What is Ethics?

Ethics is the philosophical study of what is right or wrong, good or bad, in that part of human conduct for which we are responsible, excluding areas such as etiquette, professional codes, legal and religious codes.

What is an issue?

• A question

• A question that is debatable

• In that it is debatable, it has no 100% right or wrong answer

What is an ethical issue?

• It is a question

• It is an important question

• It is an important question that does not have an exact answer

• It is an important question that does not have an exact answer, and yet the answer to which is fundamental to our lives

What is a ‘philosophical study’?

• It is an inexact study

• It deals with issues that are fundamental

• It deals with issues that are practical

What are the areas of human conduct?

• Those areas for which we are not responsible

• That area for which we are responsible

What are the areas of human conduct for which we are not responsible?

• Nonvoluntary behavior

• Involuntary behavior

What is nonvoluntary behavior?

• Origin of the action comes from within

• We do not consciously choose to do the action

• Examples: breathing, blinking, digestion, reflex actions, thinking, dreaming

• Problem examples

What is involuntary behavior?

• The origin of the action comes from without (it is external to us)

• We do not consciously choose to do the action

• Examples: particular car accidents, being shoved, and as a result, damaging someone’s property

• Problem examples

What is voluntary behavior?

• Origin of the action comes from within

• We consciously choose to do the action

• Examples: coming to class, telling the truth, registering for courses, going to work, premeditated murder

• Problem examples

Is Ethics concerned with all voluntary behaviors?

• NO

• It is not concerned with matters of etiquette

• It is not concerned with certain legal codes

• It is not concerned with certain professional codes

• It is not concerned with certain religious codes

What are some voluntary behaviors that Ethics is concerned with?

• Actions that affect others

• Actions that affect the environment

• Actions that affect ourselves

What are some actions that affect others that Ethics is concerned with?

• Is it ever right to break a promise?• Fidelity• Suicide• Health care issues• Stealing• Killing• Gender roles• Discrimination

What are some actions that affect the environment that Ethics is concerned with?

• Cloning

• Pollution

• Animal Rights

• Nuclear War

• Conservation

What are some actions that affect ourselves that Ethics is concerned with?

• Being true to ourselves

• Health issues• Suicide• Euthanasia

What is the relationship between Ethics and morality?

• Ethics is the philosophical study of morality

Again, what does ‘philosophical ‘ study mean?

• Fundamental

• Concerned with issues that are at the base of other disciplines

• Inexact

• Practical

Is the study of Ethics different from the study of other disciplines?

YES !!!!!!

Other sciences (Psychology):

• Descriptive in nature

• Seek exactness

• Describe how people do in fact act

• Seek the facts

Ethics

• Inexact

• Prescriptive/Normative

• Is concerned with how people should act)

• Practical

Why study Ethics?Initially, Ethics was studied as a means to improve a student’s moral character, even if to a slight degree.

Is the study of Ethics important?

You decide!!!!!!!

Chapters One and Two of Text

• The main questions that the author of your text is concerned with in the first two chapters of your text are ‘What is Ethics?’ ‘What are Ethical Issues?’ are ‘How are religion and law related to our ethical decision-making?’ The author of Chapter One (William Frankena) begins his analysis of these questions by offering an example to us (Socrates’ dilemma in Crito). Through this example he arrives at questions Ethics is concerned with, the definition of ethics, approaches to the study of morality, and examples of ethical issues

Crito

• It means that he is using Socrates and his discussion with Crito to display what moral reasoning is and how ethical issues arise.

Crito

• When Crito offers Socrates a chance to escape, Socrates is faced with a moral dilemma, which is a conflict that arises regarding the moral rightness or wrongness of a particular action/decision. Socrates insists on approaching the moral question at hand—Should Socrates escape from prison?—without giving any weight to his (or Crito's) feelings, to the opinions of others, or to the cost of remaining faithful to moral principle, which in the present case could not be any higher. He appeals to a general rule, determines that his situation falls under that rule, and finally draws a conclusion about what he

must do—namely, refuse Crito's suggestion that he escape.

• Socrates is engaged in normative reflection, which attempts to identify what is right, good, or obligatory.

• Descriptive approach to morality

• Meta-ethics

• Socrates is faced with a dilemma or what we call an ethical issue.

• Frankena also uses the Crito example because it includes a discussion of the roles that religion and the law should play in our moral decision making.

Can We Use the law as our sole guide?

Can we use religion as our sole guide?