Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong

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Chapter ThreeMoral Objectivism
The position of moral objectivism There are
objective moral principles, valid for all people
and all social environments Several versions of
this view will be examined but ultimately
moderate objectivisim will be accepted
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Moral Absolutism

• The view that there are nonoverrideable moral
  principles that one ought never violate. Moral
  principles are exceptionless
• Moral objectivism shares notion that principles
  have universal, objective validity
• Objectivism however denys moral norms are
  necessarily exceptionless

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Aquinas's Objectivism and Absolutism
Aquinas follows an objectivist approach called
natural law theory Aquinas was a moral
absolutist, and he developed the doctrine of
double effect
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Natural Law Theory
Natural Law Theory is the view that there exists
an eternal moral law that can be discovered
through reason by looking at the nature of
humanity and society.
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Natural Law Theory

• First appeared among the Stoics
• in first century BCE
• Stoics believed humans have
• a divine spark, logos spermatikos, enabling
  discovery of eternal laws
• The universe is governed by rational
• laws which all creation obeys
• Humans, however, have power of
• choice

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Natural Law Theory
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Aquinas combined
cosmic law with Aristotles concept that humans,
like every natural object, have a specific
nature, purpose, and function. For Aquinas,
reason's deliberative processes discover the
natural laws
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Doctrine of Double Effect

• Provides a tidy method for solving all moral
  disputes in which an act will have two effects,
  one good and the other bad
• Four Conditions that must be satisfied for moral
  permissibility
• The nature-of-the-act condition
• The means-end condition
• The right-intention condition
• The proportionality condition

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Problems with the Doctrine of Double Effect

• Some prescriptions seem counterintuitive
• Not always clear how closely an effect must be
  connected with the act to be counted as the
  intended act
• Problem of how to describe an act
• Tied closely to a teleological view of human
  nature
• Alternatives Prima facie duties

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Moderate Objectivism

• If we can establish or show that it is reasonable
  to believe that there is at least one objective
  moral principle that is binding on all people
  then we will have shown that relativism is
  probably false and that a limited objectivism is
  true

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Core Morality
Principles necessary for the good life within a
flourishing human community They are not
arbitrary and we can give reasons that explain
why they are constitutive elements of a
successful society, necessary for social cohesion
and personal well-being.
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Principles that are examples of the Core Morality

• Do not kill innocent people.
• Do not lie or deceive.
• Do not steal or cheat.
• Keep your promises and honor your
• contracts.

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Our Common Human Nature

• An objectivist bases his or her moral system on a
  common human nature with common needs and
  desires.
• There is more that unites all humanity than
  divides us.

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Ethical Situationalism

• Objective moral principles are to be
• applied differently in different
• contexts.
• Different from ethical relativism which denies
  universal ethical principles altogether.