Morality and Ethics Part 2

Summary

This lecture delves into the practical application of ethical theories, focusing on utilitarianism's pros and cons. It outlines a structured approach to crafting principled arguments, using examples from contentious debates such as euthanasia, abortion, and torture. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding different ethical perspectives to build and critique arguments effectively.

Takeaways

• 📚 The lecture series aims to discuss the practical application of moral and ethical theories introduced in part one.
• 🔍 It differentiates between morals as a subjective view of right and wrong, and ethics as societal perceptions of proper conduct.
• 🌐 The session covers meta-ethics, including moral realism and moral anti-realism, which debate the existence of objective moral truths.
• 📝 Four ethical theories are explored: Divine command theory, natural law theory, categorical imperatives/deontology, and utilitarianism.
• 🛑 Utilitarianism is examined in-depth, with its pros such as universal happiness, allowance for trade-offs, and egalitarianism, and cons like the inconsistency of happiness conception and potential erosion of individual rights.
• 🤝 The importance of understanding both sides of an argument is emphasized for effective debating and rebuttals.
• 🏛 A structured approach to making principled arguments is introduced, including identifying principles, providing criteria or examples, using analogies, and explaining the importance of the principle.
• 🤔 The session prompts critical thinking on various ethical scenarios like euthanasia, abortion, and torture, encouraging the application of the discussed theories and argument structures.
• 🚫 Deontological arguments against euthanasia and torture highlight the importance of treating individuals as ends in themselves, not merely as means to an end.
• 🤝 The debate over abortion focuses on personhood criteria and the moral implications of bringing a child into an environment likely to cause more pain than pleasure.
• 🔄 The consequentialist opposition to torture argues that it is often ineffective and can damage the moral authority of institutions, questioning the intent and integrity of the actors involved.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the 'Morality and Ethics Part Two' lecture series?

The lecture series focuses on the practical application of moral and ethical concepts introduced in part one, including a deeper exploration of utilitarianism and how to construct principled arguments in various debating scenarios.

What is the difference between morals and ethics as discussed in the script?

Morals are described as a more subjective view of what is right and wrong, while ethics are the societal perception of what is the right thing to do.

What are the four ethical theories briefly mentioned in the script?

The four ethical theories mentioned are the Divine command Theory, natural law theory, categorical imperatives/deontology, and utilitarianism.

What are some advantages of utilitarianism according to the script?

Utilitarianism is praised for its universal focus on happiness, its allowance for trade-offs in ethical dilemmas, and its egalitarian nature, treating happiness as of equal worth regardless of who possesses it.

What potential issues or 'cons' does the script raise about utilitarianism?

The script points out that happiness is subjective and may not be experienced the same by all, the difficulty in measuring happiness for practical decision-making, and the potential erosion of individual rights in the pursuit of the greater good.

Can you explain the structure for making a principled argument as outlined in the script?

The structure includes identifying the principle or right, providing criteria or examples, explaining an analogy or example, and explaining why the principle is important, focusing on whether it is the right thing to do rather than its impact.

What is an example of a principled argument given in the script?

The script provides an example where sporting clubs should be held responsible for the actions of their fans, using criteria such as direct contribution to harm, failure in duty to prevent harm, and profiting from the harm.

How does the script discuss the euthanasia debate in terms of ethical theories?

The script presents arguments for euthanasia based on autonomy and the potential for it to be seen as a form of self-defense, while counterarguments question the true autonomy of the decision and the long-term effects on patient treatment and trust.

What ethical considerations does the script present regarding abortion?

The script discusses considerations such as whether an unborn fetus meets the criteria for personhood, the moral worth of an individual, and the potential immorality of bringing a child into an environment likely to contain more pain than pleasure.

How does the script explore the ethical implications of torture?

The script examines the utilitarian perspective that justifies torture for the greater good and the deontological stance that torture treats individuals as a means to an end, violating human dignity and rights.

What is the take-home message from the script regarding the application of ethical theories?

The take-home message is that ethical theories can be applied to create and respond to arguments in various debates, and understanding these theories can help in constructing compelling principled arguments.