Introduction to Moral Philosophy

1. Introduction to Moral Philosophy Moral philosophy is about making moral choices – about how people decide what is moral / immoral.Morality is concerned with ideas of right and wrong. Making a moral choice is not like choosing something to wear; it involves choices about how we should behave and the intentions behind our behaviour. It involves what society, and we see as the correct values to have.

2. Introduction to Moral Philosophy Think of some of the topics that might be covered under “Moral Philosophy”

3. Introduction to Moral Philosophy What is morally right is not the same as what is legally right (although what is legal is usually thought to be moral too).Think of something legalbut you could argue is immoral

4. Introduction to Moral Philosophy Now think of something illegalbut you could argue is moral

5. Introduction to Moral Philosophy Moral philosophers look at the reasons behind decisions about what is right and wrong and debate whether these decisions are justified.This is important because if we don’t have good reasons against murder, torture etc we don’t have any real justification in condemning it.

6. Introduction to Moral Philosophy Others say there is more to moral decision making that it makes sense to discuss and debate decisions of this nature in a way that it does not make sense to debate the taste of sauce (obviously tomato is best !!!).

7. Think of an argument to support the idea that morality is a matter of taste.

8. What are the possible consequences of dealing with morality like this?

9. Think of an argument to support the idea that morality is more than personal taste.

10. What are the possible consequences of dealing with morality like this?

11. Why should we be moral? Before you came to this class, you have probably had to make at least one moral decision. Perhaps you could have taken a chocolate bar from the canteen without paying and not been caught, perhaps you promised to do something for a friend and they seem to have forgotten and you have to decide whether to remind them. Everyday you have to choose between what you want and the interests of others, between your desires and perhaps, rules you feel you should obey.

12. But why should other people matter, why shouldn’t we just suit ourselves? Answers like ‘because it is unfair to others’ don’t always work. Some people don’t care about others. The answer ‘because the consequences will be bad for you’ might not apply if there is no way anyone will find out. So why should we be moral? Here is a story told by the famous philosopher Plato. It is known as the ‘Myth of the Ring of Gyges’

13. ‘Myth of the Ring of Gyges’ Plato’s friend, Glaucon tells the story of a magical ring, which allows the person wearing it to be invisible. Glaucon says that if we had such a ring and could get away with anything, we would do so. We would be selfish if we could get away with it.

14. ‘Myth of the Ring of Gyges’ If you had the ring of Gyges what would you like to do? What ‘immoral’ acts might you commit if you knew you would not be caught? Are there any things you still would not do even if you would get away with it? What are they? Why would you not do these things?