Ethics Discipline

An Ethics Discipline is a philosophical discipline of ethical judgements and right action (by moral agents).

• AKA: Moral Philosophy.
• Context:
  • It can range from being an Abstract Moral Philosophy to a Personal Moral Philosophy.
  • It can range from being a Consequentialist Moral Philosophy to being a Deontological Moral Philosophy.
  • It can range from being Applied Ethics (real-world contexts) to being Meta-Ethics (ethical concepts).
  • ...
  • It can support a Moral Argument by providing a framework for evaluating the ethical implications of actions.
  • It can involve applying Virtue Ethics, which focuses on the character and virtues of a moral agent rather than specific actions.
  • It can explore the concept of Moral Relativism, where the truth of moral judgments can vary based on cultural or individual perspectives.
  • It can influence the development of Ethical Codes in various fields such as medicine, law, and business.
  • It can be an element in discussions of Social Justice, examining how ethical principles apply to issues like equality and human rights.
  • It can guide Moral Decision-Making in situations involving Moral Dilemmas, where there is no clear right or wrong answer.
  • It can be influenced by cultural, religious, and historical contexts, shaping how ethical principles are interpreted and applied.
  • It can involve debates over Moral Absolutism versus Moral Relativism, examining whether there are universal moral truths.
  • It can intersect with Political Philosophy, exploring how ethical principles guide governance and the creation of laws.
  • It can provide the foundation for Human Rights, arguing for the inherent dignity and worth of every individual.
  • …
• Example(s):
  • AI Ethics that focuses on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, including issues like AI-caused bias, AI-caused privacy concerns, and the AI impact on employment.
  • Medical Ethics that involves the ethical principles in the field of medicine, addressing topics like patient autonomy, informed consent, and end-of-life care.
  • Environmental Ethics that explores the moral relationship between humans and the environment, addressing issues like conservation, sustainability, and animal rights.
  • Business Ethics that examines the ethical principles guiding corporate behavior, addressing issues like corporate responsibility, fair trade, and employee rights.
  • Legal Ethics that pertains to the ethical standards and responsibilities of legal professionals, including issues like client confidentiality, conflict of interest, and professional conduct.
  • Research Ethics that governs the ethical standards in academic and scientific research, including issues like informed consent, data integrity, and the treatment of human and animal subjects.
  • Military Ethics that involves the moral principles governing the conduct of armed forces, including just war theory, the treatment of prisoners of war, and civilian protection.
  • Educational Ethics that explores the ethical responsibilities in the field of education, focusing on issues like academic honesty, teacher-student relationships, and equitable access to education.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Epistemology.
  • Metaphysics.
  • Aesthetics.
• See: Normative Philosophy, Epistemology, Virtue Ethics, Moral Relativism.

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References

2013

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics
  • Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct. The term comes from the Greek word ethos, which means "character". Ethics is a complement to Aesthetics in the philosophy field of Axiology. In philosophy, ethics studies the moral behavior in humans and how one should act. Ethics may be divided into four major areas of study:
    • Meta-ethics, about the theoretical meaning and reference of moral propositions and how their truth values (if any) may be determined;
    • Normative ethics, about the practical means of determining a moral course of action;
    • Applied ethics, about how moral outcomes can be achieved in specific situations;
    • Descriptive ethics, also known as comparative ethics, is the study of people's beliefs about morality;
  • Ethics seeks to resolve questions dealing with human morality — concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime.

2011

• (Singer, 2011) ⇒ Peter Singer. (2011). "Practical Ethics." In: Cambridge University Press.
  • NOTES:
  • It explores applied ethics from a utilitarian perspective, addressing contemporary moral issues like animal rights and euthanasia.
  • It argues for ethical decision-making based on the consequences of actions, aiming to maximize overall well-being.

1984

• (MacIntyre, 1984) ⇒ Alasdair MacIntyre. (1984). "After Virtue." In: University of Notre Dame Press.
  • NOTES:
  • It presents a critical analysis of modern moral philosophy, emphasizing the loss of coherent ethical frameworks in the contemporary world.
  • It advocates for a return to Aristotelian ethics and the importance of virtue and community in moral reasoning.

1974

• (Taylor, 1974) ⇒ Paul W. Taylor. (1974). “Principles of Ethics: An Introduction." Dickenson Publishing Company. ISBN:0822101424
  • QUOTE: Ethics may be defined as philosophical inquiry into the nature and grounds of morality. The term "morality" is here used as a general name for moral judgments, standards, and rules of conduct. These include not only the actual judgments, standards, and rules to be found in the moral codes of existing societies, but also what may be called ideal judgments, standards, and rules: those which can be justified on rational grounds. Indeed, one of the chief goals of ethics is to see if rational grounds can be given in support of any moral judgments, standards, and rules, and if so, to specify what those grounds are.

1785

• (Kant, 1785) ⇒ Immanuel Kant. (1785). "Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals." In: Cambridge University Press.
  • NOTES:
  • It introduces the concept of the categorical imperative, a key element of deontological ethics.
  • It establishes a framework where morality is based on duty and the universalizability of actions, rather than consequences.

350 BC

• (Aristotle, 350 BC) ⇒ Aristotle. (350 BC). "Nicomachean Ethics." In: Classical Texts.
  • NOTES:
  • It is one of the foundational texts of virtue ethics, focusing on the development of good character and the importance of virtues in achieving eudaimonia (flourishing).
  • It emphasizes the role of reason and the golden mean in living a morally virtuous life.

450 BC

• (Confucius, 450 BC) ⇒ Confucius. (450 BC). "The Analects." In: Classical Texts.
  • NOTES:
  • It provides a moral framework centered on virtue and proper conduct, emphasizing the importance of filial piety, respect, and moral cultivation.
  • It is a foundational text in Chinese philosophy, influencing Confucian ethics and its focus on harmony in social relations.

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