Understanding Moral Reasoning and Ethical Principles

Ethics as a Whole: A Moral Reasoning: Formula

Moral principle + Action = Moral value. Applying a moral principle to an action we are able to come up with moral evolution Issues. There can be 3 problems with moral reasoning: 1. Consistency 2. Lack of facts 3. Sources of moral principles. Moral principle= Killing innocent people is evil. Action= Billy killed an innocent person. Value= Billy is an evil person. Objective — Universal— Always time. Subjective — Particular—Time-Space. Moral Relativism General Characteristic — The belief that moral principles are values created by each culture's customs and conventions. No objective moral values. Moral relativism can lack consistency as it can be based on your opinion and change with every situation, moral relativism is not a universal thinking. Potential Issues Diversity: Theirs too many different types of moral principles. The wide range and variety suggests there is no identifiable common belief. Lack of Foundation: Unlike natural sciences, there is no underlying moral reality, no way to test the values against a standard. Morality cannot be tested like science so there's going to be a struggle to make your opinion a fact. Morality cannot be Objective. Self-Interest General Characteristics “Human beings are always and everywhere selfish”. Self-Interest suggests we can only act in our self-interest regardless of what knowledge we have. Potential Issues The Definitional Argument: We always end up doing what we want to do, even if it seems otherwise. Evolutionary Argument: We are hard-wired to look out for our survival, Biology dictates this. Hidden Benefits Argument: We act “morally” because it provides us with good reputation, praise, and higher social standing. The Fear of Punishment Argument: The only reason we follow moral principles is so we will not get punished. Deontological Approach Maximise the amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. Actions have values. Takes into consideration individual happiness (Personal Knowledge). Takes into consideration short term and long term happiness (Reasoning).

Consequentialist Approach

The only thing that makes us take the good action have the correct moral is reason nothing else should apply in this decision. Immanuel Kantian. Two aspects that should determine Morality: 1-Duty the others 2- Rational Thinking, Leads us to categorical imperative. The only “good” thing is a goodwill is the only truly good for Kant, A goodwill is the desire the good of others. We should be good based on our knowledge and the desire to fulfill- duty to follow moral value. Categorical Imperative. Actual Text: Actions motivated by our duties to others they have no moral value. Principle of Universality you do an action, then everyone else should also be able to do it. Principle of Humanity It’s our duty to act in such a manner that we would want everyone else to act. Hypothetical Imperatives The action is motivated by ourselves and it will affect us and not others so this action is not universal. Utilitarianism “Utility”. Moral principle is to maximize the amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. Consequentialist ethics: The action is dictated by the result of the action so if it's good or bad the result of it will say. So on the utility, the morality of the action will be determined by how much good has it done. Subjective= relativism -- self-interest. Objective= deontology - consequentialist (utilitarianism) - religion. Pain and Pleasure. Humans will always be moved by pain and pleasure only. And we can see how good or bad the action is based on the calculus. Hedonistic Calculus 1. Intensity: How intense is the pleasure or pain? (1-10) 2. Duration: How long does the pleasure or pain last? (Mins/hours/days) 3. Certainty: How likely is it that I experience pain or pleasure? (Percentage) 4. Remoteness: At what point is this pleasure or pain going to occur? Now or later? 5. Fecundity: Is the pleasure of this action going to be followed by further pleasure? Or, is the pain of this action going to be followed by further pain? 6. Purity: Is the pleasure of this action going to be followed by pain? Is the pain of this action going to be followed by pleasure 7. Extent: How many people will feel pleasure or pain as a result of this action? (Number of people).