Sharing links are not available for this article. Typically, Socrates begins by asking an authority of a subject, often a Sophist, what that subject really is. On closer examination, even a question as apparently simple as whether or not to give aid to alleviate poverty may be fraught with difficult issues. Other … (Remember that 'normative' ethical theories are concerned with moral actions, and with how people 'ought' to live their lives.) The Western Ethical Tradition and the Morality of the Warrior. It is concerned with being good - in other words, with being a good person with good intentions. Ethics - Ethics - The history of Western ethics: The first ethical precepts must have been passed down by word of mouth from parents and elders, but as societies learned to use the written word, they began to set down their ethical beliefs. The email address and/or password entered does not match our records, please check and try again. The author argues that Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, Machiavelli, Kant, and Nietzsche each contribute to the contemporary understanding of the warrior and his morality. Western culture has developed many themes and traditions, the most significant of which are: The “Elements” of Kant's Practical Philosophy: The Groundwork After 200 years... How Original is Machiavelli? Or is it purely the action itself (in this case, the act of giving) that is intrinsically right? Lean Library can solve it. Virtue ethicists typically assert eudaimonism is a close connection between virtue and the agent’s own flourishing, whereas consequentialists deny this. New login is not successful because the max limit of logins for this user account has been reached. Should I help my colleague out with getting the report in on time, even though I'd rather leave work early and join my friend for a social meeting? Our views are a blend of classical and modern elements, and these views change and tend to emphasize various components of classical or modern theory depending on our level of optimism, or cynicism, with respect to the role of the United States in the world order. Or is it because we have a duty to uphold other peoples' fundamental human right to live healthy and secure lives? (For example, is it important to know before we donate money what percentage of our money will go to helping the needy and how much will go to paying consultants or NGO executives?) If you look at the diagram in … On what ethical basis should individuals give money to charity? Traer (2013) illustrates the task of understanding normative ethical traditions in terms of different paths on a mountain. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click on download. We usually weigh up the rights and wrongs of these small decisions fairly quickly and easily. The main task is to clarify how to distinguish consequentialism in general from virtue ethics in general. For instance, a general principle such as 'all people have the right to a clean environment' may be applied more specifically: 'therefore a company should not be allowed to pollute the environment and to endanger the health of local residents'. Every day, you probably make dozens or even hundreds of decisions about what could be considered 'ethical' issues. The article makes the case that by examining the Western ethical tradition as a whole, we will have a more comprehensive understanding of the potential virtues and vices of the warrior morality. If you are aware of some of the theoretical conflicts between these traditions, and if you can recognise when these ethical principles are being used, this can equip you to spot inconsistencies in the arguments that you or others make. One of these standard… Whatever the reason, is it the consequences of our actions that matter? These are terms that you may not have come across before. II. These questions are a starting point for a brief consideration of the main traditions of Western ethical thought. Therefore, in contrast to deontological ethics, the teleological ethical traditions concentrate on the purpose of - or the intention behind - human actions. Comparison between Western and Eastern Ethics: This product could help you, Accessing resources off campus can be a challenge. Click the button below for the full-text content, 24 hours online access to download content. If you look at the diagram in 2.1.1, most of the words will not be new to you. These records constitute the first historical evidence of … the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. When people use deductive reasoning, they are applying a general principle to a particular situation. View or download all the content the society has access to. Deontological theories focus on whether ethical decisions per se are right or wrong, regardless of the consequences or intentions of those ethical decisions. By continuing to browse Sign in here to access free tools such as favourites and alerts, or to access personal subscriptions, If you have access to journal content via a university, library or employer, sign in here, Research off-campus without worrying about access issues. If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Please check you selected the correct society from the list and entered the user name and password you use to log in to your society website. Political science department at Saint Vincent College, Center for Economic and Policy Education, Military Graduate Program at Norwich University in Vermont. If you look at the diagram in 2.1.1, you can see that ethical theories emphasising duty or rights branch off the right action path, whereas ethical theories concerning character or relationships diverge from the being good path. Is it because we have a duty to give some of our income to help people less fortunate than ourselves? 'Right action' and 'being good' identify different paths on the mountain. The main fork in the path in Western philosophy which Traer (2013) identifies is that between deontological and teleological ethics. Most of these ideas form the basis of modern-day environmental and development policy, and they are very commonly used as the basis of ethical arguments, often as a result of deductive reasoning. By becoming familiar with the main traditions of ethical thought, you will be able to identify clearly how you use these principles when you construct your own arguments. I have read and accept the terms and conditions, View permissions information for this article. Find out about Lean Library here, If you have access to journal via a society or associations, read the instructions below. It is concerned with right action - in other words, with doing the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do. Bradley C. S. Watson. You will also be able to recognise these arguments when they are used by other people. Please read and accept the terms and conditions and check the box to generate a sharing link. This course provides an opportunity for students to explore the rich tradition of Western ethical reflection and moral formation. The e-mail addresses that you supply to use this service will not be used for any other purpose without your consent. If you have access to a journal via a society or association membership, please browse to your society journal, select an article to view, and follow the instructions in this box. Contact us if you experience any difficulty logging in. The focus of teleological ethical theories is on what the goal of a given decision is. You can be signed in via any or all of the methods shown below at the same time. Is it simply that giving money to charity makes us a good person - and, perhaps, allows us to feel better about ourselves? It does so by surveying the various ways in which ethics and morality have been understood and approached by major figures in the Western tradition