Challenges to Standard Ethics Cottingham and Mayo Good

Challenges to Standard Ethics Cottingham and Mayo

Good quiz question State the central thesis of the Cottingham essay and one argument he gives in support of thesis. One clear sentence each, as follows: Thesis: ____________ Argument: ___________

Standard Ethics and Challenges n The ethical standpoint must be impartial Challenged by Cottingham n Ethics focuses purely on criteria for morally correct action. Challenged by Mayo __________________ n Ethics must be purely rational, avoiding all emotions. Challenged by Taylor and Bennett

Cottingham n He calls the idea that ethics must be impartial “the impartiality thesis. ” n The impartiality thesis is assumed to be true by writers like Singer n Not just philosophers like Singer but our religious and cultural tradition; e. g. , “love thy neighbor as thyself. ”

Preliminary Points n Mere consistency doesn’t require impartiality n True that one has not entered into ethics at all if one fails to consider others as well as oneself n Doesn’t follow that one must consider others equally. n Ethical egoism vs impartiality is a “false dilemma”: there is a third possibility.

Thesis: The idea that ethics must be impartial is “untenable” (wrong) n Argument: The impartiality thesis has absurd implications – One would not be permitted morally to favor one’s own projects – One would not permitted morally to favor one’s loved ones (“self-referential altruism” would be immoral) – One would be morally required to give equal weight to distant people in the world (“ethical globalism). ”

Other important arguments n It is humanly impossible to be impartial and more important it is not a “worthy ideal to strive for. ” n The impartiality ideal is contrary to human integrity and the identity of individual persons.

A central argument The impartiality thesis contradicts the whole purpose of ethics, which is human fulfillment.

Singer’s likely response “Of course the purpose of ethics is human fulfillment, but I can’t put my own fulfillment ahead of other people’s fulfillment. ” “If I need to sacrifice my fulfillment to help thousands of people who are suffering, then that’s my ethical obligation. ”

Cottingham n This misses the point. n Not so many plus or minus points of “fulfillment” that we are obligated to promote (utilitarian conception) n Perhaps suggesting a different purpose for ethics

Purpose of Ethics— 2 Views n Solving moral dilemmas. Determining the right actions. n Determining what it means to live a good life. What is human flourishing? Second view focuses on meaning of a good person, not just right actions.

If Cottingham right about partiality, two additional questions n How much partiality is appropriate? n What kinds of partiality are appropriate? – What would be clearest case of acceptable kind of partiality? – What would be least acceptable?

If Cottingham right about partiality, two additional questions n How much partiality is appropriate? n What kinds of partiality are appropriate? – What would be clearest case of acceptable kind of partiality? Probably family – What would be least acceptable? Racism n What about nationalism and patriotism?

Virtue Ethics n. A main function of ethics is to teach what is requires for a well-lived life. n What is it to flourish as a human being? n What is a good person? n The virtues are the character traits that a good person must have, those needed (or helpful) for living well.

List what you regard as important virtues n Important character traits for being a good person n Star (*) the ones you think are necessary or most important

Mayo Determining what it is to be a good person is just as important for ethics as determining our moral obligations (right actions) n Standard ethical theory cannot directly address the issue of a good person n Looking at virtues can actually be more helpful in guiding (even) our actions than standard theories n Stories of heroes and villians can teach ethics better than theories n

David Cash and Sherrice Iverson n Cash sees his friend Strohmeyer molest 7 -year-old Sherrice Iverson in Nevada casino. Strohmeyer then killed her. n Cash: "I'm not going to get upset over somebody else's life. I just worry about myself first. " All the publicity has made it easier for me to “score with women. ”

Responsible for His Character? n Strohmeyer gets life in prison. No law against what Cash did. (Should there be? ) n Cash becomes nuclear engineering student at UC-Berkeley. Many protest and want him expelled. n Even assuming Cash could not stop Strohmeyer, is he blameworthy for his emotional response? n Are we responsible for our characters?

Virtue Ethics Approach n There are “appropriate emotional responses to situations” n Even aside from action, indifference is not an appropriate response to the suffering of one’s parent or child. n Contrast with Kantian duty

Some interesting virtues from earlier classes n Admiration for humanity (Karl) n Pride (several) n Humility (several) n Neither too humble nor too prideful (Tracy) n Religious (Ali) n “World traveler” (Shani) n Goal-oriented (cf. Buddhism) n Generous n Sexually liberated (DK) n Serenity n Warm-hearted (DK) n n “Ability to manipulate one’s world” (Michael) “Looks” (Hussein), Money, Good parents A non-moral virtue? n Happy (Tracy)* n Humor (Lisa) n Competitiveness (Kyung) n Health (Lisa) n Optimism (Kyung) *“Be happy. It’s one way of being wise. ”

Some Virtues You Mentioned “Inspirational” (perhaps like “charisma”? ) n Jonathan: loyal, mean, happy, funny, shy n Steve: professionalism, grace, mercy n Sarah n – “passionate” as needed; contrast doing good because “right thing” (Kant) vs out of love – Humility: if in power, will take advantage or use people or look down on others; humble means feeling insignificant or “in a strong sense ‘unworthy’” n n n Chelsea: confidence, creativity Lisa: adaptable, independent Kathie: two senses of courage (facing physical challenges and “courage of one’s convictions”); “dedication to the quest for knowledge”; tolerance Kayla: drive, sense of humor, gratitude On compassion: "True compassion does not come from wanting to help out those less fortunate than ourselves but from realizing our kinship with all beings. " Pema Chödrön

And the winner is… Curiosity!

Is Curiosity a Virtue? “An appropriate response”? Of course there is also morbid curiosity. And idle curiosity. . . different rose. ppt