(Tiles' chapter one, pp. 1-23)

Introduction to Ethics

1. Ethics and habits

Ethics:  About the good and bad habits that people acquire in response to what please and pains them.

About "moral obligation"

1.1. Approaching the subject:

1.1.1. The source of word "moral":

Aristotle’s work Ethics is the first source:

Mos (moris: both habit and custom)

Aretai: excellence

Arête: virtue

1.1.2. The source of word ‘habit":

Hexis/habitus: habits

1.1.3. What makes a hexis fall within the concern of ethics?

Three kinds of answers:

It is a certain way of responding to pleasure and pain (Aristotle)

It is bind to our moral obligation. One should do one’s duty. (Kent)

"Think this is what they ought to do and feel guilty if they do not live up to their own standards." (utilitarians)

1.1.4. Morality and religion:

How to understand the ethical culture of Japan-the obligation to the emperor?

 

1.2. Habit, custom and culture:

1.2.1. Habit:

The habit that we acquire of responding to pleasure and pain are potentially the most disruptive of our interactions with one another.

James’ quote: (Titles, p. 6)

Habit is the enormous fly-wheel of society. Once made it to turn. It is so difficult to stop.

Habit keeps the society moving.

Habits constitute the fabric of human association.

1.2.1.2. Custom:

Human association requires not merely that people have habits but that they share habits. Habits that people share are called customs.

1.2.1.3. Culture:

A complex of customs shared by people who interact with each other on a regular basis may constitute what is recognized as a culture.

Individuals who live comfortably in one culture frequently find it difficult to move into another.

 

1.3. Conflicting responses:

(Activity)

 

(Tiles' Chapter Three, pp. 50-72)

1. Tradition and Charisma

1.1. Tradition (derives from a Latin verb: "to hand over" or "convey"):

A custom with a history that spans some period, typically several generations, is known as a tradition. It is a long-standing custom.

                    1.1.1. Forms of rituals:

1.1.2. A "traditional" society": Authority is based on either the memories of its old members or written record

                    1.1.3. "Traditionalists" :

1.2. Charisma (derives from a Greek word: "grace," "favor," "a free gift"):

Charisma is a quality that sets certain individuals apart and enables them to exercise power or leadership over other, more ordinary, people.

                1.2.1. "Behaviorists":

                1.2.2. Relations between "tradition" and "charisma":

                        1.2.2.1. Charismatic figures can disrupt tradition.

                        1.2.2.2. Tradition often contains elements of charisma.

                1.2.3. The Nomoi of Greek:

                    Greeks applied the word "nomos" to customs that people strongly disapproved of                      violation and had the force of law.

                1.2.4.Belief:

The authority of tradition depends on the belief that it is possible for extraordinary individuals to be in tune with the powers and principles.

2. Nature

Nature is a name for the concept that we apply to what we are given in our environment and believe we have to accept and work with.

                2.1.A basis in nature:

2.1.1.The order of nature: immature children obey their parents

                                2.1.2.A concrete morality rests in part on beliefs

2.2.The systems of belief and social structure:

2.2.1. The caste system in India is structured by the familiar concepts of cleaning and cleanliness

2.2.1.1.Ritual purity:

                                        2.2.1.2.Moralities:

                                        2.2.1.3.The beliefs about how to maintain or restore purity:

                                        2.2.1.4.A hierarchical society:

3. God’s will

3.1. Definition of religion:

A cultural system that combines beliefs about the powers that govern the world with a set of ritual practices informed by that system of beliefs.

3.2. The systems of religion:

        3.2.1.Some involved superhuman personalities (e.g. God in our belief).

        3.2.2. Some involved the rituals in which the emperor functioned in a role between society and           the order of the world (e.g. Confucianism).

        3.2.3.Some involved an exemplary person (e.g. Buddha).

3.3.The impatience of Job and the submission of Al-Ash‘ari:

        3.3.1. The gap between God and human:

            3.4.1.2. Obedience to the moral authority is often regarded as part of a bargain (e.g. Old              Testament):

            3.4.1.3. Human worried that God might pervert justice but it also possible that the sins              human committed to deserve what human have suffered. No higher authority to arbitrate              between God and human. (e.g. The book of Job)

            3.4.1.4. Islamic belief and al-Ash‘ari s’ three brother’s story . It is presumptuous to ask that             God’s way be justified.

    3.4.2. Morality and the value of obedience:

            3.4.2.1. What God does is not to be weighted on any scale that human can comprehend.

            3.4.2.2.Humans remain unconditionally bound to obey God’s word.

4. Reason

4.1. The meaning of reason (Latin word ratio):

The meanings of ratio are similar to the Greek word Logos, which means to provide an explanation or justification for something.

4.2. The absolute Moral standard

                             4.2.1. It is inappropriate to expect God to "listen reason."

4.2.2. Reason is the human capacity.

4.3. The functions of reason:

                4.3.1. It affects the way people deal with practices.

                4.3.2. It is a means to achieving some end.

                        4.3.2.1. Consistency, balance and reciprocity.

                4.3.3. It also evaluates reasons.

                    4.3.3.1.It is crucial important to have a shared sense of what is to count as similar and                      different.

4.4. Just or fair:

4.4.1. Lex talionis (law of retaliation): What is reasonable.

        4.4.1.1. No more than an eye for an eye.

        4.4.1.2. The arrangement satisfactory

4.5. God and rationality

        4.5.1.God’s activity is perfectly rational.

        4.5.2.God is the source of the order, justice and goodness.

4.6. God’s will

        4.6.1. God’s will is the only available sources of moral authority.