A list of "Morals" Drawn from Our Discussions:
Copyright © 2007 Bruce W. Hauptli
This file will contain a list of the various "morals" we draw about morality from our readings and class discussions this semester regarding ethical theories. It will, of course, be up-dated throughout the semester. If I fail to include one (I don't take notes as I draw them in class), if you have a suggestion as to how any of the entries might be better characterized, or if you have a suggested "moral" which was not drawn in class, please send me an email with your suggestions or comments.
1. The following "morals" come from the lecture introducing ethics:
An adequate ethical theory should condemn the experiment performed upon the "obliging stranger." [drawn form the citation from William Gass]
An adequate ethical theory should "make a connection with people's deepest desires and needs, and their sense of what has importance." [drawn form the citation from Martha Nussbaum]
An adequate ethical theory must ensure the "caring for" of children. [drawn form the citation from Annette Baier]
2. An adequate ethical theory should explain why it is that human beings don't [that is don't always] act morally. [drawn from our discussion of Hobbes]
3. An adequate ethical theory should provide a "believable" motivational theory--it should not take a single motivational factor as if it were the only one (at least not without a strong argument that there are no other motivating factors). [drawn from our discussions of Hobbes and Feinberg]
4. Self-love is not love enough, and a moral theory which leaves off genuine care for others confuses the fact that all our motivations are our own with a claim that all our motivations are self-interested. [drawn from our discussions of Hobbes and Feinberg]
5. If a moral theory claims that there is one and only one thing which is intrinsically worthwhile, it should offer an argument for this exclusive claim. On the other hand, if a moral t heory allows for more than one intrinsically worthwhile thing, it should provide some guidance where individuals may be presented with situations where they are able to pursue only some of several intrinsically worthwhile things. [drawn from our discussio ns of Hobbes, Mill, Feinberg, and Williams]
6. Ethical theories must offer some \ldblquote proof\rdblquote that what they claim is valuable is indeed valuable. [drawn from our discussion of Mill]
7. While consequences are, indeed, important, moral evaluations must also consider motivations, and an individual's "projects" and/or character. [Mill, Williams, and Nozick; significantly augmented by Kant]
8. Our ethical theory should not alienate us from ourselves or our lives. [drawn from our discussion of Williams, augmented by Feinberg and Nozick]
Last revised on: 02/20/07.