Introduction to Philosophical Inquiry
ReadMe 3
Abstract: Study for Philosophical Ethics is briefly
discussed.
Welcome to the Philosophical Ethics!
In this, the third and final part of the course …
- Begin with the Introduction
to Philosohical Ethics for a general orientation to the our
approach to the question, as Aristotle put it, "living well and doing
well in the affairs of the world."
- Notice that in philosophy, the important aspect of ethics is not
a question of feelings, rules to be followed, intuitions, governmental
laws, or religious tenets. Instead, ethics is about giving good
reasons for what one ought to do in order to have a life of excellence.
- It's really important to see that one acts ethically, not because if
one does not do so one will be punished, but because, as Socrates
noted in our first edited reading, it is in our interest to do so.
- When persons act unethically in an attempt to seek their own
advantage, we should see that in a fundamental sense Socrates was
right, they are establishing habits or states of mind which will
probably produce harmful results over a lifetime.
- Some persons fear governmental and religious laws because they fear
the consequences of breaking the laws; others act in accordance
with what they know to be right because they recognize that freedom from greed,
avarice, jealously, and so forth leads to an authentic and centered
life.
- But all of these supposition remain to be proven in this section of your course.
- Continue to post to the Lander's Blackboard
Discussion Board at least the minimum number of critical comments
on the reading assignments as stated in course
policies.
Again, please continue to study daily. Philosophy takes a while to "sink
in" because we are often questioning many things we took for granted since
early childhood.
If you have any problems, email me at larchie(at)philosophy.lander.edu
at your first opportunity.
Further Reading:
- Ethics. A quick summary
of many aspects of ethics including definitions of meta-ethics, normative
ethics, descriptive ethics, and applied ethics from the Wikipedia. The
short article is useful in providing a brief overview of the different
sectors of the field.
- Ethics. An overview
of meta-ethics, normative ethics, descriptive ethics, and applied ethics
from a philosophical point of view provided by James Fieser in the Internet Encyclopedia of
Philosophy.
- Right
and Good. A discussion of moral philosophy from a law-like and a
teleological point of view in history, value theory, analysis, and
pragmatism provided by Abraham Edel in The Dictionary of the History of Ideas.
Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no
temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body
and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent
are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual
convenience I might break them, what would be their
worth?
Currer Bell, (Charlotte Brontë) Jane Eyre: An
Autobiography (London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1869), 325.
Relay corrections, suggestions or questions to
larchie at lander.edu
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This page last updated 01/27/24
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