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Two Frameworks For Understanding
The History Of Ethics
I.
II.
As a transition from JUDGING
PERSONS to JUDGING IDEAS
A. The Greeks
B. 1600 - the "new science"
As TWO THEMES IN ETHICS:
A. HAPPINESS
B. DUTY
I. The transition from JUDGING PERSONS to
JUDGING IDEAS
A. For the GREEKS: what was important
was a person’s moral character. They
believed that the right education and right
actions would flow from good character.
• Thus Plato and Aristotle were very concerned
with the content of education.
• The Greek notion of virtue is tied to actions:
A virtuous person would act correctly “in
virtue of” her/his character.
B. 1600-The SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
With the advent of the "new science" two
important changes in the way we thought
about the universe occurred
1. Everything is “matter in motion.”
All of the universe is subject to simple
mathematical laws, including us.
2. We get the idea of scientific objectivity Ideas are to be judged right or wrong
independent of the person
"Matter in Motion"
& the question of personal autonomy
• How can you preserve personal
autonomy in a universe subject to
mathematical laws.
• [This is important because AUTONOMY is
necessary in order to hold a person morally
responsible for her/his actions]
• One attempted resolution: DUALISM:
• We consist of “minds” [autonomous] and
“bodies” [subject to mathematical, i.e.
natural, laws.] But this raises other questions
II: Two Themes in Ethics:
A. HAPPINESS
• Aristotle [384-322 BC]: We differ in the way we
define happiness, but we all seek it. We seek it
as an “end in itself”, that is for its own sake, not
as a means to some other end
• J.S. Mill [1806-1873]: “The Greatest Happiness
Principle” Actions are morally right or wrong
based on the consequences they bring.
• These two views are TELEOLOGICAL:
Actions will be judged in relation to ends or
purposes.
B. The Ideal of DUTY
• Kant [1724-1804]: argues that we should act
in terms of generalizable rules of conduct,
asking ourselves whether the moral “rule” we
propose could be binding for all people at all
times.
• Actions are based on principle.
• Actions are not judged on the basis of
consequences.
• Emotional inclinations are not a good basis for
ethical decisions.
• This view is called DEONTOLOGICAL:
“deon” is the Greek word for “that which is
binding.”