Ethics

• Moral Character


  it refers to the existence or lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, and loyalty.
• good moral character


  means that she is a good person and a good citizen with a sound moral compass.
• character


  comes from the ancient Greek word charakter which initially referred to the mark impressed upon a coin.

  any distinctive feature by which one thing is distinguished from others.
• contemporary - character


  set of qualities or characteristics that can be used to differentiate between persons.
• philosophy - character


  moral dimension of a person
• virtue ethics


  the concept that individual's actions are based upon inner moral virtue
• two distinct of human excellences, aristotle


  excellences of thoughts

  excellencies of character
• Beauchamp suggests that virtue should not be thought of as a moral requirement because this confused with a principle or rule. Virtue is a character trait that is socially valued.
• Aristotle


  virtuous acts are not the end results of a good character.

  virtues are tendencies to act, to feel, and to judge, tendencies which are developed from natural capacity through proper training and exercises.
• Aristotle considered goodness of character as a product of the practice of virtuous behavior.
• Virtue


  something that can be learned and improved
• Virtue, for Aristotle, depends on clear judgment, self-control, symmetry of desire, and artistry of means. Virtue can be viewed as a fruit of intelligent pursuit.
• Aristotle


  Virtuous behavior means practicing moderation, that is, avoiding both excess and deficiency.
• Doctrine of the Mean


  it is a principle that suggests that a moral behavior is one that is in the middle of two extremes.
• Dispositions


  particular kinds of properties or characteristics that objects can possess.
• Moral character traits


  dispositions of character for which it is appropriate to hold agents morally responsible.
• virtue


  a trait for which the agent is deserving of a positive reactive attitude such as praise and gratitude
• Vice


  is a trait for which the agent is deserving of a negative reactive attitude such as resentment or blame.
• actions can be repetitive or automatic in (at least) three different ways: by habit, by education, and by habitus.
• habit


  an action that is constantly repeated
• actions become skills (education) through repetition and experience.
• habitus - inclination, a willingness to respond charitably to anyone in need as the situation arises.
• human acts (actus humanis) - rational acts associated with character rather than acts of human being
• acts of human being (actus humanus) - actions come from the whole person
• two important aspects of the revelatory nature of action are responsibility and intention.
• responsibility and action are rooted in the will which is the source of the self-possession and self-governance of human beings.
• Lawrence kohlberg 


  theory of moral development

  He theorized that moral development happens in six stages, which he divided into three levels.
• Level 1: Preconventional level

  • Morality is externally controlled. Rules imposed by authority figures are conformed to in order to avoid punishment or receive rewards. This perspective involves the idea that what is right is what one can get away with or what is personally satisfying
• Stages of Preconventional

  • Stage 1: Punishment/Obedience orientation - Behaviour is determined by consequences. The individual will obey in order to avoid punishment.
  • Stage 2: Instrumental purpose orientation - Behaviour is determined again by consequences. The individual focuses on receiving rewards or satisfying personal needs.
• Level 2: Conventional Level


  Conformity to social rules remains important to the individual. However, the emphasis shifts from self-interest to relationships with other people and social systems. The individual strives to support rules that are set forth by others such as parents, peers, and the government in order to win their approval or to maintain social order
• Stages of Conventional Level

  • Stage 3: Good boy/ Nice girl orientation - Behaviour is determined by social approval. The individual wants to maintain or win the affection and approval of others by being a “good person.”
  • Stage 4: Law and order orientation - Social rules and laws determine behaviour. The individual now takes into consideration a larger perspective, that of societal laws. Moral decision making becomes more than consideration of close ties to others. The individual believes that rules and laws maintain social order that is worth preserving.
• Level 3: Postconventional or principled level


  the individual moves beyond the perspective of his or her own society. Morality is defined in terms of abstract principles and values that apply to all situations and societies. The individual attempts to take the perspective of all individuals.
• Stages of Postconventional

  Stage 5: Social contract orientation - Individual rights determine behaviour. The individual views laws and rules as flexible tools for improving human purposes. When laws are not consistent with individual rights and the interests of the majority, they do not bring about good for people and alternatives should be considered.
• Stage 6: Universal ethical principle orientation - highest stage of functioning; some individuals will never reach this level. the appropriate action is determined by one’s self-chosen ethical principles of conscience. These principles are abstract and universal in application. This type of reasoning involves taking the perspective of every person or group that could potentially be affected by the decision.
• Reason


  the ability of the mid to think, understand, and form judgments y a process of logic.

  It is an innate and exclusive human ability that utilizes new or existing information as bases to consciously make sense out of thing while applying logic. It is also associated with thinking, cognition, and intellect
• Truth in Ethics


  justified by good reasons
• moral truths


  objectives in the sense that they true no matter what we might want or think.
• impartiality is manifesting objectivity
• impartiality is the quality of being unbiased and objective in creating moral decision – underscoring that a (morally) impartial person makes moral decisions relative to the welfare of the majority and not for specific people alone. it involves the idea that each individual’s interest and point of view are equally important
• Also called evenhandedness or fair-mindedness, impartiality is a principle of justice holding that decisions ought to be based on objective criteria, rather than on the basis of bias, prejudice, or preferring the benefits to one person over another for improper reasons.