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How to avoid the hard work of How to avoid the hard work of moral decision-making:moral decision-making:
Stick with what you know…Stick with what you know…after all, other people with after all, other people with better minds have thought better minds have thought about these things.about these things.
How to avoid the hard work of How to avoid the hard work of moral decision-making:moral decision-making:
Think in bumper-Think in bumper-stickers...stickers...
It's Adam and Eve not It's Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve.Adam and Steve.
People kill people. People kill people. Guns don’t kill people.Guns don’t kill people.
How to avoid the hard work of How to avoid the hard work of moral decision-making:moral decision-making:
Rationalize...Rationalize...
Rationalize…Rationalize…
Rationalize…Rationalize…
How to avoid the hard work of How to avoid the hard work of moral decision-making:moral decision-making:
Practice morality by tummy-ache…Practice morality by tummy-ache…
Passion above reason…Passion above reason…
How to avoid the hard work of How to avoid the hard work of moral decision-making:moral decision-making:
Dogma above reason…Dogma above reason…
Antidote: Antidote:
Don’t believe Don’t believe everything you everything you think!think!
How to avoid the hard work of How to avoid the hard work of moral decision-making:moral decision-making:
RelativismRelativism
Any moral opinion Any moral opinion is as good as the is as good as the rest....rest....
What are We What are We Talking About?Talking About?
What is Morality? What is Morality? Rachels Chapter 1 Rachels Chapter 1
Singular Moral Singular Moral Judgments Judgments
vs. vs. Moral Moral
Principles...Principles...
The Death of SocratesThe Death of SocratesJacques-Louis DavidJacques-Louis David
General moral principle…or General moral principle…or not?not?
Hurting a friend is wrong.Hurting a friend is wrong.
The Bible says that thou shalt not kill.The Bible says that thou shalt not kill.
Shoplifting might get you into trouble.Shoplifting might get you into trouble.
Stealing is ok.Stealing is ok.
Helping others helps ourselves.Helping others helps ourselves.
Do unto others as you would have Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.them do unto you.
Honour thy father and thy mother.Honour thy father and thy mother.
General moral principle…or General moral principle…or not?not?
Hurting a friend is wrong.Hurting a friend is wrong.
The Bible says that thou shalt not kill.The Bible says that thou shalt not kill.
Shoplifting might get you into trouble.Shoplifting might get you into trouble.
Stealing is ok.Stealing is ok.
Helping others helps ourselves.Helping others helps ourselves.
Do unto others as you would have Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.them do unto you.
Honour thy father and thy mother.Honour thy father and thy mother.
YesYes
NoNo
NoNo
YesYes
NoNo
YesYes
YesYes
Conflicting principles...Conflicting principles...
So, back to our arguments...So, back to our arguments...
Premise 1 states the case (the way the world is)Premise 1 states the case (the way the world is)
Premise 2 appends a moral principlePremise 2 appends a moral principle
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The conclusion follows from the interplayThe conclusion follows from the interplay
Moral arguments are arguments with a Moral arguments are arguments with a moral judgment as the conclusionmoral judgment as the conclusion
We describe the case: the way the world We describe the case: the way the world isis
We append a moral principleWe append a moral principle
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We conclude based on the interplayWe conclude based on the interplay
1.1 The Problem of Definition1.1 The Problem of Definition
““Moral philosophy is the attempt to Moral philosophy is the attempt to achieve a systematic understanding of the achieve a systematic understanding of the nature of morality and nature of morality and what it requires of what it requires of usus……
Socrates: We are discussing no small Socrates: We are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to livematter, but how we ought to live
1.2 Baby 1.2 Baby Theresa.....AnencephalyTheresa.....Anencephaly
1.2 Baby Theresa dilemma...1.2 Baby Theresa dilemma...
Parental requestParental request:: allow her organs to be allow her organs to be harvested to benefit other newborns.harvested to benefit other newborns.
Legal resolutionLegal resolution: : "Florida law does not "Florida law does not allow the removal of organs until the donor allow the removal of organs until the donor is dead."is dead."
Moral arguments are arguments with a Moral arguments are arguments with a moral judgment as the conclusionmoral judgment as the conclusion
The parents:The parents:
Transplanting Baby Theresa’s organs would Transplanting Baby Theresa’s organs would benefit other children without harming her. benefit other children without harming her.
If we can benefit someone, without harming If we can benefit someone, without harming anyone else, we ought to do so.anyone else, we ought to do so.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------Therefore, we ought to transplant the organs.Therefore, we ought to transplant the organs.
Moral arguments are arguments with a Moral arguments are arguments with a moral judgment as the conclusionmoral judgment as the conclusion
Anonymous ethicists:Anonymous ethicists:
Transplanting Baby Theresa’s organs would be Transplanting Baby Theresa’s organs would be using her as means for another’s ends. using her as means for another’s ends.
It is wrong to use people as means.It is wrong to use people as means.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------Therefore, we ought not transplant the organs.Therefore, we ought not transplant the organs.
Moral arguments are arguments with a Moral arguments are arguments with a moral judgment as the conclusionmoral judgment as the conclusion
One more argument:One more argument:
Taking Baby Theresa's organs would be killing Taking Baby Theresa's organs would be killing her to save another.her to save another.
It is wrong to kill one person to save another.It is wrong to kill one person to save another.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Therefore, we ought not to take her organs for Therefore, we ought not to take her organs for transplantation.transplantation.
On the Baby Theresa dilemma...On the Baby Theresa dilemma...
Dr. Norman Fost, director of the UniversityDr. Norman Fost, director of the University
of Wisconsin's medical ethics program: of Wisconsin's medical ethics program:
““The problem is almost entirely one of a slippery The problem is almost entirely one of a slippery slope...” slope...”
““We have to be careful who we take We have to be careful who we take organs from, because there are a lot organs from, because there are a lot more than anencephalic infants out there.” more than anencephalic infants out there.”
On the Baby Theresa dilemma...On the Baby Theresa dilemma...
Dr. John Fletcher, director of the UniversityDr. John Fletcher, director of the University
of Virginia's Center for Biomedical Ethics:of Virginia's Center for Biomedical Ethics:
“There's a refusal to accept the reality of death at work in this...
“...and an overvitalistic understanding of personhood, one dependent on biological functions."
On the Baby Theresa dilemma...On the Baby Theresa dilemma...
Dr. John Fletcher, director of the University Dr. John Fletcher, director of the University ofof
Virginia's Center for Biomedical Ethics:Virginia's Center for Biomedical Ethics:
““...what makes us human is what goes on ...what makes us human is what goes on upstairsupstairs in the brain, not in the brain, not downstairsdownstairs in in the brain.”the brain.”
1.3 Conjoined Twins1.3 Conjoined Twins
• Siamese TwinsSiamese Twins
• Chang and Eng Chang and Eng • Born in 1811Born in 1811• Travelled with the circusTravelled with the circus• Married two sistersMarried two sisters• Fathered 21 children Fathered 21 children • Died in 1874Died in 1874
1:3 Jodie and Mary1:3 Jodie and Mary
Jodie and MaryJodie and Mary
• Pro-separation:Pro-separation:
Separating the twins will save the one; otherwise Separating the twins will save the one; otherwise both will die.both will die.When it's a choice between saving one of two When it's a choice between saving one of two people or letting both die, we should save the one.people or letting both die, we should save the one.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:.:. The twins should be separated. The twins should be separated.
Jodie and MaryJodie and Mary
Anti-separation:Anti-separation:
Mary is an innocent human being and the Mary is an innocent human being and the separation will kill her.separation will kill her.
It's wrong to kill an innocent human being.It's wrong to kill an innocent human being.
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:.:. The twins shouldn't be separated. The twins shouldn't be separated.
1.4 The Latimer Case1.4 The Latimer Case
Mercy or Murder?Mercy or Murder?
12 year old Tracy 12 year old Tracy Latimer, killed by Latimer, killed by her father in 1993her father in 1993
Quadriplegic and Quadriplegic and severely mentally severely mentally disabled, she disabled, she functioned at the functioned at the level of a three-level of a three-month old and was month old and was in constant pain…in constant pain…
1.4 The Latimer 1.4 The Latimer CaseCase
Argument against Latimer’s action:Argument against Latimer’s action:
Killing Tracy was discrimination against the Killing Tracy was discrimination against the handicapped. handicapped.
It is wrong to discriminate against the handicapped.It is wrong to discriminate against the handicapped.
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:. :. Tracy's father did wrong: he shouldn't have killed Tracy's father did wrong: he shouldn't have killed her.her.
1.4 The Latimer 1.4 The Latimer CaseCase
Rachels’ response:Rachels’ response:
Discrimination against the handicapped?Discrimination against the handicapped?
It’s discrimination It’s discrimination only if only if there is no good reason there is no good reason for the different treatment....for the different treatment....
1.4 The Latimer 1.4 The Latimer CaseCase
Euthanizing Tracy was "opening the doors to other Euthanizing Tracy was "opening the doors to other people to decide who should live and who should people to decide who should live and who should die."die."
It is wrong to do things which would open the doors...It is wrong to do things which would open the doors...
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:. :. Euthanizing Tracy was wrong and shouldn't have Euthanizing Tracy was wrong and shouldn't have been done.been done.
1.5 Reason and Impartiality1.5 Reason and Impartiality
1.1. Moral judgments must be backed by good Moral judgments must be backed by good reasons.reasons.
2.2. Morality requires the impartial consideration of Morality requires the impartial consideration of each individual’s interests.each individual’s interests.
1.5 1.5 ReasonReason and Impartiality and Impartiality
We describe the case: the way the world isWe describe the case: the way the world is
We append a moral principleWe append a moral principle
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We conclude based on the interplayWe conclude based on the interplay
Impartiality...and emotion...Impartiality...and emotion...
Impartiality...and emotion...Impartiality...and emotion...
Impartiality...and emotion...Impartiality...and emotion...
Impartiality...and emotion...Impartiality...and emotion...
The morally right thing to do...The morally right thing to do...
is is alwayalways whatever there are the best s whatever there are the best reasons for doing...reasons for doing...
Jane Addams,Jane Addams,founder of Hull Housefounder of Hull House
The essence of The essence of immorality is the immorality is the tendency to make an tendency to make an exception of myself.exception of myself.
1.6 The Minimum 1.6 The Minimum Conception of MoralityConception of Morality
The effort to guide The effort to guide one’s conduct by one’s conduct by reason...to do what reason...to do what there are the best there are the best reasons for doing...reasons for doing...
James RachelsJames Rachels
Suicide and EuthanasiaSuicide and Euthanasia
What is the difference?What is the difference?
What good reasons are there in favour?What good reasons are there in favour?What good reasons are there against?What good reasons are there against?
http://exitinternational.net/ http://exitinternational.net/