Ethics # 9

 Moral differences  Can run from the simple (I didn’t call you to cancel

lunch), to the more complex (I support X candidate, and you support Y) to the seemingly insurmountable (Bob believes it’s a sin to seek medical attention for his kids due to his religious beliefs).

 Moral Nihilism  There is no morally right or wrong viewpoint. Our opinions

do not matter, as there is no “right” or “wrong.”

 Moral Skepticism  We can’t know what moral truths are, but they probably exist.

 Moral Subjectivism  My morality is a result of my inner state which can’t be

compared to yours. Thus, my moral viewpoint is only valid for me.

 Ethical relativism  No universal moral truths. Each culture has its own set of

rules.  “Custom is king.”

 Soft Universalism  Deep down, we can agree on moral basics. This is likely

because of biological fact.

 Hard Universalism (Moral Absolutism)  There is one universal moral code.

 It encourages noninterference.  What if the culture sells children into the sex trade?

 What if women are refused the right to vote?

 No criticism or praise of other cultures  Are we always wrong to criticize?

 Majority rule  What if you live in a society and don’t support the rules?

 Does not permit civil disobedience, says that disagreement is wrong

 What is a culture?  Geography? Ethnicity?

 Can Tolerance be a Universal Value?  It has problems.

 Can a relativist say tolerance is universally good?

 We should look for bottom-line commonalities rather than what separates us.

 James Rachels and three universal values  A policy of caring enough for enough infants to ensure

group survival (not necessarily all)

 Rule against lying

 Rule against murder

Myself or Others

 Are all acts selfish?

 Are there self less good deeds?

 What about people who risk their lives for others knowing the dangers?

 Psychological egoism: humans are always looking out for themselves in some way, and it’s impossible for us to behave any other way.

 Humans used to live in a presocial condition and then set up a society with rules:  For the sake of the common good  For the sake of self-protection

 Decent people will do “unjust” things if they know they can get away with it.

 Hobbes  Humans choose to live in society with rules for no other

reason except we are concerned with our own safety  Humans are by nature self-interested  We would be fools if we didn’t look after ourselves.

 We don’t always know the true motives for our actions, but they are always selfish.  Fame, guilt, expectation of retribution now or in the

afterlife.

 Removes the halo from every hero and seemingly unselfish person.

 Why is this an appealing theory?  Honesty

 Cynicism (we have a hard time believing good things about people).

 Excuses our behavior (it’s my nature!)

 Falsification is not possible: doesn’t allow for the possibility of counterexamples. Bad thinking to not allow for cases where the theory doesn’t apply?

 Doing what we want isn’t always selfish: it’s what you want that matters, not just the fact that you want something (I want to save you vs. I want to hurt you).

 Fallacy of the suppressed correlative: without contrast, there is no understanding of the meaning. The word or idea becomes meaningless.

 Explains altruism in our and other species.

 When we do something apparently self less, we are less concerned with survival of individual and more concerned with survival of genes.

 Ayn Rand

 People have a right, even a duty, to look after themselves and seek their own happiness.

 Moral cannibalism to make people feel obligated to help those who have no wish to help themselves.

 Duty of government is only to protect from foreign invasion and to uphold law and order.

 Criticism: doesn’t create a better world

 Self-contradictory  If you are looking after yourself, and your neighbor is

looking after himself, could be at cross purposes.

 Carries no weight as a solver of conf licts  If you and I disagree, who is to say who is right?

 Doesn’t work in practice  Your rule that everyone should look out for themselves

will not work to your advantage.