Ethics and Morality

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Ethics and Morality

• Overview of the Day
• Definitions
• Contrasting views
• Moral problems and moral systems

2
What do we mean by ethics and morality?

• Ethics
• Standards defining appropriate and inappropriate
  behavior in particular situations
• Morality
• Beliefs about what is good and what is evil,
  about what is right and wrong

3
Where do we get our ethics and morals?

• Religion
• Mythology
• Culture, custom, and family
• Philosophy literature
• Professional and civic associations
• Government

4
Components of ethical and moral systems

• Source of value
• Human nature
• Defining what is moral and immoral, ethical and
  unethical
• Consequences of moral transgressions

5
Is Darwinism compatible with moral systems?

• Can a Darwinist be a
• Christian?
• Muslim?
• Jew?
• Buddhist?
• Hindu?

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Three moral systems and sources of value
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Human nature
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Interpreters of morality
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Stance toward moral relativism
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Who should be helped?
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How to deal with conflicting interests
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Consequences of moral transgressions
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How to deal with cruelty so often found in nature
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Moral problems and moral systems (1)

• Sexuality
• premarital sex
• adultery
• homosexuality
• Family ties and authority
• role of parents
• authority over children
• importance of family

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Moral problems and moral systems (2)

• Drug use
• forbid?
• legalize?
• restrict?
• Pornography
• ban?
• legalize?
• restrict?

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Moral problems and moral systems (3)

• Nature and the environment
• unrestricted commercial development
• protect biodiversity
• Animal rights
• treat animals as property
• treat them as fellow evolving species sharing the
  planet
• Crime and punishment
• rehabilitate
• punishment, retribution
• remove from society

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Summary

• Definitions of ethics and morality
• Moral systems
• Moral problems