Interactive Virtual Tour of Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights:
How do we know what is right or wrong?
Morality and ethics have been the subject of philosophical, political and religious discussions for centuries. In addition, ethics provided material for authors and artists. Hieronymus Bosch's painting 'The Garden of Earthly Delights' may be old, but it still appeals to contemporary viewers, not in the least due to the reflections it provokes. Many cultures and religions are obsessed with the idea of purity and excess is often defined as sinful. But why is this the case?
We may all have a gut instinct about what's right or wrong. But why? And can we trust our intuitive ethical judgement? Why does one person find gay marriage completely unacceptable, whereas someone else claims it is a human right? Which way of knowing do we resort to when we make ethical judgements? Are we always 'reasonable' or perhaps sometimes too rational when defining what is morally acceptable? Are we guided by the stories our tradition or religion has passed us on through language? Is sense perception a deciding factor or are we rather guided by emotions such as disgust and fear? From a Theory of Knowledge perspective it is easy to see that the knowledge community you belong to strongly influences your perception of morality. Whilst keeping in mind that the world in which we live may not exist in an absolute sense (see TED talk by Wade Davis), we should not resort to moral relativism either. It is, however, important to critically analyse knowledge claims in the area of ethics and to keep your eyes and ears open for interesting, real life situations in the field of ethics. These situations could then be developed into higher order knowledge questions.
We may all have a gut instinct about what's right or wrong. But why? And can we trust our intuitive ethical judgement? Why does one person find gay marriage completely unacceptable, whereas someone else claims it is a human right? Which way of knowing do we resort to when we make ethical judgements? Are we always 'reasonable' or perhaps sometimes too rational when defining what is morally acceptable? Are we guided by the stories our tradition or religion has passed us on through language? Is sense perception a deciding factor or are we rather guided by emotions such as disgust and fear? From a Theory of Knowledge perspective it is easy to see that the knowledge community you belong to strongly influences your perception of morality. Whilst keeping in mind that the world in which we live may not exist in an absolute sense (see TED talk by Wade Davis), we should not resort to moral relativism either. It is, however, important to critically analyse knowledge claims in the area of ethics and to keep your eyes and ears open for interesting, real life situations in the field of ethics. These situations could then be developed into higher order knowledge questions.
Knowledge framework, knowledge questions and topics of study (TOK guide 2015)
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Possible essay questions:
- “No knowledge can be produced by a single way of knowing.” Discuss. (May 2015)
- “The main reason knowledge is produced is to solve problems.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? (November 2015)
- “Ways of knowing are a check on our instinctive judgements.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? (May 2015)
- “Metaphor makes no contribution to knowledge but is essential for understanding.” Evaluate this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge. (November 2016)
- Is the availability of more data always helpful in the production of knowledge? Explore this question with reference to two areas of knowledge. (November 2016)
An Introduction to Ethics.
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The historical development of marriage:
How geographical and historical variables influence what we consider (un)acceptable marriages.
Moral dilemmas
Moral behaviour in animals
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Ethical theories:
ethical_theories.pdf | |
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Moral relativism
According to moral relativism, there are no universal ethical values. Homosexuality, for example, is a capital offense in one country, whereas it is a human right in another. Polygamy or polyandry are ethically sound marriages in certain communities, whereas they are illegal in others. Incest may seem repulsive to many people, but it was quite commonplace in Roman society and is still morally acceptable in some communities. Some people find adultery acceptable in certain contexts, whereas others feel that it is one of the highest forms of betrayal which should be punished by the death penalty. Our perception of what is right or wrong is heavily influenced by the knowledge community we belong to and the wide variety of moral practices in the world would support the notion of moral relativism. Even though it may be difficult to come up with a moral absolute and universal truth in a post-modern world, there are intrinsic limitations with moral relativism, as the cartoon below illustrates. Moral relativism may imply tolerance regarding the range of cultural practices around the world, but it can also lead to a mere disinterest in the well being of those who belong to a different knowledge community; which is in itself unethical. Do you feel that it is possible to define some ethical universal values? Do you think certain cultural practices should be banned on the basis of the notion of 'common humanity'?
Kant's view on ethics.
According to Immanuel Kant, ethics was a matter of doing one's duty. These duties were not a matter of arbitrary, subjective judgement. We can find out what one's duty is objectively, by appealing to reason. Consistency was a key term within Kant's philosophy of ethics. In addition, he claimed that the motive for one's actions was more important than the actual outcome or consequence (see clip below for a thorough explanation). What do you think? Is the intention or the outcome of actions more important from an ethical point of view?
Religious ethics
Many people feel that their ethical code can easily and unquestionably be traced back to religious books. The world's religions provide moral inspiration for many people, yet the Greek philosopher Plato was not convinced that we could derive ethics from religion. He felt that our moral values defined whether or not we should accept religion and not the other way around. What do you think? Does your religion define your notion of ethics or do you accept or reject your religion due to your ethical foundations?
Utilitarianism
Maximisation of happiness in a scientific manner
'The greatest happiness for the greatest number of people'
Jeremy Bentham and Stuart Mill coiled the term 'utilitarianism' in the eighteenth century. They wanted to create a moral theory founded on scientific principles. As such, the outcome of actions was very important (versus Kant's approach to ethics) and utilitarianism implies that one can measure morality by calculating happiness in a mathematical way. This extremely rational theory may seem coherent, but does it have its limitations? Do you feel we can solely rely on reason and science to develop a practical ethical theory?
Self-interest or altruism?
Are human beings always selfish? Do you feel that when we do something good, this is because it makes us feel better? Is our morality founded in the evolution and preservation of the species? Or are we just scared of being punished when we do something wrong? On the other hand, you may believe that we are capable of altruism. If so, what would be the ultimate altruistic act?
Hedonism: can a philosophy of pleasure really work?
knowledge and linking questions
Ethics and emotion
Ethics and 'progress'
Human sciences and ethics
The MIlgram experiment
do the findings of the milgram experiment lead to moral relativism? Which knowledge issues arise from this sociological experiment? What about ethical restraints on experiments in the field of human sciences?
the_milgram_experiment.pptx | |
File Size: | 1091 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
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