Midterms

• Feelings


  • Judgments about the accomplishments of one's goals
  • Visceral or instinctual by providing motivations to act morally
• Reasons and emotions are NOT really opposites
• Ethical judgment is highly emotional as people emotionally express their strong approval or disapproval
• Moral sentiments highlight the need for morality to be based also on sympathy for other people
• Being good involves both thinking and feeling
• Ethical subjectivism


  • A theory that runs contrary to the principle that morality is objective
  • It is NOT about what things are good and bad
  • It also does not tell how we should live or what moral norms we should practice
• Ethical subjectivism


  • It is a fact that some people are Homosexual and some are heterosexual but it is not a fact that one is good and one is bad
• Emotivism


  • Utterances in ethics are NOT fact-stating sentences
  • Moral judgements are not statements of fact but mere expressions of the emotions of the speaker
  • Saying something is morally good means WE APPROVED of that thing
  • Morally bad means WE DISAPPROVED or do not like the thing
• Reason


  • Basis or motive for an action, decision or conviction
  • It is a requirement for morality
  • It spells the difference of moral judgment from mere expression of personal preferences
  • Reason commends what it commends regardless of our feelings, attitudes, opinions and desires
• Impartiality


  • ALL are equally important
  • Even-handedness/ Fair-mindedness
  • Principle of Justice that holds decisions based on objective criteria rather than bias or prejudice
  • It assumes that every person is equally important, that is no one is seen as more significant than anyone else
• Moral courage


  • You can depend on me
  • I broke this mom I'm sorry
  • I'll march with you
  • No, thanks. I don't want to hear a secret!
• Lack of moral courage


  • That's got nothing to do with me
  • I might get into trouble
  • There no use of trying to change the system
  • Just let it slide
  • How could you do this to me?
  • It's not for me to judge
• Moral Reasoning Model

  1. Gathering of Facts

  2. Determine the Ethical Issue

  3. Identify the Principle that have bearing on the case

  4. List the Alternatives

  5. Compare the Principle to Alternatives

  6. Weigh the Consequence

  7. Make a Decision
• Moral courage


  • Doing the right thing even at the risk of inconvenience, ridicule, punishment, loss of job or security
  • It requires that we rise above the apathy, complacency, hatred, cynicism and fear-mongering in our political system etc.
  • It also requires us to recognize our responsibilities and be accountable to the consequences of our own actions
• Will


  • The faculty of the mind which chooses at the moment of making decision
  • Strongest desire from among various desires present
  • Does not refer to any particular desire but rather the Capacity to act decisively on one's desires
  • Enable the person to act deliberately
  • It is important as one of the distinct parts of the mind, along with reason and understanding
  • It also requires us to recognize our responsibilities and be accountable to the consequences of our own actions
• Will-power


  • The inner strength to make decision, take action and handle and execute any aim until it is accomplished, regardless of inner and outer resistance, discomfort or difficulties
  • Ability to overcome negative emotion and feelings
  • It bestows the ability to overcome laziness, temptation and negative habits to carry out actions even if they require effort and are unpleasant to one's habit
  • For parents, using willpower demands to put aside compelling but momentary pleasures or comfort to set good example for their children
• Deeds to repeat or do that shows moral courage and will

  • Reporting a crime
  • Participating in peaceful contest
  • Giving all students equal voice regardless of differences
• Deeds to avoid that shows Lack of Moral courage and will

  • Breaking a promise
  • Cheating and Lying
  • Remaining silent in the face of wrong doing
  • Being inconsistent
• How to DEVELOP MORAL WILL AND COURAGE?

  1. Develop and practice Self-Discipline

  2. Do mental strength training

  3. Draw inspiration from people of great courage

  4. Repeatedly to acts that shows moral courage and will

  5. Avoids deeds that show lack of moral courage and will