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TC chapter 9– TCing about moral issues

TC chapter 9– TCing about moral issues. One of the most challenging and complex areas of life is the realm of moral issues and decisions. See the list of decisions outlined on pg 370. . Share the following: How does it affect others? May be debatable; no clear-cut right or wrong

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TC chapter 9– TCing about moral issues

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  1. TC chapter 9– TCing about moral issues • One of the most challenging and complex areas of life is the realm of moral issues and decisions. • See the list of decisions outlined on pg 370. • Share the following: • How does it affect others? • May be debatable; no clear-cut right or wrong • Likely to be positive and negative consequences • May be guided by committed values and reflect a moral reasoning process • Involve the concept of moral responsibility

  2. Aristotle: The ultimate purpose in studying ethics is not as it is in other inquiries, the attainment of theoretical knowledge; we are not conducting this inquiry in order to know what virtue is, but in order to become good, else there would be no advantage in studying it.

  3. Socrates: For I do nothing but go about persuading you all, old and young alike, not to take thought for your persons or your properties, but first and chiefly to care about the greatest improvement of your soul. I tell you that virtue is not given by money, but that from virtue comes money and every other good of man, public as well as private. This is my teaching. What is his moral imperative?

  4. Ethics: from GRK ethos, refers to moral purpose or character • Morals: from L moralis, meaning “custom” • Essentially equivalent; mean the judgment of goodness or badness of action and character

  5. See pg 373 • We have arrived at a time in which we have eliminated most external dangers. • Now our greatest threat is systemically human—ourselves. • See pg 374 • Gandhi, 375. see the composition of this scene.

  6. See pg 377, moral compass • Conscience . . . . A psychological theory of morality, sort of a working brain machine. Depends on our influences. Justifies travesty. • I do not know . . . An agnostic theory. No way to know—relativist. Justifies travesty. • Improve my own situation . . . Pragmatic theory. Justifies travesty. • God or scriptures . . . Theist theory. Note that this is entirely based on scripture, religions conflict, so one must be right. Also, justifies travesty.

  7. Whatever makes me happy—hedonist theory. Allows for conflict when your happiness affects another, or vice versa. Justifies travesty. • Advice of authority—depends on the authority and their compass; similar to theist theory. Justifies travesty. • Best for all involved: altruistic theory. Golden rule. Death by a thousand cuts. What about conflicting interests?

  8. Thinking activity 9.3 • Lifeboat • Whistle-blower • Mad bomber • Patient • Friend

  9. Reason and justice • Morality is best defined by concepts of reason (not emotion) and justice (universal rules)

  10. Immanuel Kant • Categorical imperative: • Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. • Act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end and never as a means only. (each person is an independent agent, not a manipulable of yours.)

  11. See 390, ETHICS AND EMOTIONS • Care more. That helps. Avarice sucks. • Accept responsibility for your moral choices. (think back to Diana; This american life’s photojournalist) • Promote happiness; diminish suffering. • Seek to develop an informed intuition—develop is the key

  12. Discover the natural law of human nature • Any examples? (see pgs 396-7) • Good luck with that . . .

  13. Abraham Maslow, psychologist • Studied self-actualized people. (those who reach their full potential) He studied the healthiest, as opposed to most psychs who studied the abnormal. • Famous for Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs.

  14. Maslow’s findings • Morally mature, psychologically healthy people think, decide, and act in accordance with thoughtfully developed moral standards, are open-minded about their moral beliefs, defend them with reasoned argument when challenged, and change or modify them when they are shown to be false or unjustified. • Their conclusions are based on their own reflective analysis (not their cultural norms), and are fully committed to living these values.

  15. The disparity between intellect and character • Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room • GasLand • Hot Coffee • How can the Enron debacle/frakkingwoes/tort reform be viewed as a failing of one or more of the 7 kinds of moral compasses? • A Failing of reason and justice? • A Failing Kant’s categorical imperative(s)? • A failing of self-actualization?

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