Overview
This lecture introduces the key branches of ethics, distinguishes between types of claims, explains the methodology of philosophical ethics, and presents a famous moral argument as an example.
Branches of Ethics
- Ethics as a discipline is divided into metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics.
- Metaethics studies the nature and presuppositions of moral claims and truths.
- Normative ethics develops frameworks and theories about what is right, wrong, or how one ought to act.
- Applied ethics focuses on practical ethical problems, such as bioengineering or the morality of eating animals.
- There is a two-way influence between applied, normative, and metaethics.
Types of Claims in Ethics
- Descriptive claims describe the world as it is (e.g., "The moon orbits the earth").
- Normative claims state how things ought to be (e.g., "You should not commit murder").
- Evaluative claims assess or judge something (e.g., "Murder is very bad").
- Ethics relies on descriptive facts but is primarily concerned with normative and evaluative claims.
Methodology of Ethics
- Ethics uses argumentation rather than empirical observation as its main methodological tool.
- An argument consists of premises intended to rationally support a conclusion.
- Moral theorizing involves giving reasons (premises) that are plausible or supported, to reach normative conclusions.
Example: Singer’s Argument on Moral Obligation
- Premise 1: If you can prevent something very bad without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, you are morally obliged to do it.
- Premise 2: You can prevent someone from dying by donating vacation money to efficient mosquito net charities.
- Premise 3: Preventing someone’s death is much more important than your vacation.
- Conclusion: You are morally obligated to donate your vacation money to such a charity.
- The argument uses a thought experiment (saving a drowning child) to clarify premise 1.
- Each premise appears plausible on its own, but together they lead to a radical, demanding conclusion.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Metaethics — the study of the nature, origin, and meaning of ethical concepts.
- Normative Ethics — the domain that creates principles and frameworks for determining right and wrong.
- Applied Ethics — the application of ethical theory to practical, specific moral issues.
- Descriptive Claim — a statement about how the world actually is.
- Normative Claim — a statement about how things should or ought to be.
- Evaluative Claim — a statement that makes a judgment about something’s value or worth.
- Argument — a set of statements where premises provide support for a conclusion.
- Moral Obligation — a requirement to act in a certain way, such that not doing so is morally wrong.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on Singer’s argument and consider which premise, if any, you would reject and why.
- Prepare for the next lecture on different normative ethical theories and their roles in moral arguments.