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ETHICS. CASE 2012 Lecture – 2 a Shahid Iqbal. Ethics Defined.
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ETHICS CASE 2012 Lecture – 2 a Shahid Iqbal
Ethics Defined Ethics (Greek ethika, from ethos, “character,” “custom”), principles or standards of human conduct, sometimes called morals (Latin mores, “customs” Colere), and, by extension, the study of such principles, sometimes called moral philosophy.
Ethics Defined • Assumption: thought to be true but not yet proved • Norm: what majority of people do in a role (standard behaviour) called normal • Value: ideal --- what people must do (moral / professional behaviour) • Belief: to feel sure of the truth of something, trust or confidence in something / somebody • Attitude: a way of thinking about something / sb • Behaviour: attitude & manners {habit (doing sth. without thinking) & customs (practice, traditional or accepted way of behaving)}
Ancient Mesopotamia • Hammurabi was king of Babylon, famous for issuing the first written code of laws. • If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then the builder shall be put to death. • The rules must be Fair.
AncientGreece • They believed that a vote of the people was the best way to make and to enforce the laws. • Greeks introduced juries • Greeks believed that right and wrong were basically what the majority of people thought were right and wrong. • This idea is called a group ethic.
Ancient Greece • People are ruled by reason, and they do make choices. What makes them human is this fact. • Humans are above animals because they can control their emotions and instincts, and decide logically what to do. • Aristotle believed that this was what made us human.
Zoroastrian Persian • Three principles : • development of good thoughts, • good words, and • good actions. • Achaemenid-Zoroastrian education stressed strong family ties and community feelings, acceptance of imperial authority, religious indoctrination, and military discipline.
Hebrews • From the Old Testament • Honour your father and your mother. • Do not kill. • Do not steal. • Do not tell lies against your neighbor.
Hebrews • From the Old Testament • If there be among you a poor man, do not harden your heart, or turn away from your poor brother. Be generous to him, and lend him enough for his need. • For the poor will always be with us: therefore I command you to be generous toward them.
New Testament • You have heard it said an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but I say don't fight back against evil; if someone hits you on the right cheek, let him also hit you on the left. • Matthew 5, 38-39 • Anything you would like people to do for you, you should do for them. This is the law. • Matthew 7, 12 • The idea of compassion and concern for another is stressed in Christianity.
Ancient China • Perfect virtue is according to the constant mean! • Confucius, Analects This coincides perfectly with Aristotle’s concept of the Golden Mean. • There are three principles of conduct which the man of high rank should follow: that in his words and actions he keep from violence; and he be sincere; and that he avoid bad language. • Confucius, Analects • Again this is very much in keeping with Aristotle’s view that ethics is learned through practice and ingrained into habit.
Indian Dharmasutras • Dharma means moral order, duty, and right action. • Dharma represents the belief that the way things are (descriptive law), for example, the sun rises in the East. • Svadharma, caste, what each person is and should therefore do • Sanatana dharma, eternal dharma, what all people should do: tell the truth, refrain from killing, be virtuous, and the like
Buddhism • The nature of reality is impermanent, intercausal, and empty. Morality doesn't come down to us from "up there," as in the Mosaic story in Exodus. The key question of human existence is the question of suffering, which Buddhism defines very widely (dukkha, usually rendered as "suffering" in English, is a term with a generous semantic field).
Comparison • Hebrews: The God you believe in tells you what’s right. • Hammurabi: The ruler of your country tells you what’s right. • Socrates: The majority of citizen’s in your country tell you what’s right. • Aristotle: There’s a natural human law that determines what’s right. This is the first basis for a universal system of ethical standards.
Philosophy of Quran • Do good for your parents. Your mother suffered to bring you into the world, and sacrificed for many years to help you grow up. • Idea of reciprocity • According to this rule, you should help your parents because they helped you.
Philosophy of Quran • The noblest of you in the sight of Allāh is the best of you in conduct. • And do good to your parents. • And they (the women) have rights similar to those (men have) over them in a just manner • And give full measure when you measure out, and weigh with a true balance • And the servants of the Beneficent are they who walk on earth in humbleness; and when the ignorant address them they say, Peace
Philosophy of Quran • Let not a people deride another people nor let women deride women . . . . . Neither defame one another, nor call one another by nicknames . . . . Shun much suspicion. And spy not, nor backbite one another • Say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts … • Do not enter houses other than your own houses without permission and saluting their inmates and if it is said to you, Go back. then go back
Philosophy of Hadith • B. 61:23The best of you are those who have the most excellent morals • B. 78:2Abu Hurairah said, A man came to the Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on him, and said, O Messenger of Allāh! Who has the greatest right that I should keep company with him with goodness? Hesaid, "Thy mother". He said, Who then? He said, "Thy mother." He said, Who then? He said, "Thy mother." He said, Who then? He said, "Then thy father. • B. 78:57 It is not lawful for a Muslim that he should sever his relations with his brother for more than three days
Philosophy of Hadith • Tr. 10:11The most perfect of the believers in faith is the best of them in moral excellence, and the best of you are the kindest of you to their wives • B. 10:44 She ('Ā'ishah) said, he served his wife, meaning that he did work for his wife. B. 78: 39 Anas said, I served the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allāh be on him, for ten years, and he never said to me, Fie. Nor, Why hast thou done (this)? Nor, Why hast thou not done (this)?
The Middle Ages • It is wrong to sell a thing for more than its just price because it is deceiving and injuring your neighbor. Buying and selling is intended for the common advantage of both parties. Therefore there must be equality between them. • Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II,77 simplified
Renaissance • After about a thousand years of feudalism, people began to question some of its basic ideas. This new period in history is called the Renaissance. • It was a time of change in the way people looked at their relationship with the community they lived in.
Renaissance • If people were good this rule would not hold, but because they are bad, and will lie and cheat you, you are not obligated to be fair and honest with them. • Nicolo Machiavelli, The Prince, Chapter XVIII simplifed
Enlightenment • So, whatever is good for an individual’s human nature must also be good for everyone else’s. Therefore when people act according to reason, and not emotion, they will always be in harmony with each other. • Spinoza, Ethics - simplified • When people live according to reason, they try to promote what's best for their own nature. Since other people have the same nature, what's good for one is what's good for all.
Ethical Issues • Divine Command Theory • God's Benevolence God is omnipotent (all-powerful). God is omniscient (all-knowing). God is omnibenevolent (all- loving). Evil exists.
THANKS • QA
