CHAPTER 2

SECTION A – A VISION FOR THE GOOD SOCIETY

THE NEED FOR A VISION OF THE GOOD SOCIETY

Week 2 - Summarised
Addressing key concepts such as:

1. Morality

2. Ethics

• Prescriptive ethics
• Descriptive ethics
• Meta-ethics
Concepts Summarised:
The connotations of the words “morality” and “ethos” are closely
related to one another. The word morality may be used with
reference to 1) decisions, 2) persons and 3) societies to express
convictions about what is right and what is wrong.

The emphasis on “ethos” is on a way of life: the way in which morality

is actually practiced, especially in a communal context. The ethos
of a group may be judged as immoral. Example; the ethos of a
group of gangsters whose way of life is to steal what they want.

Whereas “morality” originally referred to behaviour according to

customs, it could be argued that “ethics” implies behaviour
according to reason. Ethics calls “morality” and “ethos” into
question reflecting on the very basis that may be used to
distinguish between right and wrong. The task of ethics is thus to
reflect on morality, to assess morality and to make moral
recommendations.
Moral and immoral:
This refers to conduct, persons and societies, which are,
from a moral point of view judged to be either acceptable
or not acceptable, right or wrong etc.

A-moral:
This refers to an act that is morally neutral (the colour you
decide to wear etc.).
Prescriptive ethics:
Is a form of disciplined reflection that seeks to propose or
prescribe appropriate forms of moral behaviour.

Descriptive ethics:
Descriptive ethics seeks to describe moral language
without making any moral judgements.

Meta-ethics:
If we agree that ethics reflects on morality (ethos) one may
argue that meta-ethics is a reflection on ethics itself.
 Three Moral Questions
One of the purposes of this introduction of ethical
theory is to show that morality involves more
than moral decision making. There are at least
three crucial areas in which moral questions
emerge; they are:

1. What is a good or just society? (Visions)

2. What is good or virtuous person? (Virtues)
3. What is a good or responsible decision?
(Values and Obligations)
 IN THIS CHAPTER...
• WE WILL DISCOVER WHY THE EMERGENCE OF A
VISION OF THE GOOD SOCIETY IS NECESSARY;

• HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ARTICULATE YOUR

OWN VISION OF THE GOOD SOCIETY;

• YOU WILL REFLECT THEORETICALLY ON WHAT

SUCH A MORAL VISION ENTAILS;
 CONTEMPORARY
CHALLENGES
• CLIMATE CHANGE
• EDUCATION
• CONSUMERIST CULTURE
• CORRUPTION
• CRIME
• OVERFISHING
• RACISM
• CRIME
• UNEMPLOYMENT
What kind of world will our
grandchildren inherit from us?

Sallie McFague (feminist scholar)

• Struggle for resources (food, water, basic medical care
etc.)

• Succeeding generations (setting sights lower)

Perceptions of the Future
• Numerous reports on environmental disasters
• Environmental projections, statistics paint a bleak picture

Slogans such as:

“if currents trends continue, we will not!”
“we are facing an uncertain future”

• These reports creates silent fears, negative feelings of

what the future holds
• Powerlessness coming from a realization that forces in
the world seem to spinning out of control. (over-
population, crime, poverty, economic deficits etc.)
What is your dream (vision) for the
future?

The emergence of a new moral vision:

• Driven typically by a moral vision (it expresses a vision

for the common good)
Characteristic features of a vision
for the good society
1. Prompted by unacceptable present, expressed in (what is and
what ought to be):
• Such an awareness emerges in times of suffering and need
• Hope for better livelihoods (hope lives in the tension from the
negative to the positive)

2. Such a vision requires the ability to see beyond the here and
now (to sense what is wrong):
• It has to be realistic, having the ability to inspire people
• It requires a deeper understanding of the context (go beyond the
obvious)
• It requires the ability to articulate the vision in a clear and
imaginative way (“I have a dream...” Martin Luther King jr. )
3. It has both a critical and inspiring dimension
• The envisioned society serves as an inspiration to those
who believe in its vision.
• It expresses something regarded beautiful, desired, the
common good.

• Its critical dimension reminds us of an unacceptable

present (unawareness – emergence necessary)
• It creates the awareness to look at established situations
in a new light; creating new critical awareness.