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The Nature of Morality

The Nature of Morality. General Overview “We are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live” (Plato in the Republic ca. 390B.C.). Motivation vs. Justification in Ethics. Moral Motivation: explanation as to why we behave morally

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The Nature of Morality

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  1. The Nature of Morality General Overview “We are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live” (Plato in the Republic ca. 390B.C.)

  2. Motivation vs. Justification in Ethics • Moral Motivation: explanation as to why we behave morally • Motivational Assumption:“The desire to justify our actions on grounds others could not reasonably reject.” • Moral Justification: consists of the reasons in favor of a particular moral theory or position.

  3. Three Divisions in Ethics • Meta-ethics – The second-order activity of investigating the concepts and methods of ethics, rather than directly engaging with practical (first-order) issues of what to do and how to behave. • Normative Ethics – The study of the concepts involved in practical reasoning: good, right, duty, obligation, virtue, freedom, rationality, choice. • Practical Ethics (Applied Ethics) – The subject that applies ethics to actual practical problems.

  4. Moral Arguments • -The general form is as follows: (1) Major premise – General Moral principle (2) Minor premise – Factual claim (3) Conclusion – Moral determination (1) It is wrong to use people as means to other people’s ends. (2) Taking Baby Theresa’s organs would be using her as a means to other people’s ends (specifically, as a means to benefiting the other infants). (3) Therefore, taking baby Theresa’s organs would be wrong.

  5. Example Argument (1) It is wrong to use people as means to other people’s ends. (2) Taking Baby Theresa’s organs would be using her as a means to other people’s ends (specifically, as a means to benefiting the other infants). (3) Therefore, taking baby Theresa’s organs would be wrong.

  6. Evaluating Moral Arguments • Valid argument- an argument is valid if it is impossible for its premises to all be true and its conclusion false. • Sound argument- a sound argument is a valid argument with premises that are in fact true.

  7. Minimum Conception of Morality • Good Reasons- the morally right thing to do is determined by the best reasons for a certain course of action. • Impartiality- the morally right thing to do should treat each person’s interests as equally important.

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