Reasoning in Ethics

This video is part of both Peter Singer's Practical Ethics class ( • Practical Ethics Course ) and his Effective Altruism class (www.youtube.co....
Meta-Ethics
Meta-ethical questions have to do with the very nature of ethics. One set of questions concern whether moral judgments can be true or not. If I say, for instance, that murder is wrong, am I expressing an objective truth or does that statement merely reflect my subjective view?
Another set of meta-ethical questions are related to the role that reason plays in the making of ethical judgments. We are going to look at two very different views on the relationship between ethics and reason-those of the Scottish philosopher David Hume and those of the German philosopher Immanuel Kant.
We are also going to look at how ethical views are related to culture. Different cultures clearly have different views of what is right and wrong, but does this mean that we cannot make ethical judgments that holds true for all people and societies? Finally, what is the relationship between religion and ethics. It is possible or desirable to reach moral judgments independently of religion?
Key Concepts and Questions
As you read and watch the videos this week, keep an eye out for the following key concepts:
- Can we reason about ethics?
- Rachel's minimum concept of morality
- Are ethical judgments objective or subjective?
- David Hume, Immanuel Kant, and Derek Parfit
- Descriptive ethical relativism and normative ethical relativism
- The idea that morality is universalizable
- Socrates and Euthyphro

[@rubberBANDmusic911]

Should be taught in grade school. Start out on the right foot has much higher chances at success. We teach career based education and ignore life based education. So has to be expected results is today's world.

[@rubberBANDmusic911]

Would be less bothersome if we didn't lock people up for doing as taught to do. Everyone. Combating has to address teaching in the beginning correction is the to late point and minimize the damaging effects prevention is where success is at.