Lecture 16 - Ethics Part 2

Question 1

What is Virtue ethics?

Answer 1

➢The focus is on the individual not on the action. Individuals
should seek to live a virtuous life

➢The art of making good or sound decisions involves the exercise of judgment;

➢ Consistent with Aristotelian (classical Greek) approach that guiding purpose of life should be the quest for goodness and virtue;

➢ Aristotle divided virtues into two basic kinds:

• The intellectual virtues: The highest of which is wisdom, result from the proper functioning of the higher or intellectual aspects of human beings.
• The moral virtues: Derive from the proper control by reason of the bodily appetites and inclinations. We are not born virtuous. We become virtuous by practice.

➢Concentrates on the person who performs the act;
➢Particularly, focuses on the character traits of the person or the character development of the person;
➢The possession and development of a good character of the moral virtues will lead a person to do the right thing.

Question 2

What is Humanism?

Answer 2

➢Three principal theses:
- Recognition of the equal dignity of everyone
- Altruism (elevation of the particular human being other than me)
- Preference for freedom of action

➢Humanism created based on the interaction of these three
- My freedom cannot be enjoyed at expense of your freedom or dignity
- My autonomy is limited by equality in the community in which I belong etc.

➢Humanism provides for the promotion of humanity (often above animals and environment)

Question 3

What is Relativism?

Answer 3

➢Moral values are relative to a particular environment, i.e. they are not universal and they are not absolute;

➢Builds upon notion, ‘When in Rome do as the Romans do’ (the Romans are the correct moral judges of behaviour in Rome!);

➢A view about the domain over which any moral position ranges (i.e., in this culture this should be done
or this is accepted {consider rights of females and children in some cultures, the norm of bribery, acceptance of the death penalty etc.};

➢Relativism stands in opposition to ‘absolutism’, the view that there is a universally correct moral position 7the domain of which is not relative to anything;

Question 4

What are the 3 Eastern Philosopy?

Answer 4

Confucianism - Strong emphasis on developing
character, purity of heart, good conduct, practical wisdom & proper social relationships

Buddhism
- Four noble truths: suffering (ageing, decay, death), cause of suffering (craving, hatred, delusion), release from suffering, ‘the path’.

Noble eightfold path: right view, right thought, right action, right speech, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration

What determines ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are mental factors asssociated with action and impact on well-being of others

Islam - Metaphysics - God, the world, the individual soul,
interrelations of these, good and evil, free-will and life after death

Question 5

How? - What questions can reflect ethical theories

Answer 5

➢Q1. Does action violate the law? (Legal test)
➢Q2. Is action contrary to widely accept moral obligations (duties of fidelity, gratitude, justice, non-maleficence, beneficence? (Duties test)
➢Q3. Is it likely that any major damages to people or organisations will result from the contemplated action? (Consequences test)
➢Q4. Is there a satisfactory alternative action that produces equal or greater benefits to the parties affected than the proposed action? (Utilitarian test)
➢Q5. Does action violate any other special duties i.e., protect consumers and provide safe products? (Special obligations test)
➢Q6. Is the intent of the contemplated action harmful? (Motives test)
➢Q7. Does contemplated action infringe upon rights of consumer (& other stakeholders) in any way? (Rights test)
➢Q8. Does the contemplated action leave another person (or sentient being less well-off? (Justice test)
➢Q9. Can the contemplated action be considered sustainable in that it does not negatively impact upon future generations? (Sustainable test)