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Chapter 1
Ethics as a Learning Experience
“'Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they open.” Thomas Dewey
Ethics is about choices, tough choices
Ethics is a endless journey
“so full of what’s right that he can’t see what’s good.” Mark Twain
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The Role of Feelings
Feeling right does not guarantee rightness
Feelings often start moral revolutions
Prejudice is a strong negative feeling
Means to “pre-judgment”
Need to be tolerant of ambiguity
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Ethical Learning
Questions: What did you learned about moral values in the last few years?
Examples?
History of ethics is a story of struggle over values.
Rights are taken for granted?!
Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Interdependence
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Three Easy Routes to a Closed Mind
(And How to Avoid Them)
1. Dogmatism
One answer to an ethical question
“Bumper sticker thinking”
Careful and open-ended thinking is not necessary
Avoiding Dogmatism
Really listen to the “other side”
Seek out arguments for the other side(s). Ask why and look for
reasons.
Adjust your language, think an open-ended way. (Exercise)
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Three Easy Routes to a Closed Mind
(And How to Avoid Them)
2. Offhand Self-Justification
Automatic excuse-making or defensiveness. Rationalizing
“it’s okay to cheat the music industry because…”
An absent of “critical thinking”
Avoiding Offhand Self-Justification
Self-confidence, honesty and maturity that develops over time
Excuses are self-defeating and can get us into deeper trouble
Watch yourself and look for telltale anger or irritation before you speak
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Three Easy Routes to a Closed Mind
(And How to Avoid Them)
3. Relativism
Simple observation that different individuals and societies sometimes
have different moral values.
No one single standard is “right”
It’s all just opinion, and one opinion is as good as another.
Avoiding Relativism
Critical and creative thinking
Open mind and dialogue for moral standards
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Key Terms
Values:
Those things we care about
Those things that matter to us
Those goals or ideals to which we aspire and by which we measure
ourselves or others or our society.
Examples:
Moral Values:
Moral values are a subset to values
Moral values are those values that give voice to the needs and
legitimate expectations of others as well as ourselves
Ethics (Moral philosophy)
Ethics is the study of moral values
Reflection, clarify, prioritize and integrate moral values
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Exercises
C. P. Ellis
Page 29
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