So far (from class and course pack) Moral dilemmas: e.g., euthanasia (class), Churchill decision in World War 2 Ethics ultimately concerned with how to live well. One part of that involves choice of actions One major concern of ethics: how should one act? Can be applied both to monumental choices (e.g., Churchill bombing German cities, Bush going to war in Iraq) but also everyday decisions we all make One major one: choice of career 1 Ethics and Science Similarities Claims assert something to be true. Search for truth that is not merely subjective 2 Obstacles to search for truth Believing what one wants to believe Accepting the simplest claims as true Reading/hearing others beliefs as agreeing with one s own (when they may not) 3 Ethics: Basic Concepts 1
Ethical inquiry based on Reasoned argument Not proof but sufficient grounds for belief Parallel with science Cigarette smoking increases risk of lung cancer Regular exercise helps prevent breast cancer Etc 4 Ethical inquiry: truth of a claim NOT based on Custom Authority Law Religion Feelings 5 Ethical Claims Different from Science Scientific Facts Empirical Descriptive What is Ethical Values Normative Prescriptive What ought to be should be obligation duty 6 Ethics: Basic Concepts 2
Crucial Distinction: Factual versus Normative Claims South Africa used to deny the vote to blacks but is now a democracy. South Africa has made moral progress in the last decade; i.e., current practices are morally better than they were before. A doctor is morally obligated to treat a patient, regardless of ability to pay. In a normal May in Michigan, it should rain every third day. It is appropriate that criminals are punished for their actions. Most Americans believe that a woman is morally entitled to abortion if she is raped. The University of Michigan should continue with its affirmative action program regardless of what Michigan Supreme Court rules. There are laws that prohibit abortion. There is a greater degree of economic fairness and justice in the United States than there was 20 years ago. This is an unfair test. We should lower the speed limit to 40 mph if it would save many lives. Lowering the speed limit would save many lives. 7 Scientific and Ethical Inquiry - Summary Similarities Both aim for true Both need to back up claims with some kind of rational evidence Aim is not 100% proof but sufficient grounds for belief Differences Different kind of claims Evidence in science is factual, empirical whereas evidence in ethics is reasoned argument 8 A Lesson in Logic the Basics Premises lead to conclusions Premise 1: All men are mortal Premise 2: Socrates is a man Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal 9 Ethics: Basic Concepts 3
For Conclusion To Be True... Premises need to be true Conclusion needs to follow logically. These are 2 separate conditions.... 10 Consider This is valid reasoning: All men are immortal Socrates is a man Socrates is immortal The reasoning is valid. The conclusion does logically follow, but of course the first premise is false. 11 Apples are more expensive than bananas Therefore, God exists. 12 Ethics: Basic Concepts 4
Apples are more expensive than bananas Therefore, apples are the least expensive fruit. 13 14 The fetus is an innocent person. 15 Ethics: Basic Concepts 5
The fetus is an innocent person. Abortion is the killing of a fetus. 16 Abortion is the killing of an innocent person. 17 Ethics: Basic Concepts 6