moral philosophy

Running Head : MORAL PHILOSOPHY

Moral Philosophy

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[Affiliation]

Moral Philosophy

Is There a Minimum Conception of Morality

Morality refers to human ethics and the distinction of what is right from wrong . Although there are various principles that describe ethics and moral values , there are common ideas as to what morality stands for C .S . Lewis , famous author of classical literature and Christian works listed three things that moral values ought to help us (1 ) ensure harmony among individuals (2 ) to be a good person and produce a good

society , and (3 ) maintain a good relationship with God ADDIN EN .CITE 2Morality by Design2007October 232007http /www .allaboutphilosophy .org /morality .htmAll About Philosophy "Morality by Design " 2007

Can Moral Values Ever be Objective

Thinkers have different opinions whether moral values are objective or subjective but according to Reppert , in his book C .S . Lewis ' Dangerous Idea : In Defense of Argument from Reason , moral values are objective Objective means that things are either certainly good or bad . He explained an objective value by giving an example of a situation wherein there are real disagreements ' where one is correct , the other mistaken . A man says that person A killed person B , but the other man says otherwise . During a trial , there is no evidence to prove that person A killed person B (beyond reasonable doubt but it can be said that either person A did it or not . Reppert , then said that this situation becomes objective , not subjective ADDIN EN .CITE Reppert2Victor ReppertPhoenix , Arizona Unites StatesLewis apos Three Arguments for Moral Philosophy2007October 232006http /atheism .about .com /library /FAQs /phil /blfaq_phileth_why .htmAugust 15 2006 (Reppert , 2006

Reppert further cite some examples such as a student who wrote a defending moral subjectivism - moral values as a matter of preference and put in on a blue folder . When the professor returned it , he rated it with an F ' saying that he did not like blue folders . The student of course , felt despaired saying that the professor is unfair . In saying so , he has already contradicted his subjectivist principle ADDIN EN .CITE Reppert2Victor ReppertPhoenix , Arizona Unites StatesLewis apos Three Arguments for Moral Philosophy2007October 232006http /atheism .about .com /library /FAQs /phil /blfaq_phileth_why .htmAugust 15 2006 (Reppert , 2006

Is it Possible to Defend Ethical Subjectivism as a Moral Theory

Subjectivism is the opposite of objectivism which refers to varying degree on judgment of moral values . Kiekeben argued that the concept of subjectivism gives a simple , common-sensical ' explanation of morality . As human beings , we desire only for things that are good for us and avoid things that can harm us . A person , for example , might say that Stalin is evil , which is an expression of dislike . For an objectivist , this is not true unless Stalin possesses an evil characteristic . However , Kiekeben argued that for a subjectivist it is just an expression , it is not considered necessarily true or false . For him , having different opinions is not a bad thing at all because opinions may be used to influence other people . Kiekeben concluded that being a subjectivist is merely an expression of attitudes and opinions but studying whether one 's views are factual is meaningless or irrelevant ADDIN EN .CITE Kiekeben2Franz KiekebenWhat is Ethical Subjectivism2007October 232000http /members .aol .com /kiekeben /ethics1 .html (Kiekeben , 2000

How is Socrates ' Question from the Euthyphro Interpreted

Socrates once asked , Is the pious loved by the gods because it is pious , or is it pious because it is love by the gods ' The question could be like this , Is an action right because God approves of it , or God approves of it because it is right ' In answering the question Westacott used the essentialist and relativist approach . In explaining the essentialist view Westacott used the act of hospitality as a reference of essentialist approach . The essence of hospitality is pious itself , pious because of the quality of the act . In Socrates point of view , an action is considered pious as long as it possesses an essential quality . In a relativist view , on the other hand , the act became pious because someone labeled it as pious ADDIN EN .CITE Westacott2Emrys WestacottThe Contemporary Relevance of Socrates apos Question to Euthyphro2007October 232003http /people .alfred .edu westacott /Socrates apos 20Question 20to 20Euthyph ro .pdf (Westacott 2003

The two approaches are confusing , nevertheless , Westacott tried to establish the role of religion on morality . He said , however , that it is only effective to the people with religion or those who believe in God He mentioned another question : Do we perceive the world the way we do because that is how the world is , or is the world the way it is because of how we perceive it . It is concluded that in answering this and Socrates ' question , the essentialist approach is better used ADDIN EN .CITE Westacott2Emrys WestacottThe Contemporary Relevance of Socrates apos Question to Euthyphro2007October 232003http /people .alfred .edu westacott /Socrates apos 20Question 20to 20Euthyph ro .pdf (Westacott 2003

Can any moral action which benefits us be altruistic

Altruism refers to promoting the goodness of others and sacrificing for other people 's welfare . This is often exhibited in the families and even in animals and insects . Bees , for example , will sacrifice their life just for the queen to reproduce . This is also considered as a self-destructive behavior for the benefit of others . However Costello said that if a person does something for other people and is expecting for a reward or benefit , it is not considered altruism anymore ADDIN EN .CITE Costello2Caitlin Costello Altruism selfless or selfish ?2007Ocotber 232002http /serendip .brynmawr .edu /bb /neuro /neuro01 /web2 /Costello .htmlSerendipSerendipJanuary 7 , 2002 (2002

Does Utilitarianism Exclude the Possibility of Justice from Morality

Utilitarianism is somewhat related to altruism in a sense that it aims on generating good results since utilitarianism promotes the highest good for everyone as the end product . Morality in utilitarianism serves as a guide for human actions in achieving a better world though good consequences , not intentions . However , there is still a continuous debate on the issue of justice for utilitarians . For rule utilitarians rules or laws of the society are strictly followed no matter what the situation is , to avoid dispute with the public . Act utilirtarians , on the other hand , will disregard the law if the situation demands it ADDIN EN .CITE Hinman2Lawrence M HinmanUniversity of San DiegoUtilitarianism2007October 232001http /ethics .sandiego .edu /presentations /Theory /Utilitarianism /index_s /v 3_document .htmlOctober 8 2001 (Hinman , 2001

Is Lying Always Wrong

Based from Kant 's principles , lying is always morally wrong because (1 it violates our ability to make rational choices and (2 ) it prevents other people to choose rationally . By not telling the truth to other people , we are preventing them to make free decisions . Whether lying is done to avoid danger from happening to other people , it is still immoral . Lying contradicts the virtue honesty and for a person to be virtuous , he must not violate any virtue ADDIN EN .CITE Mazur20078 8812Tim C MazurLying2007October 242007http /www .scu .edu /ethics /publications /iie /v6n1 /lying .htmlMarkkula Center for Applied EthicsSanta Clara University (Mazur 2007 Reference

ADDIN EN .REFLIST Costello , C (2002 . Altruism : selfless or selfish Retrieved Ocotber 23 , 2007 , from HYPERLINK "http /serendip .brynmawr .edu /bb /neuro /neuro01 /web2 /Costello .html http /serendip .brynmawr .edu /bb /neuro /neuro01 /web2 /Costello .html

Hinman , L . M (2001 . Utilitarianism . Retrieved October 23 , 2007 , from HYPERLINK "http /ethics .sandiego .edu /presentations /Theory /Utilitarianism /index_fi les /v3_document .html http /ethics .sandiego .edu /presentations /Theory /Utilitarianism /index_fil es /v3_document .html

Kiekeben , F (2000 . What is Ethical Subjectivism . Retrieved October 23 , 2007 , from HYPERLINK "http /members .aol .com /kiekeben /ethics1 .html http /members .aol .com /kiekeben /ethics1 .html

Mazur , T . C (2007 . Lying . Retrieved October 24 , 2007 , from HYPERLINK "http /www .scu .edu /ethics /publications /iie /v6n1 /lying .html http /www .scu .edu /ethics /publications /iie /v6n1 /lying .html

Morality by Design (2007 . Retrieved October 23 , 2007 , from HYPERLINK "http /www .allaboutphilosophy .org /morality .htm http /www .allaboutphilosophy .org /morality .htm

Reppert , V (2006 . Lewis ' Three Arguments for Moral Philosophy Retrieved October 23 , 2007 , from HYPERLINK "http /atheism .about .com /library /FAQs /phil /blfaq_phileth_why .htm http /atheism .about .com /library /FAQs /phil /blfaq_phileth_why .htm

Westacott , E (2003 . The Contemporary Relevance of Socrates ' Question to Euthyphro . Retrieved October 23 , 2007 , from HYPERLINK "http /people .alfred .edu westacott /Socrates 20Question 20to 20Euthyph ro .pdf http /people .alfred .edu westacott /Socrates 20Question 20to 20Euthyphr o .pdf Moral Philosophy PAGE \ MERGEFORMAT 4 ...