, they have certain wants and generally go about trying wants and generally go about trying satisfy them in various wayssatisfy them in various ways

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On the Origin of Good and Evil by On the Origin of Good and Evil by TaylorTaylor Men as Conative BeingsMen as Conative Beings

Important PointsImportant Points Deliberate human activity is generally Deliberate human activity is generally

interpreted as goal directedinterpreted as goal directed The goal might be exceedingly trivial The goal might be exceedingly trivial

and of only momentary significanceand of only momentary significance Reason appears to enter into men’s Reason appears to enter into men’s

purposeful activity primarily to devise purposeful activity primarily to devise the means to attain the endsthe means to attain the ends

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On the Origin of Good and Evil by On the Origin of Good and Evil by TaylorTaylor Conative as the Precondition of Good Conative as the Precondition of Good

and Eviland Evil The rules of society were not in place The rules of society were not in place

waiting for men to discover themwaiting for men to discover them Men have created the rules, laws Men have created the rules, laws

conventions, customs and moralsconventions, customs and morals

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On the Origin of Good and Evil by TaylorOn the Origin of Good and Evil by Taylor The Emergence of Good and EvilThe Emergence of Good and Evil

In the beginning, there is no good and no In the beginning, there is no good and no evil, there is nothing but bare factsevil, there is nothing but bare facts

Those things that are good, one finds Those things that are good, one finds satisfying to his needs and desire and satisfying to his needs and desire and those bad to which he reacts in the those bad to which he reacts in the opposite wayopposite way

The judgments of the solitary being The judgments of the solitary being concerns only good and evil and no moral concerns only good and evil and no moral obligation has arisenobligation has arisen

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On the Origin of Good and Evil by On the Origin of Good and Evil by TaylorTaylor The Emergence of Right and WrongThe Emergence of Right and Wrong

When more people are added, the aims When more people are added, the aims or purposes of such people can conflictor purposes of such people can conflict

The possibility of mutual giving and The possibility of mutual giving and taking thus presents itself, wherein taking thus presents itself, wherein each can benefit greatly at a small cost each can benefit greatly at a small cost to the personto the person

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On the Origin of Good and Evil by TaylorOn the Origin of Good and Evil by Taylor Right and Wrong as Relative to RulesRight and Wrong as Relative to Rules

If needs are to satisfied and goals If needs are to satisfied and goals fulfilled, then situations of conflict and fulfilled, then situations of conflict and situations of cooperation must be situations of cooperation must be resolved in the context of rulesresolved in the context of rules

The good of each is enhanced at no The good of each is enhanced at no significant costsignificant cost

But some may use the rule to promote But some may use the rule to promote the very evil the rule was meant to avoidthe very evil the rule was meant to avoid

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On the Origin of Good and Evil by On the Origin of Good and Evil by TaylorTaylor Right and Wrong as Relative to RulesRight and Wrong as Relative to Rules

So, right is simply the adherence to So, right is simply the adherence to the rules and wrong is the violation of the rules and wrong is the violation of itit

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1 Ethics Chapter 2 Good and Evil. 2 Good and Evil Good and Evil Plato says good was the source of...

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