Ethics paper
jerliu
week4-day1.pptxFeminism & the Ethics of Care
How many feminists?
Kant, Rousseau, Aristotle...
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development
At stage 1 children think of what is right as that which authority says is right. Doing the right thing is obeying authority and avoiding punishment. At stage 2, children are no longer so impressed by any single authority; they see that there are different sides to any issue. Since everything is relative, one is free to pursue one's own interests, although it is often useful to make deals and exchange favors with others.
At stages 3 and 4, young people think as members of the conventional society with its values, norms, and expectations. At stage 3, they emphasize being a good person, which basically means having helpful motives toward people close to one At stage 4, the concern shifts toward obeying laws to maintain society as a whole.
At stages 5 and 6 people are less concerned with maintaining society for it own sake, and more concerned with the principles and values that make for a good society. At stage 5 they emphasize basic rights and the democratic processes that give everyone a say, and at stage 6 they define the principles by which agreement will be most just.
Heinz’s Dilemma
What does each child say?
What does each child say?
For one thing, a human life is worth more than money, and if the druggist only makes $1,000, he is still going to live, but if Heinz doesn't steal the drug, his wife is going to die. (Why is she worth more than money?) Because the druggist can get a thousand dollars later from rich people with cancer, but Heinz can't get his wife again. (Why not?) Because people are all different and so you couldn't get Heinz's wife again.
What does each child say?
Well, I don't think so. I think there might be other ways besides stealing it, like if he could borrow the money or make a loan or something, but he really shouldn't steal the drug--but his wife shouldn't die either. If he stole the drug, he might save his wife then, but if he did, he might have to go to jail, and then his wife might get sicker again, and he couldn't get more of the drug, and it might not be good. So, they should really just talk it out and find some other way to make the money.
Which is better?
What’s the flaw here?
Do men and women think differently about ethics?
Maybe, but really…?
Not that much
Consider the problem again
And yet, can evolution explain?
If there is a different ethical construct, how would it look?
Family
Ethics often breaks down when we talk about friends and family
Trolley problem
What explains this from a ethically dispassionate POV
The ethics of care, however...
Children with HIV
What does the ethics of care have to say about this?
Why?
How is this different from traditional ethical principles?
Children with HIV
What does the ethics of care have to say about this?
Why?
How is this different from traditional ethical principles?
Obligation.
Animals
Are animals things that we can care for?
What does traditional ethics have to say here?
Can the two be married? Are they separate?
Part of a greater whole: virtue ethics
Virtue Ethics
The progression of ethics
Aristotle → Saint Augustine → Kant, etc.
Virtue Ethics
Courage
Self-Control
Generosity
Truthfulness
How do we develop virtues?
How do we develop virtues?
By forming good habits.
What does this imply?
Courage
Exists between two extreme vices
Cowardice
Foolhardiness
Challenge?
Generosity
Exists between two extreme vices
Stinginess
Extravagance
Challenge?
Honesty
What is honesty, strictly speaking?
Why is this problematic?
What is an alternative way to look at honesty, then?
Virtues
Why are virtues important?
Individually?
Collectively?
Are virtues broadly applicable?
Are virtues broadly applicable?
Let us finally consider how naive it is altogether to say: "Man ought to be such and such!" Reality shows us an enchanting wealth of types, the abundance of a lavish play and change of forms — and some wretched loafer of a moralist comments: "No! Man ought to be different." He even knows what man should be like, this wretched bigot and prig: he paints himself on the wall and comments, "Ecce homo!"
And yet...
Everyone needs courage
Honesty is always a virtue
Everyone needs friends
Advantages
Moral motivation (rather than out of duty)
Doubts about impartiality
In virtue ethics, some things are partial, others are impartial (loyalty)
In general, theories that emphasize a “right” action are incomplete; no character. Virtue ethics makes character a central concern.
Problems
Incomplete.
Why should I, for instance, be dependable?
What do I do in issues of moral conflict?
My mullet
Honesty and Kindness
Is this separate?
Or can we integrate virtue ethics into other ethical views?
Is this separate?
Utilitarianism
What is best for everyone?
Which actions
Which social policies
Which qualities of character
Would lead to this result?
