activity – pure sex appeal 5 groups of 4 – 1 poster each read sinbad the sailor rank characters...
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Activity – Pure sex appeal5 groups of 4 – 1 poster eachRead Sinbad the sailorRank characters from the most
reprehensible to the least reprehensible, according to moral values, justifying your choices. 20 min
QuestionsWhat are the methods of verifying
moral positions?Is there such a thing as a moral fact?Are all values the same? If not, what
is your hierarchy of ethical concern?What are the differences between
judging moral values according to PrinciplesMotivesConsequences
From other times and places
What are the major moral issues of today? What were they 100 years ago? 1000 years ago? What will they be 100 years from now?
Are there moral judgments that do not change across cultures?
Ethical issues throughout timehttp://www.gallup.com/poll/1681/moral-issu
es.aspx
Ethical issues throughout cultures
United States France
AbortionThe death
penaltyArms controlTeaching
creationism in schools
Marriage
SecularismAssisted
reproductionNew social rights
(housing)The market economy
(private education)Genetically Modified
Organisms the Louvre museum
in Abu-DhabiIllegal immigrants
Ethics (objectives) Define ‘morality’, ‘ethics’ and ‘value
judgements’Give one real life example of ethical relativismExplain how moral judgments differ if one
focuses on the person (virtue ethics), motivation (duty based theories), consequences (utilitarianism) or the situation
Give example of one personal moral judgementGive examples of ethical issue related to \areas
of knowledge Explain how two ways of knowing are relevant
to moral judgementsGive one example to show how knowledge may
create moral responsibilities
EthicsEthics is a set of rules to regulate the way
people behave Within an organization these rules
underpin the aims of the services that created them (doctors have ethical rules es. confidentiality that helps them achieve the aim of their profession)
EthicsWithin our society ethics is a set of clearly
stated moral principles that is useful to guide us in our every day relationships with others
My action is ethical if:I believe it’s right and i am ready to justify it as suchThe interest of someone else rather than myself is
involvedI must act of my own free willMy action must be deliberate
Where do ethical principles come from? Philosophers and religious thinkers have
developed themThey are called Theories of Conduct:
Religious theoriesThe Self Interest TheoriesThe Universal Law theoryThe Utilitarian theory
Religious theories of conductThe major religions in the world have
ethical codes which set standards of behavior for their members
The codes are usually revealed through divine revelation, that is directly from a god to a prophet
There are problems with the religious theories of conduct
The four main religionsHinduismBuddhismIslamChristianity
The self-interest theoryWe should aim at the acquisition of all
those things we most desireIf we cultivate virtues like generosity,
bravery, temperance and loyalty, on the long term these will make us happy (Aristotle - Nichomachean Ethics)
Self-interest is not selfishness: concern for others is rational self-interest
The universal law theoryKant: the categorical imperative
The universal law: we act in such a way that our actions could become a universal rule of human conduct
The law of respecting others: People should be respected as rational beings with goals of their own. No-one should use people simply to attain their own goals
The utilitarian theoryActions are right if they are useful, or for
the benefit of, the majority More applicable to governments or
organizations rather than being a personal ethical code
A contemporary definition of the ethicalThere are no objective moral truthsEthics was developed in ancient times as
the best pragmatic way to survive and then genetically passed on to further generations
Glossary Morality: the rightness or wrongness of
something as judged by accepted moral standards
Ethics: a system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct for a person or group
Value judgment: subjective judgment, a judgment of the worth, appropriateness, or importance of somebody or something made on the basis of personal beliefs, opinions, or prejudices rather than facts
Quotes“Broken promises don’t upset me. I just
think, “why did they believe me?” Jack Handy, 1949-
“These are my principles and if you don’t like them – I have others” Groucho Marx, 1890-1977
“Whenever I’m caught between two evils, I take the one I’ve never tried” Mae West, 1892-1980