Normative (Prescriptive)
Study of principles, rules or theories that guide our actions and judgments. How things OUGHT TO BE.
Descriptive
Study
... [Show More] of moral beliefs and practices to describe how people behave. How things ARE.
Reflective Equilibrium
When a theory explains all our data and all data supports the theory
Morality differences from Legality
- Morals aren't laws
- Legal systems cover fewer types of behavior
- Laws are enforced differently than moral principles
-Law and morality sometimes conflict
Morality differences from Religion
- Not all moral theories have religious origins
- Religious moral theories are held to be beyond rational criticism revision.. not so with non-religious ones
4 basic traits of moral principles
-Normativity (Prescriptivity)
- Universalizing
- Overridingness
- Practicability
1/4 basic traits: Normativity (Prescriptivity)
- Moral principles are immediately action guiding (prescriptive)
- Often expressed as commands
- Ex. Do not kill/Love your neighbor
2/4 basic traits: Universalizing
- If act A is right (or wrong) for some person P, than A is right (or wrong) for anyone relevantly similar to P
- People often disagree about which similarities are relevant
3/4 basic traits: Overridingness
- Moral principles provide standards for evaluating legal laws
- Overrides what's best for you
- Ex. Resist stealing money for yourself
4/4 basic traits: Practicability
- Morality can't require us to do that which is beyond our abilities
- Ought implies can; if you ought to do X than you can do X
Terms used to evaluate: Actions
Permissible (right) -> Required or Optional -> Neutral or Supererogatory / Impermissible (wrong)
Terms used to evaluate: Consequences
Good, Bad, Neutral
- Can a good action have a bad consequence?
- Can a bad action have a good consequence?
Terms used to evaluate: Motives
good, evil or neutral
- Motive is a reason why you are acting
- Can a right action have evil motive? Can an evil action have a good motive?
Terms used to evaluate: Character
virtuous (good), vicious (evil) or neither
- Can a good person act wrongly (Michael Vick)? Can a bad person act rightly (Heisenberg)?
Ethical Relativism: Agent-privileging subjectivism
The truth of a moral judgment depends entirely on what the agent believes.
Ethical Relativism: Appraiser-privileging subjectivism
The truth of a moral judgment depends entirely on what the appraiser believes.
Ethical Relativism: Agent-privileging conventionalism
The truth of a moral judgment depends entirely on what a culture holds.
Ethical Relativism: Appraiser- privileging conventionalism
The truth of a moral judgment depends entirely on what the appraiser's culture holds.
Subjectivism
The truth of a moral judgment depends entirely on an individual's beliefs.
Conventionalism
The truth of a moral judgment depends entirely on a culture's code.
Objection to Agent Subjectivism
Ex. This would force use to believe that serial killer Ted Bundy's actions were permissible which is unacceptable.
- Can't let acts go just because of someone's beliefs
Objection to Appraiser Subjectivism
Makes moral disagreements irresolvable
Objection to Subjectivism
No explanation is given for privileging one person's beliefs.
Objection to Agent Conventionalism
Ex. This would force us to believe Hitler's actions in Nazi Germany are permissible.
- Can't let acts go just because of a culture's belief
Objection to Appraiser Conventionalism
Makes cultural conflicts irresolvable [Show Less]