MORAL in ethics and its definitions .pptx

Ethics, moral agent

1. The Moral Agent

2. Who is a moral agent ? A moral agent is a person who has the ability to discern right from wrong and to be held accountable for his or her own actions. Moral agents have a moral responsibility not to cause unjustified harm. Moral agency is assigned only to those who can be held responsible for their actions. Children, and adults with certain mental disabilities , may have little or no capacity to be moral agents. Adults with full mental capacity relinquish their moral agency only in extreme situations , like being held hostage.

3. Role of Culture in Moral Behavior Culture is a manner of looking at reality (characteristic spirit = ethos) by a certain group of people, in a certain place, and in a certain time in history. Culture consists of the way people relate to the world through basic assumptions and images which would more or less give them a coherent view of reality they experience.

4. Role of Culture in Moral Behavior Culture involves the following: a) material living (dress, housing and architecture); b) way of behaving (customary manners and conduct); c) way of speaking (language use); d) way of thinking (thought processes); e) way of feeling (shared psychology); f) way of meaning (arts and symbols); g) way of believing, valuing and meaning (views of life and attitudes).

5. Role of Culture in Moral Behavior Human culture is a unique meaning and information system, shared by a group and transmitted across generations, that allows the group to meet basic needs of survival, coordinate socially to achieve a viable existence, transmit social behavior, pursue happiness and well-being , and derive meaning from life. Since every culture is a carrier of a community’s social practices and beliefs, the moral behavior and values are also passed on from generation to the next.

6. How does Culture shape Moral Behavior? Within culture are moral codes that are practiced through social behavior. Culture has its own ideas of what is considered right or wrong , and what is regarded as good or bad . Moral codes are a set of rules or guidelines that a person or group follows in order to live a just and good life . Moral codes are heavily dependent upon culture. Moral codes dictate many aspects of our lives, from how we act with different age groups, to how we dress , and even how we treat other people.

7. How does Culture shape Moral Behavior? Culture defines who we are as human persons. It is our identity . Who we are can be seen through how we think , act , and behave , and what we consider as right or wrong and good or bad. Who we are is manifested through our behavior. One great factor that shapes our behavior is our Culture .

8. Cultural Relativism vs. Universal Values Cultural   relativism claims that ethical truths are relative . The rightness of an action and the goodness of an object depend on or consist in the attitude taken towards it by some individual or group, and hence may vary from individual to individual or from group to group. Cultural relativism suggests that the terms right and wrong are completely dictated by the culture  that they are being used in. A person’s actions should be looked at with all things taken into account, especially the religion and culture that they grew up in .

9. Cultural Relativism vs. Universal Values Universal human values are those ideals that we believe should be privileged and promoted in the lives of all human beings regardless of the differing cultures and societies where we grew up. All societies must embrace a universal set of moral rules or standards that are necessary for society to exist . Cultural relativism claims that ethical truths are relative . The rightness of an action and the goodnessof an object depend on or consist in the attitude taken towards it by some individual or group, and hence may vary from individual to individual or from group to group. • Cultural relativism suggests that the terms right and wrong are completely dictated by the culture that they are being used in. A person’s actions should be looked at with all things taken into account, especially the religion and culture that they grew up in.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

10. Cultural Relativism Morality/ethical truths are RELATIVE & SUBJECTIVE Cultural relativism claims that ethical truths are relative . The rightness of an action and the goodnessof an object depend on or consist in the attitude taken towards it by some individual or group, and hence may vary from individual to individual or from group to group. • Cultural relativism suggests that the terms right and wrong are completely dictated by the culture that they are being used in. A person’s actions should be looked at with all things taken into account, especially the religion and culture that they grew up in.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Universal Values Morality/ethical truths are STANDARD & OBJECTIVE

11. C HARACTER = VIRTUE One cannot simply separate one’s character from one’s choice of actions . Every action carries with it an imprint or a stamp of his character. Character affects one’s maturity in such a way that it determines the kind of moral choices one makes and the kind of person he ought to be . One’s character is one’s identity. One’s identity is manifested by one’s actions and choices. A human person’s character is defined by what is within and not based on material and physical considerations ( without ). Cultural relativism claims that ethical truths are relative . The rightness of an action and the goodnessof an object depend on or consist in the attitude taken towards it by some individual or group, and hence may vary from individual to individual or from group to group. • Cultural relativism suggests that the terms right and wrong are completely dictated by the culture that they are being used in. A person’s actions should be looked at with all things taken into account, especially the religion and culture that they grew up in.