Basic Moral Orientation

8/22/2019 Basic Moral Orientation

1/13

Lawrence M. Hinman, Ph.D.Director, The Values InstituteUniversity of San Diego

8/3/2013 (c) Lawrence M. Hinman 2002 1

Basic Moral

OrientationsOverview
mailto:[email protected]?subject=PowerPoint%20Presentationmailto:[email protected]?subject=PowerPoint%20Presentation


2/13


On what basis do we make moral decisions?

Do what the Bible tells you--Divine Command

Theories Follow your conscience--The Ethics of

Conscience

Watch out for #1--Ethical Egoism

Do the right thing--The Ethics of Duty

Don't dis' me--The Ethics of Respect

...all Men are created ...with certain unalienable

Rights--The Ethics of Rights Make the world a better place--Utilitarianism

Daddy, thats not fair--The Ethics of Justice

Be a good person--Virtue Ethics


3/13


"Do what the Bible tells you

Divine Command Theories

Being good is equivalent

to doing whatever the

Bible--or the Quran orsome other sacred text or

source of revelation--tells

you to do.

What is right equals

What God tells me to do.


4/13


Follow your conscience

The Ethics of Our Inner Voice

Conscience tells us what is right or

wrong

Often has a religious source

May be founded in a notion of human

nature

Is often negative in character, telling

us what is not right


5/13


"Watch out for #1

Ethical Egoism

Says the only

person to look out

for is yourself Ayn Rand, The

Ethics o f

Self ishness

Well known for hernovel, especially

At las Shrugged


6/13


"Do the right thing"

The Ethics of Duty Begins with theconviction that ethics

is about doing what isright, about doingyour duty.

Duty may bedetermined by: Reason

Kant: Do what anyrational agent shoulddo

Professional role A physicians duty to

care for the sick

Social role A parents duty to care

for his or her children


7/13


"Don't dis' me"

The Ethics of Respect

Human interactions should be

governed by rules of respect

What counts as respect can varyfrom one culture to another

Examples:

spitting in the sand

showing the soles of ones shoes--

Richardson

What is it that merits respect?


8/13


...all Men are created ...with certain

unalienable Rights

The Ethics of Rights The mostinfluential moral

notion of the

past twocenturies

Established

minimalconditions of

human decency


9/13


Make the world a better place

Utilitarianism

Seeks to reduce sufferingand increase pleasure orhappiness

Demands a high degree of

self-sacrificewe mustconsider theconsequences foreveryone.

Utilitarians claim the

purpose of morality is tomake the world a betterplace.


10/13


Daddy, thats not fair

The Ethics of Justice

Begins early in thefamily withfairness to allfamily members

What is fair for oneshould be fair forall.

Treating people

equally may notmean treatingthem the same.


11/13


"Be a good person

Virtue Ethics Seeks to developindividual character

Assumes good persons

will make good decisions

Developed by Plato andAristotle

Integral to the Jesuit

tradition

The Spir i tual Exercises

Provides a way of integrating

all the theories


12/13


Classroom Application

E

x

t

re

m

e

l

y

V

e

r

y

A

v

era

g

e

L

i

t

tl

e

N

o

t

a

t

a

l

l

Religious CommandsConscience

Selfishness

Duty

Respect

Rights

Consequences for Everyone

Justice

Personal Virtues

How important are each of the following in your life?

Your Initial Moral Orientation


13/13


Your Students Moral Orientation

E

x

t

r

em

e

l

y

V

e

ry

A

v

e

ra

g

e

L

i

t

tl

e

N

o

t

a

t

a

l

l

Religious Commands

Conscience

SelfishnessDuty

Respect

Rights

Consequences for Everyone

Justice

Personal Virtues

How important do you think each of the following is inyour students' lives?

Your Students' Moral Orientation

Documents

Basic Moral Orientation