Ethics = Morality

1
Ethics Morality

• Some draw a distinction, but no distinction is
  generally recognized.
• Philosophers use the terms interchangeably

2
A Moral Dilemma 3 Patients

• All 3 patients are terminally ill and suffering
  pain that cannot be relieved without excessive
  sedation
• All 3 patients are competent and able to
  understand their condition
• All 3 patients prefer death to life

3
Patient 1 Muhammad

• Requests removal of ventilator needed to sustain
  life

4
Patient 2 Latisha

• Requests withdrawal of ventilator needed to
  sustain life

5
Patient 3 Jennifer

• Asks to be killed(intervention to bring about
  death)

6
Rachels No Morally Relevant Difference

• Three actions Withhold treatment, withdraw
  treatment, kill
• There may be a psychological (and currently a
  legal) difference, but no moral difference.
• How to determine the acts morality look at the
  results in each case.
• Key question is continued life a benefit?

7
Opposing View

• What is immoral is any act done with an intent to
  bring about death
• Withholding and withdrawing treatment are not
  actions performed with an intent to bring about
  death (even though death expected).

8
Highlights 2 Opposing Approaches

• Consequentialism an act is moral or immoral
  purely depending on its consequences (results)
• Nonconsequentialism there are other morally
  relevant considerations besides an actions
  likely consequences.

9
Ethical Decision NOT Based on

• Custom
• Authority
• Law
• Religion
• Feelings

10
Ethics and Science

• Similarities
• Claims assert something to be true.
• Search for objective truth
• No reliance on custom, authority, feelings.
• Uses reasoning to justify (back up, defend)
  claims.

11
Ethical Claims Different from Science

• Scientific
• Facts
• Empirical
• Descriptive
• What is

• Ethical
• Values
• Normative
• Prescriptive
• What ought to be
• should be
• obligation
• duty

12
A Lesson in Logicthe Basics

• Premises lead to conclusions
• Premise All men are mortal
• Socrates is a man
• Conclusion Socrates is mortal

13
Does it logically follow?

• Apples are more expensive than bananas
• Therefore, God exists.

14
Does it logically follow?

• Apples are more expensive than bananas
• Therefore, apples are the least expensive fruit.

15
Does it logically follow?

• It is always immoral to kill a person.
• Therefore, abortion is always immoral.

16
Does it logically follow?

• It is always immoral to kill a person.
• The fetus is an innocent person.
• Therefore, abortion is always immoral.

17
Does it logically follow?

• It is always immoral to kill a person.
• The fetus is an innocent person.
• Abortion is the killing of a fetus.
• Therefore, abortion is always immoral.

18
Does it logically follow?

• It is always immoral to kill a person.
• Abortion is the killing of an innocent person.
• Therefore, abortion is always immoral.