Philosophical vs Theological Ethics 3 1 1 1

Philosophical vs Theological Ethics 3 -1 1 -1

How should we live our lives? • This question is not new…there is a long tradition • Theories in Philosophical Ethics can o provide a systematic answer to this fundamental ethical question o provide reasons to support that answer o seek to provide a rational justification for why we should act and decide in a particular way o help us devise an accountable decision Anyone can tell you what you should do and how you should act But philosophical ethics justifies “Why? ” 3 -2 1 -2

The Ethical Question: How should we live our lives? l Human history has grappled with this question. l Western ethics had a significant influence on the development of contemporary business and economics l But there are some Barriers to Discussions of Philosophical Ethics: ¢ Can appear intimidating or too abstract ¢ Often seem to be too theoretical to be of much relevance to business. 3 -3 1 -3

The Ethical Question: How should we live our lives? Ethical Theory is an attempt to provide a systematic answer to this fundamental ethical question l Ethical theories provide reasons to support their answer to this question. l Ethical theories seek to provide a rational justification for why we should act and decide in a particular way. 3 -4 1 -4

Who is to say what is right or wrong? ¢ One of the more challenging aspects of resolving ethical dilemmas is that the different stakeholders often hold different ethical views ¢ Often the foundation of these views have religious basis (morals, beliefs, values) ¢ This begins to capture the notion of Relativism ¢ An ethical relativist holds that ethical values are relative to particular people, cultures, or times. ¢ The relativist denies that there can be any rationally justified (objective) ethical judgments. ¢ The relativist believes that there is no way to resolve that dispute and to prove that one side is right or more reasonable than the other. 3 -5 1 -5

Who is to say what is right or wrong? ¢ There are imp questions being raised here: l Should ethics be based on Religious Beliefs/Principles? l Whose religion? Whose value system? ¢ We know that people differ widely in their religious beliefs • So if ethics is based only on religious principles • And if people disagree about those religious starting points, • Then ethics would never escape the predicament of relativism. 3 -6 1 -6

Theological vs. Philosophical Ethics ¢ Ethics based on religion is called Theological Ethics ¢ Theological ethics explains human well-being in religious terms ¢ So … to avoid this type of relativism… Business ethicists and Humanitarian Scholars turn to and develop Philosophical Ethics ¢ Philosophical ethics provides justifications that must be applicable to all people, regardless of their religious starting points 3 -7 1 -7

Theological vs. Philosophical Ethics ¢ Philosophical ethics seeks foundations that all reasonable people can accept, regardless of their religious convictions: • Example of philosophical justification: “You should contribute to disaster relief because it will reduce human suffering. ” • Example of religious justification: “You should contribute to disaster relief because God commands it, ” or “because it will bring you heavenly rewards. ” 3 -8 1 -8

Philosophical Ethics Several ethical frameworks based in philosophical ethics that have proven influential in the development of business ethics We will visit some of these in Chapter One & Next week’s Lecture 3 -9 1 -9