Our topic this month was to analyse how we judge something to be ‘good’, and on what basis we make decisions that are ‘right’. There are three main aspects, with the second (Normative ethics) giving us guiding principles for our behaviour.
- Metaethics: Investigates the nature, scope, and meaning of moral judgments. It explores whether moral truths are objective, the role of reason, and the psychological basis of ethical claims.
- Normative Ethics: Focuses on establishing standards or principles that guide right and wrong conduct. Major approaches within this branch include:
- Virtue Ethics: Emphasizes moral character.
- Deontology: Emphasizes duties and rules.
- Consequentialism: Emphasizes the consequences of actions.
- Applied Ethics: Applies normative theories to specific, real-world controversial issues, such as bioethics, business practices, and animal rights.
Virtue ethics is a moral philosophy that prioritizes virtues and character over rules or consequences. It is rooted in the works of ancient Greek philosophers, particularly Aristotle, who argued that virtues are essential for achieving eudaimonia, often translated as "flourishing" or "the good life”.
Deontology emphasises duties and rules: from the Greek words for duty (deon) and science (or study) of (logos). Deontology is a moral theory that guides and assesses our choices of what we ought to do, as opposed to what kind of person we are. The Right is said to have priority over the Good.
Kant, Hobbes, Locke and Aquinas, argued that moral requirements are requirements of rationality.
Consequentialism judges an action by its outcomes. Bentham and JS Mill argued for making decisions on the basis of what the consequences will be. Bentham’s view was that moral actions should maximise ‘the greatest happiness (or benefit) for the greatest number’.
We discussed a number of ‘real-life scenarios’. What do you think?
Four people in a hospital each need a different organ transplant. A healthy person walks in and the judgement made is that he could be used to save four lives by using his organs.
A ‘trolley’ is going down the track and if it stays on its course, it will kill the 5 workers who are on the line. However, if the controller takes action to change the points, the trolley could be sent down another line with just one worker on it.
Have you got some more questions?
On what do you base your moral choices??
The philosophy group meets on every 4th Tuesday morning at Enterprise House. This month we celebrate ten years of our group! A small celebration will take place on 23rd June following our consideration of Karl Marx and Herbert Marcuse. Do come and join us. On July 28th we considerAnimal Rights.
Report by Ruth Sansom