Exam: Ethics and Values

Question 1

Humes law

Answer 1

“You can not derive an ought from an is”

• It is, therefore it should be… (Wrong)
• Science cannot answer what is desirable. Value-based questions. Only fact based questions.

Question 2

Systematic thinking of good and bad

Answer 2

It is:

• What makes an action good or bad
• What is good and bad

It is NOT:

• Studies of what people is thinking is good and bad
• Studies of what people actually are doing
• Studies on what ideas that causes good or bad behavior

Question 3

Criteria’s for an ethic: (3)

Answer 3

Consistency:
The ethic can not be contradictory

Universalism:
Principles that apply to all similarly situated individuals

Intuitive:
Principles must, at least for every day situations, lead to intuitive recommendations

Question 4

Definition of argument:

Answer 4

“An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition”

Question 5

The three central questions in ethics

Answer 5

1) What kind of things do we have a moral obligation towards, what has moral standing?
2) What is in the end important, what has final value?
3) What makes an action right or wrong?

Question 6

Final value vs instrumental value

Answer 6

Final (intrinsic) value:
valuable in itself (when you can not answer the question “why?”).
- Live a good life
- You cant put a monetary value on a final value

Instrumental value:
is valuable since it contributes to another value.
- Study to the next exam
- You can usually put a monetary value on an instrumental value (They are easier to compare)

Its very useful to understand on what level you are disagreeing:

• Is it on the value level?
• or on the means level?

Question 7

What makes an action right or wrong? (2 moral theories)

Answer 7

Consequences (Consequentialism):

• Action is right/wrong based on consequences are good/bad
• Utilitarianism, well-being (satisfaction of interest) has value, thus action that produces most pleasure over pain is the best. makes most people most happy or maximize satisfaction of greatest needs and desires.

Rules (Deontology - duty ethics) :

• Action is right/wrong based on predefined rules ”not to lie” ”not to kill” ”to respect the right of others”
• Apply in a predefined order.

Question 8

Ethical frameworks for sustainability:

Answer 8

• Anthropocentrism (Human-centered)
• Animal Rights (Singer, Reagan)
• Biocentrism (Taylor)
• Ecocentrism (Leopold, Naess)
  (weak and strong)

Question 9

Anthropocentrism:

Answer 9

Anthropocentrism:
- Human centered (humanity and/or individuals)

Moral standing:
- Only humans

Normative:
The environment should be protected if it benefits humans

Consequences (Utilitarianism)
- the action that does the most good
Right based
- ranking of rights - lying vs killing

Question 10

Animal Rights:

Answer 10

Animal Rights: (Singer, Reagan)
- All beings that have consciousness desires have values as individuals.

Moral standing:

• Consciousness
• Mammals, birds and fish

Normative:

• Consequences, or right based.
• Animals are to be protected from pain. Have the right to live good lives. Human and animal interests are compared on equal basis.
• Only individual animals have rights, not species per se

Question 11

Biocentrism:

Answer 11

Biocentrism: (Taylor)
- All life have moral standing as individuals, animals and plants alike

Moral standing:
- Each individual have a teleos, a goal, which is good if it is fulfilled (ecological niche etc). This goal is good if we have a bio-centric outlook.
- Plants, insects
(Species and ecosystems not included)

Normative:
- Do not harm living organisms
- Do not interfere: leave nature as it is. No duty to save someone from pain(different from human moral). Or to help plants to grow etc
- Restore if possible after wrong-doings only (hands off)
- Nature vs humans 1) self-defence 2) proportionality 3) minimize wrong and 4) justice
(Similar to liberalism values, mustn’t harm but not obliged to help)

Question 12

Ecocentrism:

Answer 12

Ecocentrism: (Leopold, Naess)

• Ecosystems, mountains, forests and species have moral standing as a community.
• Systems more important than individuals

Moral standing:

• All have an importance in the web of life
• Ecosystems and species

Normative:
- “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise”. (Leopold, 1949)

Weak Ecocentrism (Rolston) 
- Biocentric, but also ecosystems, mountains, forests and species have moral standing. 

Normative:

• Leave the wilderness alone
• Do not cause more harm to animals than what they suffer in nature
• Do not harm other species
• Restore a reasonable amount of wilderness.
• How to resolve value conflicts?