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Chapter 3
Paying Attention to Values
Moral issues arise from conflicting or unclear moral values
Definitions: Values and Moral Values
What are 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: Good, bad, aesthetic, scientific, instrumental, moral, etc.
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Definitions: Values and Moral Values
What are 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
Examples: fairness, trustworthiness, the well-being of others and the world,
justice
Morality is not opposed to the self: rather, it puts the self into context and
highlights the needs of others.
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Definitions: Values and Moral Values
“Legitimate expectations”: Respect and as equals
Rights: Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, speech, property, etc.
Also, legitimately expect each other to act responsibly, keep promises, and
so forth.
Character
Moral values “give voice” to needs and expectations.
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Morality and Self-Interest
Moral values are those values that give voice to the needs and legitimate
expectations of others as well as ourselves
Ourselves and our needs are built into the definition of morality. However,
your own needs cannot be the whole story.
Contrary to the bumper sticker: “It is all about me, so deal with it.” Pure
egoism, not a moral position
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Morality and Self-Interest
Psychological egoism: paying only attention to the needs and
expectations of others for our own sakes and what we can gain from it.
Social beings
Not self-sacrifice
Ethical egoism: must defend itself by reference to standards that go
beyond the self.
Capitalism
Everyone is better off
Habit and inattention
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Guidelines
Moral Debates and questions to ask:
What needs and legitimate expectations both your own and others’ are
at stake here?
What needs and legitimate expectations are the parties to this debate
trying to speak for?
Respond by research and/or exploration
Expect Diversity
All of us hold many moral values
Look at a newspaper article: Minimum wage
Fairness to employees and employers
Dignity
Survival
Independence
Social benefits
Stakeholders?
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Guidelines
Look in Depth
Many different values also come up within each issue, quite apart from
the others. Look thoroughly into all the values and interests involved.
Be Fair
Annoying, work, thinking, maybe. Open mind, yes.
Explain and Clarify
Look at each situation since it may be more complex than it appears on
the surface. Ask questions and look for distinctions.
Don’t Downgrade Emotion
Value are the things we care about. Care is an emotion.
Pure emotion is incorrect, no facts at all, just a “feeling”
Speak/write carefully, listen sympathetically, and provide relevant values
that is measured but strong.
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The Great American Desert, page 58
Exercises and Notes, page 64
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