Brief notes on Ethics

(Originally written February 16, 2006)

Ethics

Essence of modernism: scientific reasoning provides all truth

Thomas Hobbes

Egoism: enlightened self-interest is the ultimate moral absolute

Held all people are ethical egoists

How do I react with other human beings as an ethical egoist?
-Social contracts

David Hume

One of the few philosophers to promote ethical relativism; moral relativism is usually promoted by social scientists, not philosophers.

Empiricist

Immanuel Kant

Secular deontology (duty-based ethics)

Kant's ultimate moral principle is the categorical imperative

The categorical imperative is if you can do it and it is good or moral for everyone then it is a moral act

Kant stated that it is immoral to use a person for a means. Humanity must always be treated as an end.

John Stuart Mill

Utilitarian

Teleological systems: emphasis on consequences of actions
-Consequentialists
-Non-consequentialists
-Utilitarianism/Egoism

Deontological systems: duty and principles

All deontology begins with the value of human life. Protects our human integrity.

Moral Choices: Chapter 3 "Major Figures in the History of Ethics"

Ethics was dominated historically by Christian ethics: Augustine in the early dark ages, Aquinas in the Middle Ages. Christian ethics' influence declined as the influence of religion declined during the Renaissance and Enlightenment.

Secular ethics are not totally bad. Aquinas fused Aristotle and Augustine to develop Medieval Roman Catholic Morality. Jewish and Muslim contemporaries of Aquinas attempted to blend their religion with Aristotelian ethics as well.