Anthony
Weston. A Practical Companion to Ethics
This
is an outline for thinking about key points in the text and some ideas and terms
that are related to materials in the text. You need to understand the terms and
be able to explain them and also be able to write an informative essay on some
of the questions in preparing for exams. Material from the texts will be on the
exams even if not covered in class. You may raise questions [indeed, are
strongly encouraged to raise questions, objections, etc concerning the text
material in class. You will be given priority over whatever else is being
presented in class.]
NOTE
that not all examples suggested come from text – also some other ideas and
comments may be added to supplement reading and thinking about the text.
The
link below takes you to some sources for ethical issues. These include videos,
written sources, etc. However, the link is somewhat erratic at times in linking
up to pages.
1)
Stating
the obvious? Note that often what is said will make good sense and seem to state
the obvious. However, the question is whether this is a part of your basic
thinking in practice. Thus, ask yourself if and when you have or have not
applied some of the ideas presented and why.
2) What
is ethics? values? morals?
a)
Note
role of action cf thought/expectation in trying to distinguish
3)
Why
use term “practical”? Note link as well as difference between theoretical
and practical but also what characterizes each as separate matters.
4)
What
is meant by “this book is concerned with the heart?”
5)
What
routes [useful and not useful routes] to thinking about ethics?
a)
instinct?
b)
mindful
thinking
c)
dogmatism
d)
speaking
and thinking in an open-ended way – avoid easy labels [liberal, right-winger,
etc]
e)
rationalizing
f)
defensive
reaction
g)
appeals
to authority
·
religious
--who interprets? Bible and
homosexuality?
--not in the text here but relevant is
the long-standing debate over what is called historicism and now postmodernism
where all ideas seen as encased in interpretations from their time and social
life – you can find extensive comments on the nature of postmodernism and
hermeneutics [hermeneutics started from concern over how the Bible is
interpreted] at my Web page of terms: Philosophical
Terms
·
political/military
--superior orders defense
·
tradition
--which one?
--who sets?
--when does change take place and how?
·
appeal
to rules [the fancy word for this is deontology – you need not get deeply into
this but may wish to see extensive comment on this at my Web page: Philosophical
Terms
--Kant and categorical imperative leads
to this. If interested see “categorical imperative” at Philosophical
Terms
--to lie is always
wrong? If not the rule then what rule for being justified to violate the
rule?
·
consequentialism
[utilitarianism] –See definitions at Philosophical
Terms
·
All the above can be confusing – how to choose?
Cannot escape choosing!! So, how do you do it?
6)
Why
the comment that struggle and uncertainty are part of ethics?
a)
Doesn’t
mention “right/wrong” or “good/bad” – are these built into his
indications of key terms?
7)
It’s
all relative?? No, there are absolutes?? The age-old debate. Which side do you
come down on and why?
a)
diverse
values
b)
common
values
c)
examples:
·
role
of women in various cultures
·
capital
punishment
·
your
own example
d) is skepticism relativism?
8)
Can
you “Mind your own business” in society? What role of ethics here?
9)
Weston’s
exercise at p. 12 calls for making an argument for the other side in order to
gain an understanding of it. This is not bad practice – try it!
10)
Creative
Problem Solving: Note how Weston seeks to open up more avenues of thinking than
we might normally use such as;
a)
not
accepting dilemmas as such always [hence, a false dilemma] and looking for
options
b)
working
beyond regular assumptions and habits – brainstorming
c)
the
intermediate possible
d)
reframing
problems [Thomas Kuhn’s book on the stultifying effect of paradigms even on
the best of scientists is a must read for students sometime during their
educational c ideas involve environmental careers]
e)
opportunism
– a problem is an opportunity
f)
[not
in text] NOTE the kind of political problems one might encounter to which one
might apply some of these such as (economic growth but conservation or jobs vs
environment “dilemmas” or free speech vs. hate literature ban on campus or
genetic research with good fall-outs (remedy Alzheimer’s disease or diabetes)
vs. horror possibilities or ethical challenges such as “choosing”
what type of child you want. What others can you think of? ---- in text: what to
do with a convicted murderer or finding a middle ground in abortion debate –
what possibilities?
g)
Don’t
polarize issues but ask “What is each side right about?” – If “right”
exists on both sides can we make a decision? Can we integrate values and move
from win/lose scenario? – How might this apply re: assisted suicide debate?
How about the “owl vs. man” debate?
h)
Weston
asks: “Can you think of any considered moral position that is just flat-out
completely wrong, with nothing
redeeming to be said about it? – Can you?
i)
Must
we compromise in the sense of splitting the difference or is their a middle way?
11)
Ethics
with a heart – what is this? What is ethics without a heart?
a)
project
selves into the other [some theorists refer to “reversibility”, the Biblical
“do unto other” and the Kantian moral imperative have some affinity with
this although the latter is more legal/rights oriented and the former two more
sentiment/empathetic oriented]
b)
note
carefully Josiah Royce’s comment, especially the last sentence: “So, dimly
and by instinct hast thou lived with thy neighbor, and hast known him not, being
blind. Thou hast made [of him] a thing, no Self at all.” [Much of contemporary
democratic theory today has some reference to “the other” in the context of
determining what is just and democratic. Sometimes the phrase is “the
marginalized other.”] ---[In extreme cases this comes into play in instances
of torture or genocide or ethnic cleansing. But one can find it also in basic
dealings with one another in bureaucratic processes with immigrants or with
persons on welfare.]
c)
Weston
doesn’t refer to the book Habits of the
Heart but it is excellent for thinking about this topic. It has a communal
emphasis rather than an individualistic one.
d)
stereotypes
and problems with the heart
e)
how
wide can the heart operate? – the
f)
only
humans? nature? animals?
12)
Do
something! What is Weston urging here?
The power point presentation below contains much of the above with a few differences.