UNIT #2 ETHICS AND MORALITY

Question 1

ETHICS DEFINED

Answer 1

Moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behaviour
Synonyms: Moral code, moral, morality, values, right and wrongs principles, deals, standards (of behaviour),value system dictates of conscience

Question 2

MORALITY DEFINED

Answer 2

Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong are good and bad behaviour
Synonyms: Ethics, Rights and wrongs, Ethically

Question 3

What are the two ethical sytles

Answer 3

1. Ethics of Justice
2. Ethics of Care

Question 4

Ethics of Justice

Answer 4

defined by Aristotle more than two thousand years ago—is the principle that “equals should be treated equally and unequals unequally.

People with this style tend to place a good deal of weight on moral principles, laws or policies, which they believe should be applied to all equally.

Question 5

Ethics of Care

Answer 5

An ‘’ethic of care or responsibility’’ is founded on a sense of responsibility to reduce actual harm or suffering.

Question 6

Three Approaches to Ethics

Answer 6

-1. Aristotle (Teleological, Purpose Given)
-2.Kant (Deontological, Duty Given)
-3.Levinas (Ethics of the Face, Relationship Driven)

Question 7

Where was Aristotle Born?

Answer 7

Born in Stagria, northern colony of Greece bordering Macedonia

Question 8

Teleology (Aristotle)

Answer 8

• The design, or the purpose of something
  -To seek a goal, to reach one’s potential
  EX. To be a good athlete you need the virtue of effort

Question 9

Teleological Ethics

Answer 9

• For Aristotle, the supreme Good was the ultimate goal
• The good is inscribed by God into the nature of all things
• To act ethically is to engage our capacity to reason as we develop good character by acting its virtue

Question 10

Happiness (Aristotle)

Answer 10

• Happiness, to fluoride, to live well and act well, to act with virtue. A citizen will find true happiness within their community.

Question 11

Human Excellence Virtue (Aristole)

Answer 11

• We become virtuous by choosing continually to do virtuous things
• These actions become ingrained in us like habit

Question 12

The Mean (Aristotle)

Answer 12

• to avoid excess, seek moderation
• Neither excess or deficiency, not too much nor too little
• Too much courage-foolhardy
• Too little courage- too afraid to do things
• The mean is in the middle

Question 13

Where was Immanuel Kant born?

Answer 13

Born in purissa (now Germany in property- stricken, devoutly Protestant family

Question 14

Deontology (Kant)

Answer 14

• deontology comes from the Greek words meaning “the study of duty/obligation’’
• A human action is morally good when it is done for the sake of duty
• Duty is about ‘’Good Will’’, the will to do our duty for no other reason than it is our duty.
• Good is only good if it is done out of good will and provides no personal gain

Question 15

Maxim #1: Universal Law (Kant)

Answer 15

• Don’t confuse the fat maxim with the golden rule!
• The first maxim is about acting as if your actions were to become the universal standard.
• The first maxim is not about how we might want to be treated by others.

Question 16

Maxim #2: Treat another’s as an end, not just a means (Kant)

Answer 16

• Act in such a way that you always treat others never simply as a mean but always at the same as an end
• Others must be seen as having value not just as a mean for our benefit but as having value in themselves
• Don’t just use a friend to drive you to the party and ditch them for the rest of the night
• Treat workers not just as a means to making profit but as ends, individuals with rights and goals.

Question 17

Kant supporting concepts search for supreme good

Answer 17

1. GOD - because humans cannot achieve the supreme good out of their own power, we need God.
2. Freedom- IF HUMANS ARE TO ACHIEVE THE SUPREME GOOD THEN THEY MUST BE ABLE TO CHOOSE IT
3. Immorality- achieving the supreme good is an immense task, impossible to achieve in this life. IN THE LIFE BOND WE CAN ACHIEVE THE SUPREMEM GOOD

Question 18

Where was Emmanuel Levinas Born?

Answer 18

Born in Kaunas, Lithuania to Jewish parents

Question 19

The Face as Unique (Levinas)

Answer 19

• The individuals are unique so we must see “The other” as unique
• To recognize the individual before us is to begin to treat them ethically
  -These unique faces are traces of God, The good
  -When you encounter the other in this way, you cannot escape their uniqueness

Question 20

The face calls for me to be responsible (Levinas)

Answer 20

• The face of the other, the one in need calls me to be responsible for their well being
  -To offer hospitality, act ethically
  -How far should this responsibility, this generosity go? Goodness sets no limits

Question 21

The face as Ethical

Answer 21

• When the face of the “other is one whose very existence is threatened (economic stability, security, socially marginalized, without rights), the face becomes ethical.
  -Recognizing the “Other’s” misery and humility is what makes the appeal of the face ethical.
• The face of he stranger demands that we recognize it and provide it hospitality

Question 22

4 Types of Law

Answer 22

-Natural Law
-Civil Law
-Divine Law
-Canon Law

Question 23

Divine Law

Answer 23

DIVINE LAW IS THAT WHICH ENACTED BY GO ND MADE KNOWN TO MAN THROUGH REVELATION.

WE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE OLD LAW, CONTAINED IN THE PENTATEUCH, AND THE NEW WLAW, WHICH WAS REVEALED NY JESUS CHRIST AND IS CONTAINED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Question 24

CANON LAW

Answer 24

Canon Law (Chruch Law) is the body of laws and regulations made by or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members.

Question 25

CIVIL LAW

Answer 25

Civil Law: Human made law. Can be just or unjust, depending upon how it squares with natural law.
I.e, one must be 18 in order to vote 19 in order to drink, one must drive on the right side of the road, etc

Question 26

NATURAL LAW

Answer 26

-Natural: inherent; having a basis in nature, reality and truth; not made or caused by humankind.
Law: An existing condition which is binding an immutable (cannot be changed).

-Everything in this world has a purpose shown in its design (natural form)

Question 27

Thomas Aquinas Ethics

Answer 27

• He followed very closely what Aristotle had said about the good life and the happiness of the person who lives well and acts well
• He too believe that people live the good life by sing their intelligence and also their other capabilities, such as their senses, desires and physical abilities

Question 28

Aquinas’ Natural Law

Answer 28

• To know how to use on’s intellectual and sensual capacities Aquinas said, one must follow the natural law.
• He described as “nothing other than the light of understanding place in us by God; through it we know what we must do and what we must avoid”