This is very immature thinking especially for discussions within philosophy.Rational ethicist wrote: ↑Thu Dec 29, 2022 2:50 pmBut I found it weird to ask for a definition of ethics in a discussion on a forum titled "Ethical theory". I don't see the added value of defining ethics here.Veritas Aequitas wrote: ↑Thu Dec 29, 2022 4:28 am It is a prerequisite of good communication to define the meanings of the terms one use
Note the why:
- "Definitions are, however, important, potentially very important. A definition has the potential to provide clarity. "
"But why is a definition so important? Because definitions enable us to have a common understanding of a word or subject; they allow us to all be on the same page when discussing or reading about an issue."
I defined 'Morality & Ethics' as avoiding evil acts to promote its related goods.
Morality is the Pure while Ethics is the Applied aspects, like Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics and the likes.
"Anything goes" means 'one man's meat and another's poison'.How do you mean "anything goes"? It is just a definition. Or do you disagree with my definition? Morality is not about what agents should and should not do?If you define 'Morality' as what agents should and should not do, then anything goes and there will be no efficiency towards any form of progress in terms of doing good and avoiding evil.
In any case, this discussion was about universal rights, and that clearly relates to what agents should and should not do: agents should grant rights, should not violate right,...
For example,
-to the Nazis, killing Jews is moral and ethical but non-Nazis would disagree.
-in Islam it is moral to kill non-believers merely because they are non-believing which is a threat to the religion. Quran 5:33.
-there are so many moral beliefs that oppose within different moral groups.
As I had stated, the granting of rights in essence of human nature is not directly related to Morality and Ethics. They are represented by separate functions in the brain & mind.
The granting of rights can only be done within Groups in Power, i.e. Politics via the enactment of Laws to stipulate rights; religions based on the power of group or other self-organized groups within rights defined within their agreed Constitution.
The fact is in the granting of rights which is generally related to Laws, thus via politics; the compilers of the law of rights will attempt [intuitively] to align these human rights to what is natural an inherent in human nature which they are ignorant of.
Note the basic right to be free is inherent in human nature, thus the laws and ought-nots are enacted for the abolishment of slavery to enforce with threats to ensure humans comply with what is essentially their human nature.
For Morality to be applied efficiently and optimally, we need to be more specific on where it is applicable and limited to [with provision for extension]. This is why I suggest morality should be species-centric.yes, you stated it, but I think you have to argue for it. If you are unable to give an argument, your morality contains unwanted arbitrariness, and that is definitely not allowed.As I had stated, morality is primarily confined to the human species
As I had stated, morality is not to be rigidly confined to the human species and provision has to be made to other living things that are self-aware and with consideration to anything outside the sphere of the human species to ensure optimality.In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction.
What happened to your critical and rational thinking abilities in the above question?and therefrom extend to living things that has self-awareness
what about the humans that don't have self-awareness?
It is human nature that ALL humans has the feature of self-awareness.
You have any idea what is the 'Principle of Charity?.
Note, humans only has self-awareness upon a certain age between 15-18 months. Obviously it would be stupid [based on my linking morality with self-awareness] to assume morality do not apply to them?
My point;Reflective self-awareness emerges between 15 and 18 months of age when children begin to match their own facial and/or body movements with the image of themselves in a mirror, exhibiting mirror self-recognition (see Loveland, 1986, Mitchell, 1993, Rochat, 1995b for alternative interpretations).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3351035/#:
Whatever is related to 'rights' is directly related to politics, i.e. its legislative, judiciary and policing functions.
Rights in the political sense are indirectly related to Morality and Ethics [avoiding evil to promote good]; the latter is inherent in human nature, thus must be species-centric and confined to the human species.
The question of 'rights' is only necessary because the majority of people are ignorant of their own and collective human nature wherein lies the natural moral potential to avoid evil acts and be good.
Because of the common ignorance of one's inherent moral potential, there is no sufficient progress to deal with the inherent evil potential within human nature.
To be effective for Morality and Ethics, it is imperative we understand what do they represent within human nature on an objective basis, i.e. factual and realistically.
Once we understand the human nature of morality and ethics we will be able to improve on the average Moral Competence of all; therefrom we will have less dependence on the enforcements of "rights" via legal Laws and its threats to ensure compliance.