Midterm 1: Essay Question Flashcards
Is there an objective source of values?
I do think there is a set of values that are objective in themselves that we all apply to our lives (ex: murder is bad, the Golden Rule). But, how we interpret and apply these values is subjective because our individual experiences and emotions heavily influence the way we establish values. David Hume and his contradiction of moral objectivism is a philosophical figure that we’ve studied that I think has the most similar approach to values and their objectivity/subjectivity, as he believes that there are in fact objective moral principles, but that individuals act on those objective values with emotion rooted in their own experiences, which inherently make them subjective.
How can we know what is true with regard to ethics?
It is rather difficult to determine the truth with ethics, as I believe there are many personal influences that dictate the way we determine what is morally good and what is morally wrong. There are many philosophical theories that attempt to find the truth in ethics, but once again the idea that we all have different influences is what makes it difficult to apply these theories universally. As mentioned previously, I think there are some objective values that we all intuitively follow because we as a society have determined them to be objective (ex: murder, stealing, lying) but how we actually decipher those truths and apply them to specific situations, they can be subjective. Pluralism emphasizes that there is not a universal “correct” mindset, and that we all have differing ethical perspecitves that are valid and we should be tolerant of differences.
What should we do when there are conflicts of value?
When there are conflicts of value, I think it is highly important to be culturally competent and to attempt to further understand why people think/believe the way the do. I think it also important to find a common ground with shared values between one another in an attempt to tackle a problem. Both of these solutions assist in further reaching a consensus on many moral issues and allow us as individuals to be open-minded, tolerant, and respectful to those who do not share the same beliefs as us.
