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Austin Philosophy Discussion Group 2009/04/04 Led by Jon Roland. Introduction to Ethics. Recommended Reading. Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle, Politics Louis J. Pojman, Ethics. Interrogatory words. Who What How When Where Why Whither. Who.
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Austin Philosophy Discussion Group 2009/04/04 Led by Jon Roland Introduction to Ethics
Recommended Reading • Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics • Aristotle, Politics • Louis J. Pojman, Ethics
Interrogatory words • Who • What • How • When • Where • Why • Whither
Who • Right depends partly or entirely on who does it. Can the king do wrong?
What • Right depends partly or entirely on what kind of act it is. Are some acts always right, or always wrong?
How • Right depends partly or entirely on how it is done. Is there always a way to do anything that can make it right, or make it wrong?
When • Right depends partly or entirely on timing, and on what may have happened before, or may happen after. Is there always a right time to do anything, or a wrong time?
Where • Right depends partly or entirely on location or circumstances. Is there always a situation in which anything is right, or wrong?
Why • Right depends partly or entirely on cause or motive. Can good intentions always be enough?
Whither • Right depends partly or entirely on impacts, either short-term, mid-term, or long-term. Can it ever be right if it turns out badly, and how far ahead is far enough?
Domain • Two-valued: Right or Wrong • Multi-valued: Right, Wrong, Undefined, Unknown, Other • Scalar • Vector • Relative
Nomic context • — Combination competitive/co-operative games: iterated prisoners' dilemmas: • State of nature • Social contract: Duty of mutual defense of rights • Constitution: Delegations of powers; disablement of rights; due process; decisionmaking • Law: Instruments of control; utility; social models • Contract: Agency; corporate bodies; decisionmaking • Externalities: When non-parties are affected for better or worse
Structure • — Number and kinds of • Principal • Agent • Object
Traditional classifications • Ideal: Platonism • Virtue (aretaic): Aristotelianism, Stoicism, Eternalism • Pleasure: Epicureanism, Hedonism • Duty (deontological): Augustinism, Thomism • Reason: Kantism • Utility (consequentialist): Benthamism, Utilitarianism, Pragmatism • Survival: Darwinism, Wilsonism, Memetic diffusionism • State: Fascism, Marxism, Collectivism, Totalitarianism • Social contract: Lockeanism, Constitutionalism