AENG 223 Professional Ethics and Conduct

1
AENG 223Professional Ethics and Conduct

• Lecture 2
• Philosophical Ethics

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Philosophical Ethical Analysis

• Claim, then give reasons / arguments and
  critically evaluate them can we support our
  claim?
• Consistency is crucial.
• From initial belief move to argument, from
  argument to better (or reformulated) argument,
  from theory to case.
• A definitive conclusion not always made.
• However, understanding of our moral beliefs might
  be improved, deeper and more consistent beliefs
  might be developed.

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Descriptive and Normative Claims

• Descriptive claims What people think and do
  (behaviour and thoughts). Are drawn after
  empirical data examination and report of the
  findings.
• Descriptive claims do not tell us what is right /
  wrong, what people should think and do, or
  describe how people behave.
• Normative claims Philosophical ethics is
  normative. Its aims are to explore what people
  ought to do, evaluate arguments, reasons and
  theories and finally report on what types of
  behaviour are good or bad, right or wrong, as
  well as help us understand what rules and
  policies should be applied in computer and
  information technology.

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Philosophical Ethics

• Philosophical Ethics
• Ethical Relativism.
• Utilitarianism.
• Act and rule utilitarians.
• Deontological Theories and Kantianism.
• Rights.

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Ethical Relativism

• Ethical Relativism ethics is relative.
• Is ethics relative? What might be wrong / right
  for you might not be so for me?
• Negative claim If they are relative, then there
  are no universal moral norms or rights / wrongs.
• Positive claim Right / wrong is relative to the
  society we live.
• Positive Claim - different cultures consider
  right / wrong in a different way.
• - moral norms of a society change
  over time.
• - upbringing and
  experiences determine our moral ideas (when,
  where, how, by whom we were raised).

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Ethical Relativism

• However, diversity of opinion about right / wrong
  does not tell us that right or wrong is relative.
  (consider the earths shape example)
• Also, the fact that our social environment shapes
  our moral beliefs, does not mean that they are
  right or wrong. (consider sexism and racism)
• Theory of ethical relativism is
  self-contradictory
• - Right / wrong relative to the social
  context, then our moral ideas are determined
  solely by the rules of the society, so we should
  do what our society directs us. While ethical
  relativists deny the existence of universal
  rules, they assert one.
• - Right / wrong is determined by the culture
  of people and the time when they lived. So,
  different moral beliefs should not be judged,
  arrogant behaviour is not accepted, only respect
  is, so we ought to behave in a certain way.
  Thus, they again assert a universal rule.
• Case illustration Hitler

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Utilitarianism

• Utilitarianism we should act in such a way so as
  to bring about the greatest amount of happiness
  for the greatest amount of people.
• Instrumental goods are valued as they lead to
  something else ex. Money (want x as it leads to
  y, then y is what values, not x).
• Intrinsic goods are valued for what they are ex.
  Knowledge, beauty, nature, the ecosystem etc.
• Utilitarians happiness is the ultimate intrinsic
  good, valued for what it is, everybody wants to
  achieve happiness.

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Utilitarianism

• Individuals facing a dilemma consider
  alternatives (A, B, C etc), predict consequences
  of each, choose the action that will bring about
  the most happiness (not egoism good consequences
  for yourself).
• Rule-utilitarians difficult to predict
  consequences, have to act quickly so no time, not
  practical. Certain rules should be applied and
  followed in order to maximize happiness.
• Act-utilitarians actions are emphasized, rules
  are rejected.
• Everybody is equal in happiness.
  Self-contradictory acceptable to sacrifice the
  happiness of one to achieve the happiness of the
  many?
• Case illustration Kidney dialysis machine

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Deontological Theories

• Deontological Theories some actions are morally
  obligatory regardless of the consequences. If an
  action is done from a sense of duty, then it is
  right.
• Immanuel Kant people rational, make choices as
  have the rational capacity, do not merely act in
  accordance with the law (plants) but in
  accordance with the conception of the law. Never
  treat another human being merely as a means, but
  always as an end (they have the right to choose).
• Rights Every individual must be respected as
  valuable, have rights ex. not to be killed,
  enslaved, to be given freedom, make decisions, be
  allowed to own and so on.