Moral Doctrines Moral Doctrines and Moral and Moral TheoriesTheories

Vice and Virtue in Everyday Vice and Virtue in Everyday LifeLife

Chapter 4Chapter 4

The Experience The Experience Machine, NozickMachine, Nozick

►What matters to us, apart from having What matters to us, apart from having pleasant conscious experiences?pleasant conscious experiences?

►First, we want to actually do certain First, we want to actually do certain things.things.

►Second, we want to be a certain kind Second, we want to be a certain kind of people.of people.

The Experience The Experience Machine, NozickMachine, Nozick

►Third, we do not want to be limited to Third, we do not want to be limited to a man-made reality.a man-made reality.

The Judeo-Christian The Judeo-Christian TraditionTradition

►Genesis: Creation and FallGenesis: Creation and Fall►Exodus: The 10 Commandments and Exodus: The 10 Commandments and

other moral prescriptions for Israelother moral prescriptions for Israel►Psalms: Happiness in knowing and Psalms: Happiness in knowing and

following Godfollowing God

The Judeo-Christian The Judeo-Christian TraditionTradition

►The Sermon on the Mount: Human The Sermon on the Mount: Human fulfillment through an inner moral and fulfillment through an inner moral and spiritual transformationspiritual transformation

Morality is Based on Morality is Based on God’s Commands,God’s Commands,

Mortimer Mortimer►The Divine Command Theory of Ethics: The Divine Command Theory of Ethics:

God’s will determines what is right God’s will determines what is right and what is wrong.and what is wrong.

►The ethical person is both merciful and The ethical person is both merciful and just.just.

Why Morality Does Why Morality Does Not Depend on Not Depend on Religion, ArthurReligion, Arthur

►The Nature of MoralityThe Nature of Morality►The Nature of ReligionThe Nature of Religion►What is the connection between What is the connection between

morality and religion?morality and religion?

Why Morality Does Why Morality Does Not Depend on Not Depend on

ReligionReligion►Religion might motivate moral Religion might motivate moral

behavior.behavior.►Perhaps God provides us with moral Perhaps God provides us with moral

knowledge.knowledge.►Arthur’s rejection of these 2 claimsArthur’s rejection of these 2 claims

Why Morality Does Why Morality Does Not Depend on Not Depend on

ReligionReligion►The Euthyphro DilemmaThe Euthyphro Dilemma

Of Benevolence, HumeOf Benevolence, Hume►Hume believes that all knowledge is Hume believes that all knowledge is

based on experience.based on experience.►Morality is grounded in our human Morality is grounded in our human

sentiments.sentiments.►Benevolence is the key moral Benevolence is the key moral

sentiment.sentiment.

The Ones Who Walk The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, Away from Omelas,

Le GuineLe Guine►Le Guine’s description of the Le Guine’s description of the

happiness of the many in Omelashappiness of the many in Omelas►Le Guine’s description of the misery of Le Guine’s description of the misery of

the one childthe one child

The Ones Who Walk The Ones Who Walk Away from OmelasAway from Omelas

►Why do some people walk away from Why do some people walk away from Omelas?Omelas?

►What implications does this have for What implications does this have for the credibility of utilitarianism?the credibility of utilitarianism?

Utilitarianism, MillUtilitarianism, Mill►Mill’s Principle of UtilityMill’s Principle of Utility►Mill’s Definition of HappinessMill’s Definition of Happiness►There is a difference between the There is a difference between the

higher and lower pleasures.higher and lower pleasures.►How do we discover which pleasures How do we discover which pleasures

are better?are better?

A Critique of A Critique of Utilitarianism, Utilitarianism,

WilliamsWilliams►Utilitarianism sometimes might require Utilitarianism sometimes might require

us to do the wrong thing.us to do the wrong thing.►The case of GeorgeThe case of George►The case of Jim and PedroThe case of Jim and Pedro

A Critique of A Critique of UtilitarianismUtilitarianism

► Integrity and the value of our deeply Integrity and the value of our deeply held projects pose problems for held projects pose problems for utilitarianism.utilitarianism.

Good Will, Duty, and Good Will, Duty, and the Categorical the Categorical

Imperative, KantImperative, Kant►Kant believes that only a good will Kant believes that only a good will

is unconditionally good.is unconditionally good.►The person of good will does her The person of good will does her

duty for duty’s sake.duty for duty’s sake.

Kant cont’d.Kant cont’d.►Kant’s analysis of the moral worth of Kant’s analysis of the moral worth of

actions: impulse, reason, and duty.actions: impulse, reason, and duty.►Hypothetical and Categorical Hypothetical and Categorical

ImperativesImperatives►The Categorical Imperative: act only The Categorical Imperative: act only

on that maxim whereby thou canst at on that maxim whereby thou canst at the same time will that it should the same time will that it should become a universal law.become a universal law.

The Holocaust and The Holocaust and Moral Philosophy, Moral Philosophy,

SommersSommers► Introduction: religion, morality, and Introduction: religion, morality, and

the Holocaustthe Holocaust►Doing wrong vs. wrongdoingDoing wrong vs. wrongdoing►The rationalist approach to morality, The rationalist approach to morality,

e.g. Kante.g. Kant

The Holocaust and The Holocaust and Moral PhilosophyMoral Philosophy

►The sentimentalist approach to The sentimentalist approach to morality, e.g. Humemorality, e.g. Hume

►Moral philosophy should prohibit Moral philosophy should prohibit cruelty to sentient non-persons.cruelty to sentient non-persons.

A Critique of A Critique of Kantianism, TaylorKantianism, Taylor

►The problem with many moral The problem with many moral philosophers is their lack of philosophers is their lack of appreciation for the pain and sorrow appreciation for the pain and sorrow that exist in the world.that exist in the world.

►Such moralists focus on solving Such moralists focus on solving abstract philosophical problems.abstract philosophical problems.

A Critique of KantianismA Critique of Kantianism►Kant failed to realize that there may Kant failed to realize that there may

be no true morality.be no true morality.►Kant’s theory is divorced from Kant’s theory is divorced from

concrete human nature and concrete human nature and experience.experience.

►We must find moral answers that We must find moral answers that work.work.