Introduction - Cengage Learning精选.docVIP

ETHICS: DISCOVERING RIGHT AND WRONG Louis Pojman, James Fieser Book Outline to Sixth Edition Prepared by James Fieser 1. WHAT IS ETHICS Introduction Kitty Genovese example Ethics and its subdivisions Philosophy Clarify concepts, analyze and test propositions and beliefs Major task is to analyze and construct arguments Ethics vs. morality Both terms derive their meaning from the idea of “custom”, that is, normal behavior Moral: Latin word “mores” Ethical: Greek “ethos” The study of ethics draws on three subdivisions Descriptive morality: actual beliefs, customs, principles, and practices of people and cultures Moral philosophy (ethical theory): the systematic effort to understand moral concepts and justify moral principles and theories Applied ethics: deals with controversial moral problems, e.g., abortion, premarital sex, capital punishment, euthanasia, and civil disobedience Morality as compared with other normative subjects Religion Morality can be independent of religion The practice of morality need not be motivated by religious considerations Moral principles need not be grounded in revelation or divine authority Limitation: we don’t agree about the authority behind religious rules Law Many laws are instituted in order to promote well-being, resolve conflicts of interest, and promote social harmony, just as morality does Ethics may judge that some laws are immoral Some aspects of morality are not covered by law e.g., helping others in need It is impractical to have laws against bad intentions, but bad intentions are still immoral Limitation: you can’t have a law against every social problem, or enforce every desirable rule Etiquette Etiquette determines what is polite behavior rather than what is right behavior in a deeper sense Limitation: it doesn’t get to the heart of what is vitally important for personal and social existence Traits of moral principles Prescriptivity: the practical, or action-guiding, nature of morality; involves commands Universalizability