What is Ethics?

Summary

This whiteboard session delves into the fundamentals of ethics, tracing its origins from the Greek 'ethos' to the modern philosophical study of right and wrong human actions. It distinguishes ethics from morality, highlighting ethics as the theoretical exploration of moral principles, while morality is the practice. The session outlines the branches of ethics, including normative ethics, which sets moral standards, meta-ethics, which examines the meaning and origin of ethical terms, and applied ethics, which applies these theories to real-world dilemmas. The discussion aims to simplify the complex nature of ethics and its dynamic evolution through socio-cultural contexts.

Takeaways

• 📚 Ethics is a branch of philosophy that studies the rightness or wrongness of human actions and the concept of the 'good life'.
• 🌐 The term 'ethics' comes from the Greek word 'ethos', which originally meant custom or character.
• 🔍 There is no single absolute definition of ethics due to its evolving nature influenced by socio-cultural and political contexts.
• 🏛 In Greek tradition, ethics was about the good life and happiness, exemplified by Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics.
• 🕍 The Judeo-Christian tradition introduced a different focus on ethics, emphasizing righteousness and love of God and neighbor.
• 🤔 The relationship between doing what is right and being happy is complex and varies across different ethical views.
• 📉 Ethics and morality are not the same; ethics is the study of the theory of right action, while morality is the practice of ethics.
• 📝 Normative ethics is prescriptive, setting standards for right and wrong conduct, whereas meta-ethics is descriptive, exploring the meaning and function of ethical terms.
• 🛠 Applied ethics involves the practical application of moral theories to resolve specific moral problems, such as in business, biomedical, and social ethics.
• 👮‍♂️ A scenario involving a police officer shooting a terrorist illustrates the difference between normative ethics, which might say the act is wrong, and consequentialist ethics, which might argue it is morally correct in the situation.
• 🔄 The script highlights the dynamic nature of ethics, showing how it adapts to different contexts and the challenges in defining it absolutely.

Q & A

What is the origin of the term 'ethics'?

The term 'ethics' is derived from the Greek word 'ethos,' which originally means custom or character.

What is the primary focus of ethics as a branch of philosophy?

Ethics is primarily concerned with the rightness or wrongness of human actions and questions of how human persons ought to act.

Why is there no single absolute definition of ethics?

There is no single absolute definition of ethics because the discipline is constantly evolving due to changes in socio-cultural and political contexts.

How does the Greek tradition view ethics in relation to the concept of the good life?

In the Greek tradition, ethics was conceived as relating to the concept of the good life, with ethical inquiry directed toward discovering the nature of happiness.

What ethical orientation was introduced by the Judeo-Christian tradition?

The Judeo-Christian tradition introduced an ethical orientation focused on the ideals of righteousness before God, and the love of God and neighbor, rather than the happy or pleasant life.

What is the difference between ethics and morality?

Ethics is the systematic study of the underlying principles of morality, focusing on the theory of right action and the greater good, while morality is the practice of ethics, indicating the rightness or wrongness of human actions.

What are the two main types of ethical inquiry according to Sumner?

According to Sumner, the two main types of ethical inquiry are normative ethics, which is prescriptive in nature, and meta-ethics, which is descriptive in nature.

What is the purpose of normative ethics?

Normative ethics seeks to set norms or standards that regulate right and wrong or good and bad conduct, developing guidelines or theories that tell us how we ought to behave.

What does meta-ethics aim to understand?

Meta-ethics aims to understand the nature and dynamics of ethical principles, asking questions about the nature and origin of moral facts and how we learn and acquire moral beliefs.

What is applied ethics and how does it differ from the other types of ethics?

Applied ethics is the actual application of ethical or moral theories to decide which actions are appropriate in given situations. It differs from normative and meta-ethics by focusing on individual moral problems and practical decision-making.

How does the script illustrate the difference between the three major types of ethics?

The script uses the example of a police officer shooting a terrorist to illustrate the differences: normative ethics might say the act is wrong because killing is intrinsically wrong, meta-ethics might question the underlying principles of such actions, and applied ethics would consider the specific situation and the consequences of the action.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Ethics and Its Evolution

This paragraph introduces the concept of ethics, tracing its origins from the Greek word 'ethos' and explaining it as a branch of philosophy concerned with the rightness or wrongness of human actions. It discusses the evolution of ethics, from the Greek tradition focused on the good life and happiness, exemplified by Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, to the Judeo-Christian tradition emphasizing righteousness and love. The paragraph highlights the difficulty in defining ethics absolutely due to its dynamic nature influenced by socio-cultural and political contexts. It also distinguishes between ethics and morality, with ethics being the study of the principles of right action and morality being the practice of these principles, aiming for peaceful coexistence and the general benefit.

05:01

🔍 The Branches of Ethical Inquiry: Normative and Meta Ethics

The second paragraph delves into the methodology of ethics, identifying two main branches: normative ethics and meta ethics. Normative ethics is prescriptive, setting standards for right and wrong conduct and developing guidelines for behavior, as illustrated by Immanuel Kant's duty-based ethics. Meta ethics, in contrast, is descriptive, focusing on understanding the nature and origin of moral facts and beliefs. It asks foundational questions about what constitutes good and justice. The paragraph also introduces applied ethics, which applies ethical theories to specific situations, such as resolving moral dilemmas in fields like business, biomedical, environmental, and social ethics.

10:04

🚔 Applied Ethics in Action: Case Studies and Practical Guidance

The final paragraph discusses the practical application of ethics through a hypothetical scenario involving a police officer faced with a moral dilemma. It contrasts the perspectives of methodists, who might argue the act of killing is intrinsically wrong, with utilitarians, who might justify the action based on the greater good of saving lives. The paragraph also touches on the role of casuistry in providing advisory guidance on individual moral problems. The summary concludes with an invitation to follow for more educational content on ethics, highlighting the aim of making philosophy accessible and easy to understand.

Keywords

💡Ethics

Ethics, derived from the Greek word 'ethos', refers to the branch of philosophy that examines the rightness or wrongness of human actions. It is central to the video's theme, as it discusses the evolution of ethics from a focus on the 'good life' in Greek philosophy to the Judeo-Christian emphasis on righteousness and love. The script uses ethics to explore the dynamic nature of moral principles and their application in various contexts.

💡Right Conduct

Right conduct is a fundamental concept in ethics, denoting the morally correct behavior or actions that individuals should follow. The video's theme revolves around the search for a definition of right conduct and the good life, illustrating the traditional goal of ethicists to seek the good through reason.

💡Good Life

The 'good life' is a philosophical concept that represents an ideal state of living, often associated with happiness and virtue. In the context of the video, the Greek tradition of ethics is linked to the pursuit of the good life, with Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics providing a theory and means to attain happiness.

💡Morality

Morality is the practice of ethics, indicating the rightness or wrongness of human actions. The script distinguishes between ethics and morality, noting that while ethics is a theoretical study, morality is prescriptive, guiding actions and promoting values for peaceful coexistence.

💡Normative Ethics

Normative ethics is a subfield of ethics that focuses on setting norms or standards for right and wrong conduct. The video explains that it is prescriptive, developing guidelines for behavior, as exemplified by Immanuel Kant's moral philosophy, which emphasizes duty.

💡Meta Ethics

Meta ethics is a branch of ethics that is descriptive and seeks to understand the nature and dynamics of ethical principles. It asks foundational questions about moral facts and beliefs, as illustrated in the script when discussing the philosophical inquiry into what constitutes 'good'.

💡Applied Ethics

Applied ethics involves the practical application of ethical theories to specific situations, such as resolving moral dilemmas in fields like business, biomedical, and social ethics. The video uses applied ethics to discuss how moral theories can be used to make decisions in real-world scenarios.

💡Casuistry

Casuistry is a method within applied ethics that deals with individual moral problems, attempting to resolve conflicts and provide guidance in specific situations. The script mentions casuistry in the context of advising individuals on moral choices, such as the difficult decision faced by a mother with an ectopic pregnancy.

💡Moral Uprightness

Moral uprightness refers to the quality of being morally correct and virtuous. The video describes this concept as a picture of what it means to be a morally upright person, emphasizing the importance of reason and consideration for the interests of all individuals affected by one's decisions.

💡Socio-Cultural Context

The socio-cultural context is the social and cultural environment that influences the development and understanding of ethics. The video highlights how the discipline of ethics evolves with changes in this context, affecting the definitions and interpretations of ethical principles.

💡Ethical Inquiry

Ethical inquiry is the process of asking and seeking answers to questions in ethics. The video describes two ways of doing ethical inquiry: normative and meta ethics. It also touches on the challenges of reconciling different ethical views and defining the relationship between doing what is right and being happy.

Highlights

Ethics is derived from the Greek word 'ethos', originally meaning custom or character.

Ethics is a branch of philosophy studying the rightness or wrongness of human actions.

Ethics seeks to define right conduct and the good life through reason.

There is no single absolute definition of ethics due to its evolving nature with socio-cultural and political contexts.

Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics presents a theory of happiness and ways to attain it.

Judeo-Christian tradition emphasizes righteousness and love over the concept of a happy life in ethics.

Ethics and morality are distinct, with ethics being the study of the principles of morality and morality being its practice.

Normative ethics is prescriptive, setting standards for right and wrong conduct.

Meta ethics is descriptive, focusing on the meanings and functions of ethical terms.

Applied ethics applies moral theories to specific situations, such as resolving moral dilemmas.

Casuistry, part of applied ethics, deals with individual moral problems and provides guidance.

Business ethics, biomedical ethics, and social ethics are fields within applied ethics, each with specific focuses.

A moral dilemma example: A police officer's decision to shoot a terrorist to prevent a larger loss of life.

Different ethical perspectives may offer varying judgments on the same moral action.

The importance of understanding the nature and dynamics of ethics based on specific times and contexts.

The goal of ethicists is to seek the good through the aid of reason.

Morality is characterized as an end governed rational enterprise aiming for peaceful coexistence.

The difficulty in reconciling the views of doing what is right and being happy within ethics.

Transcripts

hello my fila notes friends with our

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in today's whiteboard edition we will

address the question what is ethics the

term ethics is derived from the Greek

word ethos which originally means custom

or character broadly construed ethics is

a branch of philosophy that studies the

rightness or wrongness of a human action

in particular this branch of philosophy

is concerned with questions of how human

persons ought to act in the search for a

definition of right conduct and the good

life it is for this reason that the

attempt to seek the good through the aid

of reason is the traditional goal of

ethicists it must be noted however that

there is no single absolute definition

of ethics this is because ethics as a

discipline is constantly evolving as a

result of a change in socio-cultural and

political context for example in the

Greek tradition ethics was conceived as

relating to the concept of the good life

thus the ethical inquiry during this

time was directed toward discovering the

nature of happiness in fact Aristotle's

Nicomachean ethics does not only present

a theory of happiness but also provides

ways in which happiness is attained now

centuries later a quite different

orientation was introduced by the

judeo-christian tradition in this

ethical tradition the ideals of

righteousness before God and the love of

God and neighbor not the happy or

pleasant life constitute the substance

of ethics

indeed if we make an effort to reconcile

these views we are faced with a

difficult task of defining the

relationship between doing what is right

and being happy again it is for this

reason that we cannot have an absolute

definition of ethics the least that we

can do in my opinion is to describe the

nature and dynamics of ethics based on a

specific time and context it is also

important to note that ethics is not the

same with morality although many

philosophers believe that the two terms

can be used interchangeably this is

because the former denotes the theory of

right action and the greater good while

the latter indicates practice that is

the rightness or wrongness of a human

action in other words ethics undertakes

the systematic study of the underlying

principles of morality

hence it is interested primarily in the

illustration of a more general problem

and the examination of underlying

assumptions in the critical evaluation

of moral principles morality of the

other hand is more prescriptive in

nature it tells us what we ought to do

and exhorts us to follow the right way

according to Terence McConnell morality

is characterized as an end governed

rational enterprise whose object is to

equip people with a body of norms that

make for peaceful and collectively

satisfying coexistence by facilitating

their living together and interacting in

a way that is productive for the

realization of the general benefit

for example a religious leader may ask

her followers to be good at all times in

this way a moralist may want to keep

alive the values she considers to be

worthwhile and to improve the moral

quality of the community where she

belongs

hence morality at the very least aims to

guide one's action by reason and gives

equal weight to the interests of each

individual affected by one's decision

indeed

this gives us a picture of what it

really means to be a morally upright

person and so we may conclude that

ethics is the science of morals while

morality is the practice of ethics

during the mid 20th century according to

Sumner a certain theory in the

methodology of ethics has gradually

become more and more widely accepted at

least by British and American moral

philosophers according to this position

there are two ways of doing ethical

inquiry namely normative ethics and meta

ethics on the one hand normative ethics

is prescriptive in nature as it seeks to

set norms or standards that regulate

right and wrong or good and bad conduct

this may involve articulating the good

habits that we should acquire the duties

so we should follow are the consequences

of our behavior on others hence

normative ethics normally attempts to

develop guidelines or theories that tell

us how we ought to behave

for an example immanuel kant's claimed

that an act is morally right if it is

done for the sake of duty is an example

of a normative ethics meta ethics on the

other hand is descriptive in nature

according to Sumner meta ethics is

allegedly constituted at least in part

by questions of the meanings of the

various ethical terms and functions of

ethical etre insists hence if a

normative ethical inquiry is evaluative

and prescriptive meta ethics is an

elliptical and descriptive put simply

meta ethics is a type of ethical inquiry

that aims to understand the nature and

dynamics of ethical principles it asks

questions about the nature and origin of

moral facts as well as the way in which

we learn and acquire moral beliefs thus

for example if normative ethics urges us

to do good at all times

meta ethics asks the question what is

good for sure if a moral philosopher

attempts to address the questions what

is good what is justice why should I be

moral then that moral philosopher is

doing meta ethics hence when play to

propose an answer to the question why

should I be moral plato was doing meta

ethics indeed Plato raised a meta

ethical question

in the course of the development of

ethics applied ethics became its third

major type as its name suggests applied

ethics is the actual application of

ethical or moral theories for the

purpose of deciding which ethical or

moral actions are appropriate in a given

situation

for this reason casuistry adherence of

applied ethics are concerned with

individual moral problems such as

abortion or euthanasia and attempt to

resolve the conflicting issues that

surround these particular moral problems

casuistry also act on some occasions in

an advisory capacity such as guiding

individuals in their choice of actions

for example they may attempt to resolve

the conflicting duties of a mother

suffering from ectopic pregnancy who has

no other option than to abort the fetus

applied ethics is usually divided into

different fields for example we may talk

about business ethics which deals with

ethical behavior in the corporate world

biomedical and environmental ethics

which deal with issues relating to

health welfare and the responsibility we

have toward people in our environment

and social ethics which deals with the

principles and guidelines that regulate

corporate welfare within societies

finally the difference between the three

major types of ethics can be illustrated

in the following situation a police

officer shoots a terrorist who is about

to blow up a crowded shopping mall the

act of the police officer is morally

wrong according to methods because it is

always wrong to kill as is well known

killing in itself is intrinsically wrong

however if the police officer does not

shoot the terrorists men

innocent people will die or get insured

though the police officers act may be

wrong the adherence of ignore motive

ethics may say that it is the right

thing to do in this particular situation

because not doing so will result in the

death of so many people

hence the action might be morally

correct

finally the kazoo assay that the police

officer is just doing his best to

fulfill his duty that is to protect as

many innocent lives as possible alright

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