Philosophical Ethics

Summary

This lecture on philosophical ethics explores key concepts such as descriptive ethics, normative ethics, and meta-ethics. It introduces moral realism and relativism, alongside ethical absolutism and moral particularism. The speaker distinguishes between various ethical approaches, questioning the nature of moral truths, and whether they are objective or culturally relative. The lecture also highlights different views on how moral knowledge is acquired, comparing rationalism with sentimentalism. Ultimately, the discussion sets the stage for a deeper exploration of relativism and its role in ethical theory.

Takeaways

• 😀 Descriptive ethics is about describing what people believe to be right or wrong without making any moral judgments.
• 😀 Normative ethics involves making claims about what should be done morally, such as endorsing the value of free speech or education for women.
• 😀 Meta-ethics explores the nature of moral truths, questioning whether objective moral facts exist or if morality is subjective.
• 😀 Meta-ethics is different from normative ethics, as it deals with fundamental questions like whether moral claims are objectively true or just cultural beliefs.
• 😀 A meta-ethical question might ask: 'What makes a claim like stealing being wrong objectively true?'
• 😀 Moral realism is the belief that moral truths are objective and independent of human beliefs or emotions, similar to facts like the shape of the Earth.
• 😀 Ethical relativism, in contrast to moral realism, suggests that moral judgments depend on cultural or individual beliefs.
• 😀 Moral absolutism asserts that moral truths have no exceptions, while moral particularism allows for moral truths that depend on specific situations.
• 😀 The example of stealing during a crisis (e.g., after Hurricane Katrina) illustrates the difference between moral absolutism and moral particularism.
• 😀 Meta-ethics asks about the fundamental nature of morality, whereas normative ethics assumes that there are objective moral facts and aims to define what is right or wrong.
• 😀 Philosophers in the ancient world, like Socrates and Aristotle, focused on what makes a good person, while modern ethics often centers on what makes an action good.

Q & A

What is descriptive ethics?

Descriptive ethics refers to the study of what people or cultures actually believe to be right or wrong, without making judgments about whether those beliefs are morally justified.

How does descriptive ethics differ from normative ethics?

Descriptive ethics is concerned with describing beliefs about morality as they are, while normative ethics is about making claims about what should or ought to be morally right or wrong.

What is the role of meta-ethics in philosophical ethics?

Meta-ethics focuses on the nature of morality itself, asking fundamental questions about whether moral truths exist, what makes moral claims true, and how we can know moral truths.

Can you explain the distinction between moral realism and ethical relativism?

Moral realism holds that there are objective, mind-independent moral truths, while ethical relativism suggests that moral judgments are determined by cultural or personal beliefs and vary across different societies.

What is the difference between moral absolutism and moral particularism?

Moral absolutism maintains that certain actions are always right or wrong, regardless of the situation, while moral particularism argues that the morality of an action depends on the particular circumstances.

How does the example of Hurricane Katrina illustrate the difference between moral absolutism and moral particularism?

In the case of Hurricane Katrina, a moral absolutist would argue that stealing is always wrong, while a moral particularist might argue that stealing in an emergency situation to survive could be morally justified.

What is the significance of the Greek word 'ethos' in understanding ethics?

The Greek word 'ethos' means 'character' in its singular form and 'custom' in its plural form, which highlights the dual nature of ethics—concerned both with the character of individuals and the customs or practices of societies.

How do the ancient and modern perspectives on ethics differ?

Ancient philosophers like Socrates and Aristotle focused on what makes a good person, while modern ethical theories tend to focus more on what makes an action right or wrong.

What is the role of moral knowledge according to moral rationalists and moral sentimentalists?

Moral rationalists believe that moral knowledge is obtained through reason, while moral sentimentalists, like David Hume, argue that moral judgments are based on emotional reactions rather than rational thought.

Why is it important to discuss meta-ethics before diving into normative ethics?

Meta-ethics addresses the foundational questions about the existence and nature of moral truths, which must be resolved before one can determine what actions are right or wrong in normative ethics.