MORAL PHILOSOPHY What is the good How can

MORAL PHILOSOPHY What is ‘the good’? How can I know it ? Why bother being ‘good’ at all? The word ‘good’ has many meanings. For example, if a man were to shoot his mother at a range of 500 yards, I should call him a good shot, but not necessarily a good man. --G. K. Chesterton

How Should I live my life? What do we mean by ‘should’ or ‘ought’? Sorting out what’s good or bad is the province of ethics. It is also what keeps priests pundits and parents busy. Unfortunately, what keeps philosophers and children busy is asking priests, pundits and parents, “Why? ” -- Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein What do I mean by ‘ought’? Is it: v An absolute moral command? v Something conditional—If you want x, you ought to do y? Consider the statement: “You ought not hit someone unprovoked. ”

The Divisions of Moral Philosophy � � � Applied ethics considers ethical questions the way that the media does or as you do in you ethics class. It looks at specific moral topics or questions and attempts to discover what is right or wrong. Normative Ethics considers general theories about what is right or wrong. This is not a theory about what specific things are right or wrong; but rather about what kinds of things are right or wrong. Meta-Ethics deals with the status of moral claims, in general. What kind of claim are we making when we talk about right or wrong? On what basis do we make this claim? Is it an absolute, universal claim or is it limited to a particular time and place. Is morality rooted in nature, human nature, God or do we just make it up ourselves? Example: The Trevor Martin shooting in Miami

When examining meta-ethics, we consider: � � The use of ethical language – the ways in which different scholars understand how words such as ‘good’, ‘bad’, ‘right’, ‘wrong’, are used when ethical statements are made. How meta-ethics differs from normative ethics The different ethical approaches: e. g. cognitive, non-cognitive, ethical naturalism and intuitionism; emotivism and prescriptivism. How to discuss these areas critically and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses

Introduction to Meta-Ethics � � The word ‘meta’ in Greek means ‘above’ or ‘beyond’; thus my Introduction to Meta-Ethics -goes further than ethical theories to look at what is meant by the terms used in ethics – what does the language mean? ‘First order moral discourse’ refers to when we apply ethical theories. E. g. A utilitarian might argue that country X ought to invade country Y because it will bring about the greatest amount of happiness; a Kantian might argue that country X ought not to invade country Y because it violates the rights of those living in country Y and that the action itself is not one that can be universalised.

Consolidate � Explain ‘first order moral discourse’ and ‘second order moral discourse’ to the person next to you.

The meaning of words � What do we understand by ‘mean’ and ‘meaning’ when we use it in everyday language? � I mean to buy her a Valentine card � I mean to win this race � What is the meaning of life? � The convict looked really mean � Those dark clouds mean it is going to rain � Does ‘good’ mean socially approved? � Do you understand what I mean?

Lets do some Meta-Ethics What does ‘good’ mean? • Is it something I approve of? (E. g. the Iraq War) • Is it something that fulfils its purpose? (E. g. a knife that cuts) • Is it someone or something that has moral worth? (E. g. Jesus or pacifism) • Is it my own opinion? (The music of U 2 or The Killers) • Is it what God/a holy book says that we should do? (E. g. do not steal) Homework: Write down whether you agree or disagree with each of these definitions of what ‘good’ means and give reasons to support your answer

Homework � � � Answer the questions on the previous slide. Read Baggini p. p. 35 -43 bottom Explain the difference between meta-ethics, normative ethics and applied ethics.

Moral Realism Moral realism asks the question ‘Are moral independent of the people who hold them? ’ Think about the example of art. Is ‘beauty’ something objective or is it something subjective to the ‘eye of the beholder’? Example: Causing animals to suffer needlessly is wrong. Moral Realists think that moral values are facts about right or wrong. If they also think that these facts can be known to us, they are called cognitivists.