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Two Frameworks For Understanding The History Of Ethics

Two Frameworks For Understanding The History Of Ethics. As a transition from JUDGING PERSONS to JUDGING IDEAS A. The Greeks B. 1600 - the "new science" II. As TWO THEMES IN ETHICS: A. HAPPINESS B. DUTY. I. The transition from JUDGING PERSONS to JUDGING IDEAS .

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Two Frameworks For Understanding The History Of Ethics

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  1. Two Frameworks For Understanding The History Of Ethics • As a transition from JUDGING PERSONS to JUDGING IDEAS A. The Greeks B. 1600 - the "new science" II. As TWO THEMES IN ETHICS: A. HAPPINESS B. DUTY

  2. I. The transition from JUDGING PERSONS to JUDGING IDEAS A. For the GREEKS: what was important was a person’s moral character. They believed that the right education and right actions would flow from good character. • Thus Plato and Aristotle were very concerned with the content of education. • The Greek notion of virtue is tied to actions: A virtuous person would act correctly “in virtue of” her/his character.

  3. B. 1600-The SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION With the advent of the "new science" two important changes in the way we thought about the universe occurred • Everything is “matter in motion.” All of the universe is subject to simple mathematical laws, including us. 2. We get the idea of scientific objectivity - Ideas are to be judged right or wrong independent of the person

  4. "Matter in Motion" & the question of personal autonomy • How can you preserve personal autonomy in a universe subject to mathematical laws. • [This is important because AUTONOMY is necessary in order to hold a person morally responsible for her/his actions] • One attempted resolution: DUALISM: • We consist of “minds” [autonomous] and “bodies” [subject to mathematical, i.e. natural, laws.] But this raises other questions

  5. II: Two Themes in Ethics: A. HAPPINESS • Aristotle [384-322 BC]: We differ in the way we define happiness, but we all seek it. We seek it as an “end in itself”, that is for its own sake, not as a means to some other end • J.S. Mill [1806-1873]: “The Greatest Happiness Principle” Actions are morally right or wrong based on the consequences they bring. • These two views are TELEOLOGICAL: Actions will be judged in relation to ends or purposes.

  6. B. The Ideal of DUTY • Kant [1724-1804]: argues that we should act in terms of generalizable rules of conduct, asking ourselves whether the moral “rule” we propose could be binding for all people at all times. • Actions are based on principle. • Actions are not judged on the basis of consequences. • Emotional inclinations are not a good basis for ethical decisions. • This view is called DEONTOLOGICAL: “deon” is the Greek word for “that which is binding.”

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