Ethics # 9

Contemporary Perspectives

 What kind of person do you want to be?  Doesn’t specify the kind of virtue you should strive for.

 Important to realize you can mold your character into what you feel is right.

 Inserts the concept of “morally good choice” into the idea of virtue.  Which virtues should we strive for? Which aren’t really

virtues at all?

 Virtue ethics became popular again in late 20th century.  You can do the right thing and still be a bad person. Should

work to do the right thing and be a good person. In fact, it’s easier when you’re a good person to do the right thing!

 Conduct vs. character  Is the candidate trustworthy?

 Does the candidate have integrity?

 Is the candidate a virtuous person?  Private life as well?

 What about a “squeaky clean” candidate who is an ineffective leader?

 We do not live by principles of what to do but rather measure ourselves according to moral qualities or deficiencies.

 Does not exclude an ethics of conduct  Second place because what we do is included in

standards of virtue  Ethics of conduct can exist without virtue (you can still

do the right thing and be a bad person)

 Don’t look for specific advice in moral theory. Instead, adopt general advice (be brave/patient/compassionate).

 This gives you a unity of character.

 Choose a role model (real or ideal) and live in that person’s spirit (not emulate actual actions).

 This is more realistic than trying to live up to a concept or ideals of goodness/virtue.

 Criticisms:  What is your role model doesn’t correspond to what

other people consider a model of decent behavior?  What if your role model turns out to be not so perfect?  Can you really be virtuous by emulating someone else?

Is copying someone else the best use of reason? Is it living an authentic life?

 Virtue is our capacity to correct our tendency to go astray.  We may want to hide when in danger; the virtue of

courage can correct this.

 We may want to indulge in more pleasure than is good for us; the virtue of temperance can correct this.

 A person who likes to do good is a morally better person. A struggle is a sign that the person is lacking in virtue.

 Intention is important (an act can’t be called good if not backed by good will).

 Ethics classes try to present material on all sides, leading to the notion that moral values are a matter of taste.

 The “big issues” of abortion, euthanasia and capital punishment should be avoided in favor of smaller, everyday concerns such as honesty, friendship, compassion.

 If these virtues are not learned at an early age, the window may close.

 Emulate 19th-century ethics courses: students were taught how to be good rather than how to debate moral issues.

 Don’t assume things are someone else’s responsibility.

 There is only one way to live properly and one virtue to strive for: authenticity.

 The search for meaning is a fruitless one.

 Heavily focused on personal responsibility. Many people refuse to make their own decisions.

 No absolute moral values.

Case Studies in Virtue

 Courage

 Compassion

 Gratitude

 Is courage the absence of fear?  No fear or properly managed fear?

 Doing the right thing because of, or in spite of, fear?

 Those who are courageous generally don’t talk about it?

 Other than courage in battle, what other kinds of courage exist?

 Jessica Lynch  Debate about women in combat  She felt it was inappropriate to be given the Bronze Star  All credit should go to Marines who rescued her.  Said she did nothing extraordinary (is this courageous

itself?)  Physical vs. moral courage

 More than 3400 Medal of Honor recipients.

 Pat Tillman  Enrolled in Army after 9/11, giving up NFL career.  Died from “friendly fire.”

 John McCain  Why Courage Matters

 Courage has been “defined down.”  Confused with fortitude, discipline, righteousness.

 Real courage is more than just doing your job.

 Not having courage makes us corruptible. Courage is the foundation of virtue.

 Physical courage  Disregard of physical danger to help others.

 Moral courage  Standing up for what is right.

 Why do people show compassion?  Hobbes = we show pity toward others either because we

hope they will help us in a similar situation or out of superstition that something bad will happen if we don’t.

 Rousseau = it is our natural inclination to help others and sympathize with them.

 Some believe we are generally compassionate but are corrupted by human culture.

 Science shows compassion is “hardwired”  Brain is wired for empathy. We are reluctant to make

decisions that will harm others.

 Mirror neurons that help us understand what others feel.

 Feeling empathy for those we know and thinking empathy (engage rational part of brain) to understand the plight of those we don’t.

 Toddlers born wanting to help

 Altruism feels good to us.

 Are we obliged to show gratitude? If so, when?

 Difference between feeling gratitude and showing it.

 Eastern cultures stress respect of elders as a show of gratitude. We owe them a never-ending debt of gratitude.  Allowing parents to grow old without support is a grave sin.

 Jane English: we owe parents nothing  Debt-metaphor creates problems between parents and kids (I

did this for you; you owe me)

 Once child responds, “I didn’t ask to be born,” all communication stops.

 Still have obligations in order to maintain the relationship.