Moral Philosophy

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Moral Philosophy

• Weber State University
• Spring 2007
• PHIL 1000-00

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What is moral philosophy?

• Ethics (Moral Philosophy) is the philosophic
  study of right and wrong conduct.
• It asks what should we do, and why ought we do
  that?

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Normative v. Descriptive

• Moral philosophy is a normative inquiry, not a
  descriptive one.
• Moral philosophy wants to prescribe norms,
  standards, or principles for evaluating our
  actual practices.
• Descriptive morality refers to the actual
  practices of people or a culture and its beliefs
  about which behaviors are good and bad.
• E.g., Sir George James Frazer, The Golden Bough

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Taxonomy of Moral Philosophy
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Objectivism v. Non-objectivism

• Objectivism claims that there is at least one
  moral principle. For e.g., murder is wrong.
• Non-objectivism claims that there are no moral
  principles.

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Non-objectivism, in general

• Thesis For any two agents, A and B, what counts
  as morally correct for A does not necessarily
  count as morally correct for B.

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Some Kinds of Non-objectivism

• Historical relativism moral principles are
  relative to the time period in which you live.
• Cultural relativism moral principles differ for
  different cultures.
• Individual relativism moral principles are
  different for each person.

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Ruth Benedicts Argument for Cultural Relativism

• Normality is a function of culture. (premise)
• Habitual behavior within a society is normal.
  (premise)
• When we say x is moral, we mean x is normal or
  habitual. (2)
• Thus, morality is a function of culture. (1,3)

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Argument against Premise 1 of Benedicts Argument

• There is an origin of normality. (premise)
• The genealogy will involve an origin in an
  individual or cross-cultural influence. (premise)
• Thus, normality is not a function of culture.
  (1,2)
• If normality is not a function of culture, then
  cultural relativism is false. (premise)
• So, cultural relativism is false. (3,4)

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Argument Against Premise 2 of Benedicts Argument

• Habitual behavior means doing something
  constantly, e.g., wearing socks, opening doors,
  etc. (premise)
• Normal behavior includes conforming to a
  standard. (premise)
• When we say x is habitual, we dont mean x is
  normal. (1,2)

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William Ladds Argument for Cultural Relativism

• Diversity thesis Apparent moral beliefs and
  practices are different in different cultures.
  (premise)
• Dependency thesis Moral practices and beliefs
  depend on our cultural background. (premise)
• Thus, cultural relativism is true. (1,2)

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Argument against Premise 1 of Ladds Argument

• Practices differ from culture to culture, e.g.,
  the way we treat our parents/grandparents when
  they get older. (premise)
• But we engage in different practices for the same
  principled reason, e.g., respect for our elders.
  (premise)
• So, the moral beliefs of different cultures do
  not differ, even though the practices do. (1,2)

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Argument against Premise 2 of Ladds Argument

• Slavery and racism are a part of our cultural
  background. (premise)
• Assume that moral beliefs and practices depend on
  our cultural background. (premise)
• So, slavery and racism are acceptable moral
  beliefs and practices of our culture. (1,2)
• Slavery and racism treats others unequally.
  (premise)
• Moral theories should attempt to treat everyone
  equally. (premise)
• Thus, cultural relativism should find slavery and
  racism morally permissible and impermissible.
  (3-5)
• 6 is a contradiction. (6)
• Thus, we should not accept cultural relativism.
  (7)