Engineering 6101 - Assessment of Technology

Lecture 2:  Introduction to Ethical Theory I

Last Lecture:  “our focus will be on normative engineering ethics, i.e., how people should behave in engineering contexts..”

We set aside the question: ‘uhhhh....how people should behave in engineering contexts, according to whom?’

The Goal of Ethical Theory

Generally: to provide a systematic answer to the question of how we should behave

Our project:  to survey a variety of theories as to what matters morally

Theory 1. Moral Objectivism

Moral Objectivism: What is morally right or wrong doesn’t depend on what anyone thinks is right or wrong. 'Moral facts' are like 'physical' facts in that what the facts are does not depend on what anyone thinks they are.  They simply have to be discovered.

E.g., Divine Command Theory – what’s right is what God commands; what’s wrong is what God forbids

Theory 2. Moral Relativism

Moral Relativism: What is morally right or wrong depends on the prevailing view in the society or culture we happen to be dealing with.

Often presented as a tolerant view:  ‘if moral relativism is true, no one has a right to force his moral views on others.’

Increasingly popular in recent years

Did this change with Sept. 11?

A Bad Argument for Moral Relativism

The 'Cultural Differences' Argument

Claim: There are huge differences in moral beliefs from culture to culture and era to era.

 E.g., Some cultures endorse the killing of elderly members of the tribe, we condemn such actions.

Conclusion: There is no objective fact as to which of these beliefs is correct, morality is relative.

Why is the Cultural Differences Argument Weak?

I. Controversy regarding how much fundamental disagreement about morality there really is

II.  Differing opinions regarding an issue don’t prove there is no fact of the matter about that issue

Imagine relativism about the shape of the earth (e.g., in the 1400s)

Objectivist Theories

Suppose for the moment that objectivism is true.  What are the objective facts of morality?

Main Candidates: 

Consequentialist/Utilitarian Approaches

Deontological/Respect for Persons Approaches

See Chapter 4