Human Values

1
Human Values

• Chapter Three

2
The Role of Feelings

• Some believe that morality is subjective and
  personal. In other words, whatever someone
  believes to be right is right for that person and
  what someone believes to be wrong is wrong for
  that person.
• This theory came from French philosopher Jean
  Jacques Rousseau over two centuries ago.
• More recently psychologist Carl Rogers assigned
  feelings a central role in guiding behavior

3
Carl Rogers and William Coulson

• Rogers impact on American thought and on western
  thought in general has been profound.
• Together with associate, William Coulson they
  developed and successfully implemented a plan to
  promote his value-free nonjudgmental,
  nondirective approach in the teaching of both
  psychological counseling and ethics.

4
Subjective

• Coulson later renounced the approach, claiming
  that it ruined lives and harmed society.
• Subsequently two generations of psychologist,
  guidance counselors, student personnel, staff in
  colleges, social workers, and even members of the
  clergy were trained in his method and proceeded
  in good faith to counsel millions of people to
  follow their feelings.

5
Millions mislead

• The idea has been most enthusiastically embraced
  by the entertainment industry.
• In recent years a number of psychologist have
  addressed this error.
• William J. Doherty, a therapist and professor of
  psychology argues that
• it is time for psychotherapist to stop trying to
  talk people out of their moral sense. I dont
  believe that all moral beliefs are created equal.

6
William J. Doherty

• The moral consensus of the worlds major
  religions around the golden rule of do unto
  others as you would have others do unto you, is a
  far better guide to moral living than the
  reflexive morality of self-interest in mainstream
  American society.

7
Are Feelings Reliable?

• There is no magic in majorities, so the fact that
  millions of people have adopted Rogers implicit
  faith in feelings, desires, and preferences does
  not prove that such faith is warranted or right.

8
A BETTER GUIDE IS NEEDED

• With clear thinking and being honest with
  ourselves we are capable of noble actions.
• We are capable of great mischief and wickedness
  as well.
• Morality by feelings completely ignores other
  peoples feelings.

9
Morality by feelings

• To say that we should be free to do as we wish
  without regard to others is to say that others
  should be free to do as they wish without regard
  for us.
• If such a rule were followed, the result would be
  social chaos.
• Since our feelings, desires and preferences can
  be either beneficial or harmful
• And since they can be in harmony or in conflict
  with other peoples feelings, desires, and
  preferences, they are obviously not accurate
  criteria for analysis of moral issues or
  trustworthy guidelines to action.

10
Love Thy Neighbor

• They need to be measured against some impartial
  standard that will reveal their quality.
• Such as religious teachings