Morality and Ethics - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
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Morality and Ethics
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Morality
A set of rules for right conduct
A system used to modify and regulate behavior
Quality system in human acts by which we judge them
right or wrong
3 Definitions
Descriptive
Normative/universal
Synonymous with ethics
Concerns set of shared rules, principles, and duties
Independent of religion
Applicable to all in a group or society
Has no reference to the will or power of one individual
Descriptive Definition of Morality
A set of rules or codes of conduct
that governs human behavior in
matters of right or wrong.
Normative Definition of
Morality
An ideal code of conduct that would be
observed by all rational people, under
specified conditions.
Definition synonymous with
Ethics
The systematic philosophical study of
the moral domain.
Why Do We Have Moral
Theories
MacDonnell: Moral theories “seek to
introduce a degree of rationality and
rigor into our moral deliberations.”
Moral Decision Making
Considerations
Facts surrounding the situations
Taking into account the interests of all parties involved
Taking into account the moral principles involved
Take into account how the decisions will affect others.
Helps us perceive moral principles
Use reason to determine the best way to achieve the
highest moral good
Distinguish between primary and secondary moral
principles
Primary – general
Secondary – more specific
Make rational calculations of the consequences of our
actions
Definitions of Moral Codes
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Rules or norms within a group for what is proper behavior
for the members of that group.
Rules or norms provide the measure
Complex definitions of right and wrong
Different cultures have different codes
Morality is relative to time
Some are timeless and culture-free
Moral Standard
Standard by which we compare human actions to
determine their goodness or badness.
Morality sets standards of virtuous conduct
Mechanisms to self-regulate through enforcement
and self-judge through guilt
Law
Webster’s Dictionary
Rule of conduct or an action recognized by custom or
decreed by a formal enactment, community, or group.
Black
An art we can create and model
Contemporary critics
Instrument of exercising power
Bryan Bourn
An art and an instrument for exercising power.
Fagothey
Rule and measure of actions directing them to proper ends
Physical
Moral
Natural Law
Unwritten but universal
Theory
Eternal
Absolute moral law
Can be discovered by reason
Derivable from reason
Applies to all rational creatures
Exists independently of human preference and
inclinations
Applied cross-culture
Anchor of right of self-preservation, liberty, and property
Conventional Law
Created for and by humans
Usually created in public deliberations
Derived from moral code that is enforceable
Varies society to society
Takes 2 forms
Declarative
Simply restates what the natural law declares
Forbidding murder theft
Determinative
Fixes ways of acting in accordance with natural laws
Contracts, taxes, traffic
Penal Code
Laws useless without punishment
Three functions of punishment system
Retributive – pay back the criminal
Corrective – improve the offender
Deterrent – prevention of similar actions
Morality and the Law
Serve the purpose of keeping society stable and
secure
Used in making judgments about people’s actions
Judgments are justifiable by reason
Means to achieve purpose is different
The process of making codes and laws
Enforcement
Nature of punishment
Conflict resolution
Types of judgement
Ethics
Origins – Greeks
Greeks studied themselves, human life and society
Lead to study of human conducts
Definition: a study of right and wrong in human
conduct
Another definition: Theoretical examination of morality
Solomon: a set of “theories of value, virtue, or of right
(valuable) action.
Johnson: set of theories “that provide general rules or
principles to be used in making those rules”
Important
“Ethics helps us not only in
distinguishing between right and
wrong but also in knowing why
and on what grounds our
judgment of human actions is
justified.”
Purpose of Ethics
Interpret human conduct
Acknowledging and distinguishing between right and
wrong.
Interpretation is done based on a consisting of a
mixture of inductions and deductions.
Uses process of argumentation
Argumentation consists of a mixture of inductions and
deductions
Generally based on historical schools of thoughts or
ethical theories
Consequentialism
Human actions are judged good or bad depending
on the results of the actions
Thee general types of Consequentialism
Egoism: Individual interests and happiness above
everything else
Utilitarianism: Group interests and happiness above
individual
Act Utilitarianism: Consider the consequences of an action
for the ones which will benefit the most
Rule Utilitarianism: Obey the rules that brings max happiness
to max people
Altruism: Action is right if the results of the action is good
for everyone but the actor
Deontology
Does not concern itself with the consequences of an
action rather the will of act
If a person committing an act had a good reason for
doing so
Example:
An armed person comes into your house
You shoot the intruder
You did it because you had a duty to your protect your
family and your property.
Action was good
Human Nature
All human beings are endowed with all faculties and
capabilities to live in happiness.
Humans are supposed to discover the develop those
capabilities.
The capabilities become the benchmark for actions
Actions judged on how much they measure up to
capabilities
Relativism
There is no existence of universal moral norm
Right and wrong are relative to society, culture, or the
individual.
Moral norms are not fixed in time.
Hedonism
One of the oldest ethical theories
Pleasure is the only good thing in human life
End of life is the highest good
Maximize pleasure or minimize pain
2 types
Psychological – what people seek each day is pleasure
Ethical – people ought to seek pleasure & pleasure is the
moral good
Modern hedonism pleasure = happiness
Emotivism
Ethical statements are neither true nor false
Ethical statements cannot be proven
Ethical statements are really only statements about
how someone feels
Kantianism
Developed by German philosopher Immanuel Kant
(1724-1804)
People’s actions ought to be guided by universal
moral laws
Moral laws are derived from reason
Should be able to cite why an action is right or wrong
Ethical Reasoning
Reasoning – human cognitive process of looking for
ways to generate or affirm a proposition
Cognitive processes – mental processes
Logic – tool for distinguishing between truth and
falsehood
Ethical Reasoning – integrating ethical principles in the
reasoning process
Ethical Decision Making
Process
Recognize inherent ethical conflict through
Comprehension
Appreciation
Evaluation of all ethical dimensions of problem
Know the parties involved
Being aware of alternatives
Demonstrating knowledge of ethical practices
Understanding how the decision will be implemented
Understanding who will be affected
Understand and comprehend the impact
Information Resulting from
the Ethical Decision Making
Confirmation that the problem is really an ethical problem
Additional facts are or are not needed to resolve the problem
Key ethical theories, principles, and values identified
Strength and validity of the ethical theory chosen
To make an ethical decision you must “weigh” the argument against
the alternatives and chose the “best”
Often must layer the reasoning.
Code of Ethics
Regiment rules or guidelines followed by members of a
respective group.
Can take any of the following forms
Principles which may act as guidelines for some
document
Public policies including aspects of acceptable behavior,
norms, and practices of a society or group
Codes of conduct which may include ethical principles
Legal instruments which enforce good conduct through
courts
ACM Code of Ethics &
Professional Conduct
8 general moral imperatives
8 more specific professional responsibilities
6 organizational leadership imperatives
Affirmation of compliance with the code
Objectives of Code of Ethics
Disciplinary: ensures professionalism and integrity
Advisory: good source of tips and offer advice
Educational: educational tools
Inspirational
Publicity
Ethical Issues Associated
with Changing Technology
Different Temptations
Speed
Privacy and anonymity
Nature of medium
Aesthetic attractions
Increased availability of potential victims
International scope
The power to destroy
Different Means of Delivery
Complacent Society