Ethics Chapter 3: The Ethics Tradition

Chapter 3 The Ethics Tradition

Aristotle’s views are pragmatic and philosophical, actions are performed due to their inherent goodness

Kant- rational, not metaphysical, actions should be performed simply because they are the right thing to do without considering costs or benefits to us

Utilitarianism is impartial, impersonal, tries to be fair to everyone

Wicclair and Farkas discussed ethics in technical communication, classified schools of thought as goal-based (i.e. utilitarianism), duty-based (Kantian), and rights-based

Aristotle

Treated ethics generally without providing a specific set of concrete rules or practices

Medieval Christian thinkers relied on Plato’s and Aristotle’s works to help form their theories

Aristotle is much more practical than his teacher Plato but still relies on metaphysical truths

Ethics has to be very general, is about doing “the right thing” for its own sake

Man is a combination of animal instincts and divine reason

People are virtuous, not actions- they can have many motives

Everyone is responsible for their own character

You don’t have to understand the abstract concepts of virtue to become virtuous, just do what is right (unlike Plato)

Ethics is about a range of possibilities, not absolutes without a possibility of “otherwise”

Ethics should be reflected in law and politics but can’t be reduced to just that, ethics must correct these when law and politics are in error

Some ethical actions should be taken regardless of their personal consequences- whistle blowing laws

Aristotle thought that science was absolute and separate from ethics

Scientists are the philosophers of today, with a mystical aura as they pass on and translate new truths to laypeople

KANT

Based on duty, avoids circumstantial contingencies and competing interests

“categorical imperative”- act in such a way that the principle guiding your actions should become a universal law that everyone would have to follow always

The duty is a conscious recognition of one’s obligation

Free will bound by duty: everyone has a choice but since everyone has reason they all should come to the same right decision- negates the individual vs. society aspect

The author tries to say that everything is a paradox all the time

Kant’s views seem to be that there is always an absolute right answer and we are bound by duty to choose it, but it’s not always easy to figure out which choice is ‘right’ or more ethical

Utilitarianism

Accomplish the greatest good for the greatest number of people

Cost-benefit analysis usually plays a role

Often plays a role in medical ethics: whether or not a drug should be approved, which patients to give transplant organs to

Feminist and Care Perspectives

Includes postmodernism- reassesses things we take for granted as true, challenges authority

Some try to say that science is biased against women because it requires emotions to be disregarded and women are inherently more emotional than men- this perpetuates a stereotype in itself and in most cases, emotions really do need to be disregarded

This argument stereotypes science as focusing only on parts, not wholes- example is psychology, but they are ignoring the fact that sociology and anthropology are the sciences where interpersonal relationships are studied…

They try to say logic is a male characteristic, logical science is sexist.. male scientists conquering female “Mother Nature”.. this is ridiculous

Ethics of Care

Carol Gilligan- women value relationships and the other person in the relationship when making ethical decisions while men focus on justice and are more impersonal

Male attitudes are taken for granted as being the norm for all humankind and therefore women’s views are suppressed and ignored

Civic societies should try to be personal and caring and embrace egalitarian principles

Confucian Ethics

Focuses on reality rather than metaphysics, relationships rather than individuals, social harmony rather than personal egos

Learn by studying real examples of things like “virtue” rather than abstract logical arguments

Tao- “way” of something, i.e. virtue

li- principles of propriety, traditional rituals

yi- sense of justice

ren- humaneness, love of others

not egalitarian, everything depends on your position in society.. sons owe more to their parents than vice-versa

values tradition over innovation, can be seen as paternal and rigid

Levinas

Focuses on “the other”

Ethics shouldn’t be based on logic or abstract principles, it should be based on your feedback from the other people around you and how they want to be treated

Gert

Morality should minimize evil, involves action and social relations with others

Simple rules: don’t kill, don’t cause pain, don’t disable, don’t deprive of freedom or pleasure, don’t lie or cheat, keep promises, don’t commit adultery and don’t steal

Focused on avoiding evil rather than pursuing good

Avoid evil, promote good, punish and prevent actions that go against the moral rules