Is it true that Philosophers are the only ones who examine ethics.?

Social and biological scientists also examine ethics, but from a descriptive approach, observing and documenting behaviors rather than analyzing principles.

Introduction to Ethics: Core Concepts and Dilemmas

Ethics is the philosophical study of morality, focusing on principles of conduct and value to answer 'What ought I do?' by critically analyzing viewpoints and engaging with moral dilemmas.

Core Principles

Philosophy is the pursuit of wisdom, involving critical analysis of viewpoints to find truth, not to win arguments.
Ethics is a branch of philosophy that studies right and wrong action, judgments, rules, principles, and theories.
Moral actions are evaluated as ethically permissible (right) or ethically reprehensible (wrong).
Ethical inquiry involves Normative Ethics (guiding principles), Meta-Ethics (meaning of terms), and Applied Ethics (real-world issues).

Action Steps

Use a dedicated notebook for lectures and readings to think through philosophical ideas.
Engage with moral dilemmas by recording your intuitive response and the factors that informed it.
Critically analyze all viewpoints, including your own, to pursue truth rather than winning arguments.

Key Terms

Philosophy: The love of wisdom, involving the pursuit of wisdom through questioning and critical analysis.
Ethics: A branch of philosophy that focuses on principles of conduct and value, answering 'What ought I do?'
Morality: The study of right and wrong action, judgments, rules, principles, and theories.
Socratic Method: A process of questioning to seek further understanding and truth, inherent in which is a genuine focus on learning.
Ethically Permissible: An action that is right, which can be obligatory or optional (neutral or supererogatory).
Ethically Reprehensible: An action that is considered wrong and should not be performed.
Normative Ethics: The study of the principles, rules, and theories that guide our actions.
Meta-Ethics: Focuses on the foundational aspects of ethical inquiry, analyzing the meaning and logic of ethical terms.
Applied Ethics: The process of applying normative and meta-ethical approaches to heavily debated subjects like euthanasia, abortion, and social justice.

Pro Tips

Do not use AI or Google for quizzes, as this will hinder your learning and ability to succeed on exams.
Allocate significant time for reading, as this is a demanding course.
When analyzing dilemmas, use the facts presented and avoid creating new scenarios.

Pitfalls to Avoid

Attempting to win arguments instead of seeking truth prevents genuine philosophical inquiry.
Using digital shortcuts like AI for assignments hijacks learning and impedes success.
Ignoring the facts of a dilemma by creating new scenarios distorts the ethical analysis.

Myth vs Reality

Philosophers are the only ones who examine ethics.: Social and biological scientists also examine ethics, but from a descriptive approach, observing and documenting behaviors rather than analyzing principles.

Real World Examples

The Ring of Gyges thought experiment: Explores whether individuals would act morally if they could do so without consequences or discovery, questioning the basis of ethical behavior.
Ethical Dilemma One: Rainforest Ruffians: Presents a choice between sacrificing one person to save 50, or refusing and allowing 30 to be pushed into a shark pit, forcing a decision on the value of lives.
Dilemma Two: The Connection Case: Asks whether one has an obligation to remain connected to a stranger, whose life depends on it, for an indefinite period, exploring bodily autonomy versus the duty to save a life.
Dilemma Three: Coffee Dilemma: Questions the morality of buying a $10 coffee instead of donating the money to save twenty children, highlighting the conflict between personal desires and altruistic obligations.
Dilemma Four: Shallow Pond: Poses whether one is morally required to save a drowning child, even if it means failing a final exam and delaying graduation, weighing immediate moral duty against personal consequences.
Dilemma Five: Hurricane Island: Requires choosing between allocating limited power to save 50 children or 500 frozen embryos, presenting a difficult trade-off between present lives and potential future lives.

Timeline

Autumn 2026: Introduction to Ethics course (PHIL 1130) begins.

People

Socrates: Ancient Greek philosopher known for the Socratic Method of questioning to seek truth.
Larry Hinman: Professor who notes that ethics is 'the conscious reflection of our moral beliefs through the use of normative theories.'
Lewis Vaughn: Philosopher who defines normative ethics as 'the study of the principles, rules, and theories that guide our actions.'
Peter Unger: Philosopher whose dilemmas (e.g., Living High and Letting Die) are used as variations in the course.
Judith Jarvis Thomson: Philosopher whose dilemmas are used as variations in the course (e.g., The Connection Case).
Peter Singer: Philosopher whose dilemmas are used as variations in the course (e.g., Shallow Pond).