Introduction to Applied Ethics - I

Summary

Dr. Tarang Kapur's lecture introduces applied ethics, a branch of philosophy focused on applying moral principles to real-life situations. He explains how applied ethics gained prominence in the 1970s and addresses ethical dilemmas in fields like medicine, law, business, and media. The lecture also explores various approaches to applied ethics, including internal, external, and mixed accounts, highlighting the gap between theoretical and practical applications of ethics. Dr. Kapur emphasizes the importance of adapting ethical norms to evolving societal contexts and discusses the challenges of applying general ethical theories to specific moral problems.

Takeaways

• 📚 Applied ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the application of moral rules, principles, or concepts to real-life situations.
• 🌐 The term 'applied ethics' gained prominence in the 1970s when philosophers began using ethical theories to address societal problems.
• 🤝 Applied ethics emerged from interactions between philosophy and various professional fields, leading to the development of areas like medical ethics and environmental ethics.
• 🔍 The field covers a wide array of topics, from ancient times to contemporary issues, affecting individual liberty, equality, and justice.
• 💡 Applied ethics is practical rather than purely theoretical, focusing on real-world actions and their moral considerations in public and private life.
• 🤔 There is a persistent gap between the theoretical and practical spheres of ethics, with challenges in applying ethical theories to resolve moral problems.
• 🌱 Rajendra Prashad discusses the logistics of applying ethical principles, including motivation and levels of commitment required for their application.
• 🚫 No major philosopher has developed a single method for applied ethics, indicating the complexity and diversity of ethical applications.
• 🔄 Applied ethics involves conflicts and decision-making in real terms, such as in euthanasia, business ethics, and media ethics, where rights and obligations often conflict.
• 🧩 Substantive normative and metaethical considerations also enter the domain of applied ethics, showing the interconnectivity of different ethical spheres.
• 🔧 The top-down model of applied ethics applies pre-existing norms to new situations, following a deductive form and raising questions about the consistency of moral norms across unique situations.

Q & A

What is applied ethics?

Applied ethics is a branch of philosophy that involves the application of moral rules, principles, or concepts to real-life situations, such as euthanasia, abortion, surrogacy, and other interrelated issues.

When did applied ethics gain prominence?

Applied ethics gained prominence during the 1970s when philosophers, theorists, and academicians began using ethical theories and moral philosophy to address the problems faced by society.

How is applied ethics different from normative ethics?

Applied ethics is practical in nature, focusing on real-world actions and their moral considerations, while normative ethics is more theoretical, attempting to provide understanding about laws and principles that govern moral conduct.

What are some examples of topics covered in applied ethics?

Applied ethics covers a wide array of topics such as individual liberty, equality, injustice, abuse of marginalized communities, and issues related to justice, equality, and parity.

What is the role of professionals in the field of applied ethics?

Professionals in fields like law, theology, political theory, media, and business address issues in applied ethics, contributing to discussions on moral dilemmas and ethical practices.

What is a moral dilemma according to the script?

A moral dilemma is a situation where one is faced with critical questions about what ought to be done or what is the moral right thing to do in a particular situation, involving conflicts and decision-making.

What are the limitations of defining applied ethics as the application of general ethical theories to particular moral problems?

This definition is considered narrow as it neither defines the appropriate method nor the content of applied ethics, and it does not account for the gap between theory and practice.

What is internalism in the context of professional ethics?

Internalism argues that ethics should be derived from the professional, institutional, or group ethos, suggesting that each profession has its own set of standards integral to its existence.

What is externalism in the context of professional ethics?

Externalism incorporates norms that sustain and supplement internal morality, relying on external standards such as public opinion, law, common morality, religious ethics, and philosophical ethics.

What is the top-down model in applied ethics?

The top-down model applies pre-existing norms to new particular events or situations by applying a general rule or principle to a case that falls under the rule, following a deductive form of reasoning.

What are the challenges associated with the top-down model in applied ethics?

The top-down model faces challenges such as the difficulty of proving that some norms are self-justifying, the possibility of infinite regress in reasoning, and the fact that moral norms applied to a particular event may give inconclusive results.