- descriptive: what PEOPLE THINK IS RIGHT
- meta: what RIGHT EVEN MEANS
- normative: what is RIGHT THING TO DO
- applied: application of moral knowledge in real life situation
Descriptive ethics
- empirical investigation of actions that are rewarded or punished by society
- value free approach
- eg. Lawrence Kohlberg’s stages of Moral Development
Heinz Dilemma
- dilemma: obey law vs save a life
- steal drug to save wife
Lawrence Kohlberg identified 3 stages of moral development
| Pre conventional (Below 9 Years) | Stage I | R&W determined by what an individual is punished for eg. Child scolded for stealing |
| Stage II | R&W by self interest eg rewards eg. child does chores for reward | |
| Conventional 9-19yr | Stage III | Interpersonal relationship, Conformity eg. Student volunteer to gain praise |
| Stage IV | Social order, laws need to be obeyed eg. Person stopping at traffic signal | |
| Post Conventional above >19 yr | Stage V | Social contract, laws made by agreement, can be changed for greater good eg. protesting against unjust laws |
| Stage VI | Moral Guidelinese Justice, fairness, humanity, equality eg. Socio-religious reformers, whistle blowers |
Meta Ethics
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what does right mean?
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sub discipline of ethics, involves evaluation of ethics
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eg. why is stealing immoral? Is it always immoral?
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Moral absolutism: exists absolute definition of moral conduct which doesnt’ change with circumstances or context eg. Nishkama Karma, religious teachings, Deontology
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Moral Relativism: nothing right or wrong forever; standards depend on society, culture, time period etc. eg. Matri-local, patrilocal
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Moral objectivism: some acts objectively right or wrong, independent of what an individual thinks eg. FD in constitution
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Moral Subjectivism: right or wrong not determined by rules/regu, but by perception of subject eg. X & Y having differing views on same thing (dams give elecrticity vs dams displace locals)
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Moral Nihilism: nothing right or wrong inherently, even if circumstance
- relativism allows R&W in rel. to context
- subjectivism allows existence of moral judgements
- Nihilism considers moral judgement meaningless, since no basis for determining right or wrong