...Quiz #1 Questions 1. Give full and logical descriptions of the philosophy. Biography is optional. 2. Give any comparison you consider interesting. Pro/Con Philosophers 3. Your personal opinion about this philosophy. David Hume 1 Biography 1711 – 1776 Scottish Philosopher Self-Proclaimed Agnostic Did not believe we could answer the question, “Does God exist?” Exiled and moved to France Leading thinker in European enlightenment Wrote treaties on ethics, knowledge, religion, and human nature. Was called, “Good David”, remarkably kind and humorous, or the Scottish Skeptic Essay, “Of Self-Love” Essay, “Moral Distinction not Derived from Reason” All action is motivated by selfishness, or “self-love”. This claim in psychological egoism is at odds with our regular experiences with people In which we act with “such affections as love, friendship, compassion, and gratitude”. Reducing things down to one cause may work in natural sciences, but it is unnecessary and inaccurate in the human sciences. In “Moral Distinctions not Derived from Reason”, argues that morality is not based solely on pure rationality, but on our “sentiments,” Sentiments – Our feelings of acceptance or disapproval. Thus, moral thinking is also moral *feeling* Supported by examining cases of moral “turpitude” 1. Incest 2. Murder 3. Ingratitude “To [even] the most careless observer, there appear to be such dispositions...
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...Philosophy Matrix Metaphysics, Moral, Social, Political Paper Metaphysics, Morals, Social, and the Political philosophy's are four major philosophical areas of inquiry. Learning about the historical development of each school of thought, who the main contributors were, and what the primary issues are in each field. Increases the knowledge and understanding of the culture and its philosophy. Study of Existence Metaphysics is the focus of the nature of existence, reality, and who we are. Metaphysics has new meaning in an age of ever changing and globally interconnectedness. The questions and how we answer them are now first and foremost in whether or not humanity can survive and flourish on this planet in a healthy and civilized manner (Metaphysics, 2011). Principal and Cause According to Aristotle there are four different kinds of cause, it is important to note that he claims that one and the same thing can be a cause in more than one sense. As he puts it, “form, mover, and telos often coincide”. And in De Animahe is perfectly explicit that the soul, which is the form or essence of a living thing, “is a cause in three of the ways we have distinguished” efficient, formal, and final (Cohen, 2011). Right From Wrong Learning right from wrong is something we pick up early in life. If someone were to say lying is wrong, then it may be attributed as a wrongness to an act lying. Whether lying has that property is an objective matter, thereby the statement is objectively...
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...Applying Moral Philosophies to Business Ethics Moral philosophies - present guidelines for determining how conflicts in human interests are to be settled and for optimizing mutual benefit of people living together in groups. --There is no one correct way to resolve ethical issues in business. -- Each type of philosophy has a distinct basis for deciding whether a particular action is right or wrong. -- Ethics issues analyzed using different philosophical theories generally have the same appropriate outcome. Role Morality — people have a moral responsibility to fulfill their role in the organization Do employees have a moral responsibility to “do their jobs?” What are their responsibilities? Do employers have a moral responsibility to “do their jobs?” What are their responsibilities? How do employers handle conflicts in the different roles they perform? What if your superior wants you to carry out some responsibility, and your workgroup thinks this is unfair? What if some personal role conflicts with a work role? (Others roles include: student, parent, child, organization member, etc.) Moral Philosophy Perspectives 1. Teleology — egoism - enlightened egoism - utilitarianism 2. Deontology 3. Relativist Perspective 4. Virtue Ethics I. Teleology — consequences (consequentialist theories) egoism — right behavior is based on good consequences for the individual enlightened egoism — some basic “rules”...
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...Cagayan State University Tuguegarao City, Carig Campus College of Arts and Sciences “UTILITARIANISM” A Term Paper in Philospohy 12 (Moral Philosophy) SUBMITTED TO: Karen Acoba Instructor SUBMITTED BY: Joanne Marie B. Sanchez, BS BIO I – A 11:30 – 1:00 pm TTH March, 2016 Introduction “What is right and wrong?” Every day we ask that question, whether in simple situations like choosing a dress to wear in a party, or complicated ones like judging a supposed criminal. It guides our decisions, and helps to get better hold of our actions. In the field of Philosophy, the rightness or wrongness of a moral action is also a vital topic. This topic is termed as Normative Ethics – The study of ethical action. It is the branch of philosophical ethics that investigates the set of questions that arise when considering how one ought to act, morally speaking. Theories like Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative, and Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism are some of the Normative Ethics theories. In this study, we will discuss about Utilitarianism. With the objectives of: simplifying a complicated Philosophical theory for students, and understanding deeply the principles of Utilitarianism. Discussion Utilitarianism is mainly characterized by two elements: happiness and consequentialism. Utilitarian happiness is the biggest happiness which (supposedly) every human being looks for. In utilitarianism everything useful to...
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...As I reflect upon the past five weeks of my moral philosophy class I realize that this class was more intense than I had expected it to be. I was not prepared to devote as much of my time learning and explaining what seems so natural to me. Could it be that I tend to feel more comfortable in the classes that are more objective than subjective? I think so. Of Course, a math class or corporate finance class is not an uncomfortable setting for me, these types of classes use unchanging methods that never waiver. The moral philosophy class that I am about to completed has been a struggle for me, it is unlike any type of class that I have experienced since I re-entered college last fall. The content of the class I found to be subjective, there is actually no right or wrong, it is dependent upon the individual. However, the material covered in the class was all too familiar to me. I find that philosophy is about feelings and values of individuals as opposed to other classes that involve data, methods and procedures....
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...King Lear’s treatment of the question of whether a moral life is necessarily a better life is brought out in the juxtaposition of the characters Edmund and Cordelia, and the universality of King Lear explored through the modern philosophies associated with each. One of the most polarized characters of the play, Edmund is a character willing to commit heinous deeds like framing his own brother, arranging the murder of his own brother and committing adultery with Goneril and Regan. Rather than trying to please the Gods with morally sound actions, he instead calls for them to “stand up” for “bastards” like him who are earning a place in society through trickery and deceit. Until his death looms over him, Edmund remains unashamedly unrepentant of his behavior and seems almost proud of his lack of moral fiber. Unfortunately for Edmund, he dies of a mortal wound before he can reap the benefits of his conniving, rendering all his efforts for naught. The least morally sound character is therefore unsuccessful in his endeavors and dies at a young age, proving that living a morally un-sound life does little for Edmund. In contrast, Cordelia adheres to the prescribed morality and benevolent behavior. She is the only daughter who does not forsake her father, even though Lear himself admits that Cordelia has “some cause” to wrong him. Cordelia’s character does not waver throughout the play, and she continues to represent on pole of the moral spectrum. However, being morally sounds does Cordelia...
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...Philosophy 484 Professor Neiman 3/22/12 “Selling Starbucks in the Forbidden City” Ever since the Starbucks retail outlet has opened in the “Forbidden City” of Beijing, China, there has been a huge controversy over whether this store deserves to be in this sacred area of China’s history. I believe that Starbucks has a moral obligation to operate a retail store in the “Forbidden City.” The first objection from some Chinese citizens is that Starbucks is highly considered an American brand, and that American commerce is destroying Chinese culture that they claim goes back 5000 years. In some cases, people may believe that the Chinese have the cultural right to maintain their culture in places of great history, which would definitely apply to the Forbidden city Museum. This claim against Starbucks contradicts this statement somewhat since there are already thousands of stores in the museum. If the Chinese would have wanted to keep the Forbidden City sacred, you would think that they would have not allowed any stores in the area to keep it original so everyone could see the real history behind the place. Some may counter by saying that Chinese stores should only be allowed simply because it is already part of the Chinese Culture. In the case, it states that there are shops that sell American products, such as coke, cookies, and other merchandise. Wouldn’t this be considered American products and upset some Chinese citizens since it is considered American and not part...
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...Angela Simmons Thinking and Doing Ethics PHI-210RS-CL05 Instructor: Justin Wisniewski September 26, 2015 Written Case Analysis 4 In the particular case presented, Case 4 the parties “involved are a Superior Court judge, a father, his 5-year-old son, and the mother of the child.” (Ruggiero 171) The moral issue is second-hand being a danger to the child in question; and the fact that the judge has ordered the mother to stop smoking around her child. People know the dangers of second-hand smoke and how harmful it can be your child’s health, or anyone’s health for that matter. When “the judge ordered the woman to stop smoking around her child, his judgement corresponds with the natural value that we have a moral obligation to care for ourselves and others. Also, we are prohibited from acting in ways that could harm innocent persons.” (Burnor 182) Based on the judge’s decision, “negative rights,” he made a claim against the mother that she should not be smoking around her child.” (Burnor 196) So he is deterring the child from second-hand smoke and making sure he is protected. Now the mother must practice “positive rights” (Burnor 195) to ensure that she does what is morally right to make sure the health and well-being of he son are of utmost importance. Also, the father can be more at ease knowing his son is free from second-hand smoke. Because of the judgement against the woman, she can accuse the judge and possibly her child’s father of violating her “human rights.” (Burnor...
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..." TER 1 Wat Is Morality. I \\·e are discussing nd-sm~ll matter, but how we ought to live. SOCRATES, AS REPORTED BY PLATO IN THE REPUBliC (CA. 390 B.C.) 1.1. The Problem of Definition Moral philosophy is the attempt to achieve a systematic under standing of the nature of morality and what it requires of us in Socrates's words, of "how we ought to live,r and why. :It would be helpful, therefore, if we could begin with a simple, uncon !roversial defiuition of what lIJ,Qrality is. But that tums out to be impossible. There are many rival theories, each expounding a different conception of what it means to live morally, and any definition that goes beyoud Socrates's simple formulation is bound to offend one or another of them. This should make us cautious, but it need not paralyze us. In this chapter I will describe what I call the "minimum con ception" of morality. As the name suggests, the minimum con ception is a core that every moral theory should accept, at least as a starting point. We will begin by examining some recent moral controversies. The features of the minimum conception will emerge from our consideration of these examples. 1.2. An Infant with No Prospects: Baby Theresa Theresa Ann Campo Pearson, an anencephalic infant known to the public as "Baby Theresa," was bom in Florida in 1992. Anen cephaly is amoll'g the worst cong~nital disorders. Anencephalic infants are sometimes referred to as "babies without brains," and . dlls gives...
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...Helping Others Travis Heasley Ethics and Moral Reasoning: PHI 208 Craig Thompson 12/9/2013 Helping Others There are many places in the world that are not as fortunate as we are in this country and face issues that we cannot even comprehend as American citizens. “Famine, Affluence, and Morality” by Peter Singer is an article that talks about one of these issues that was affecting the East Bengal region of India in the early 1970’s. Singer was writing about how countries that have money can give relief money without affecting any projects that are of moral importance. Singer makes the point that “it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it (Sing, 1972).” Which means as I said above that if we have a road project, that if not built, would not affect any moral issue in the country. Singer says if something is morally right then as a human-being we should do what is morally right and not worry about something that is not morally important. Singer is very passionate in this article and wants help for his cause. His goal is to have countries to give relief funds to refugees of East Bengal region in India. He says in the article that “Britain has given £ 14,750,000 to the relief effort but in comparison to the £ 440,000,000 they have used to fund the Anglo-French Concorde Project, which is for supersonic transport, means they value transportation over lives...
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...Singer’s Moral Guilt T PHI 208 January 7, 2013 Peter Singer’s goal in “Famine, Affluence and Morality” was to try and to get people all around the world to realize that they, as human beings, have a moral responsibility to help other human beings in need if they can. He argues that the way we view moral issues and our moral conceptual schemes need to be altered, and in fact the whole way in which our society takes our way of life for granted. Peter Singer’s argument is that “if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it”. (Singer, 1972). He believes that everyone in similar circumstances as himself should give as much as possible, up to the point that they might also be at risk of poverty themselves. He argues that if everyone in society all across the world did this, that the world would not only solve the Bengal crisis, but would also end world hunger all together. That also by not contributing to helping people suffering from tragedies we are not being morally responsible as a race to our “global village”. Counter points to Peter Singer’s argument that he makes are as follows: First he states that the view that he has taken on the Bengal crisis and world hunger may seem “too drastic a revision of our moral scheme”. (Singer, 1972). That in fact people would not judge other people in the way that he suggests they should, that they would save their judgment...
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...Corporate and Culture Moral at Work People naturally resist change of any kind, especially when that change affects the way they work. As a result of this resistance to change, any organizational culture change is likely to negatively affect employee morale. Employees will complain and resist this change, asking why it is necessary. In order for your culture change to be accepted by your employees, you must anticipate this reaction and prepare for it. Identifying Decreased Morale Decreased company morale is not always easy to identify. Complaints and grumblings are the most common symptoms of reduced morale, but they are just a few signs that things are not right in your company. Calling in sick, arriving late for work and leaving early are other indicators that morale is decreasing in your company. Mistakes and poor treatment of customers are two other signs that company morale is declining. Your managers and supervisors are on the front line of company morale and you should listen to them during your culture change. Culture Change and Morale Changing your company culture involves several steps and processes. Your first step is to identify what you stand for and state it as simply as possible. For years, General Electric stated, "We bring good things to life." Employees and customers understood what this meant and how to behave because of it. To make your culture change successfully, you must articulate clearly your company's philosophy. Once this is understood, your change...
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...To Obey or Not to Obey that is the Question... By Michael Howell Course: Phil 3740 - Philosophy Law Instructor – Professor Anna Gotlib Spring 2012 Page -1 The law is of no other. No other form or entity commands the stoicism it possesses. The law is a showcase of protection and order, keenly exhibiting direct justification without emotion or feeling. One may twist and manipulate it, even use it to an unfair advantage finding favor in wealth; yet, absolutely no one is above it. That facet alone places it in a class all its own. Everyone must yield to its magnitudes. Yet, in all its magnitude there is no moral obligation to obey the law. We are faced with tough decisions day in and day out. There are many deciding factors that aid us in our decision making. One major factor is our moral judgment. Morality may differ from one individual to the next, but the desire to live by them remains the same. When obeying the law comes into play it does not inflict, by any means, whether this moralistic trait determines your duty nor does it dictate cause to obey the law. Your moral duty is loyal to your own wellbeing and what in your own mind is best for your own person. Even if what you are doing is to benefit others your own person is being satisfied, and yes in some cases this may involve not obeying the law. And in many cases whether you obey the law or not the law does not change. So therefore your obligation to it in reality has no value to it, only to yourself and your...
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...solely by good intentions without any considerations to consequences. In addition, one must follow the laws and the categorical imperative in order to act in accordance with and from duty. Several other philosophers such as Hannah Arendt discuss Kant’s moral philosophy. In her case study: “The Accused and Duties of a Law-Abiding Citizen”, Arendt examines how Adolf Eichmann’s actions conformed to Kant’s moral precepts but also how they ran of afoul to his conception of duty. In contrast, John Stuart Mill adopts a teleological view of moral philosophy. He exposes his view of consequentialism and utilitarianism to argue that an action is morally right only to the extent that it maximizes the aggregate happiness of all parties involved regardless of the motive. In the present paper, I will expose Kant’s moral precepts and the importance of duty in his Deontological principles. Then, I will evaluate Arendt’s report on Adolf Eichmann to analyze the ways in which his actions were in accordance to or against Kant’s moral philosophy. I will conclude my discussion with an evaluation of Mill’s approach to morality in order to examine the differences between his teleological philosophy and Kant’s ethical principles. Kant’s moral philosophy is based on the categorical imperative (CI), good will, and duty. According to the CI, it is an absolute necessity, a command that humans should accord with universalizable maxims to treat people as ends in themselves and exercise their will without any...
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...adquirir tintes de responsabilidad con el medio ambiente: como reciclar el agua, separación de la basura, ahorro de energía, entre otros, y con la sociedad, para ser consideradas empresas socialmente responsables, con el fin de convertirse en una estructura integra ante sus clientes, sus competidores y empresas que podrían ser posibles aliadas. El ser una empresa ética implica trabajar en equipo arduamente estableciendo en todos los departamentos de la organización una serie de principios como la integridad, el reconocimiento de lo que es un valor y la lealtad a la organización. Las empresas deben de establecer un código de conducta por el cuál todos los trabajadores deben de regir su comportamiento y desplazar el oportunismo, la doble moral, revelar secretos de la empresa, recibir regalos a cambio de favores, etc. En el código de valores se debe de tener en cuenta el trabajo en equipo para lograr objetivos comunes y personales, cumplir con la filosofía de la empresa, tener la actitud para trabajar, cumplir las tareas, desarrollar capacidad de liderazgo, participar en las capacitaciones que la empresa disponga, cuidar los bienes, maquinaria y equipo de la empresa, el respeto a los demás y así mismo, aceptar evaluaciones relacionadas con el dominio y conocimiento de su...
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