ETHICAL THOUGHT

S
 ETHICS

 Moral Philosophy - the study of principles of

right and wrong.
 Meta – Ethics – How do we determine what our
moral principles are?
 Normative Ethics – What are the principles we
ought to live by?
 Parts of Moral Philosophy

META – ETHICS
 Subjectivism – all moral beliefs are based
on personal feelings. We determine to be
good or right is what we enjoy doing to
begin with.
 Parts of Moral Philosophy

META – ETHICS
 Emotivism – a variation of subjectivism. It
hinges on the principle that what we like is
expressed emotionally and not considered
either true or false.
 Parts of Moral Philosophy

META – ETHICS

 Cultural Relativism – which holds that

ethical principles are not universal but
rather determine by culture. Whatever a
society agrees is correct is deemed correct
for the society.
 LAWRENCE KOHLBERG

An educational psychologist who studied the moral development

of children.

1. Stage of Punishment and Obedience – the

right or good thing to do is to obey authority
and avoid punishment
 LAWRENCE KOHLBERG

2. Stage of Individual Instrumental Purpose and

Exchange – the right or good thing to do is that
which gets us what we want.
 LAWRENCE KOHLBERG

3. Stage of Mutual Interpersonal, Expectations,

Relationships and Conformity – the right or
good thing to do is that which society expects us
to do
 LAWRENCE KOHLBERG

4. Stage of Social System and Conscience

Maintenance – the right or good thing to do is
that which is good for society.
 LAWRENCE KOHLBERG

5. State of Prior Rights and Social Contract or

Utility – the right or good thing to do is that
which upholds the values and rights of society.
Do what is best for the majority.
 LAWRENCE KOHLBERG

6. State of Universal Ethical Principles – the

right or good thing to do is to live the universal
ethical principles such as the Golden Rule
 Parts of Moral Philosophy

META – ETHICS
 Supernaturalism – that good or right is
what God’s will us to do. The will of God
is objective because it comes from a source
outside of ourselves.
 Parts of Moral Philosophy

META – ETHICS
 Intuitionism – that there are self- evident
objective truths within us that any mature
person can know.
 Parts of Moral Philosophy

META – ETHICS
 The Golden Rule – does not tell us
specifically what is right or good. It is a
practical rule that helps us to ensure we are
acting consistently with our beliefs.
 Parts of Moral Philosophy

NORMATIVE ETHICS
 Utilitarianism – The general idea behind
the utilitarian position is that right or good
actions are those that result in happiness.
John Stuart Mill
 Variation of Utilitarianism

 Principle of act utilitarianism –

requires that every time we act we
oath to calculate and determine which
among all the options open to us
would promote the greatest net utility
for all.
 Variation of Utilitarianism

 Principle of rule utilitarianism –

requires that every time we act we
obey the set of rules that taken
together, promote the greatest utility
for all.