Understanding Ethics: Foundations, Dilemmas, and Origins
Understanding Ethics
What is Ethics?
Etymologically, the word “ethics” has roots in two Greek words:
- Ethos, meaning custom, habit, or use.
- Another word meaning dwelling or usual place of residence, but also character, way of being, feeling, and thinking.
Its meaning is equivalent to “moral” (as often done). In a narrower sense, we understand the ethical way of being human, of living in the world, to be at the core of our existence. In this manner, we differ from all other beings in the world in at least
Read MoreUtilitarianism, Kantian Ethics, and Rawls’ Theory of Justice
Utilitarianism: Bentham and Mill
The normative principle that gives legitimacy to the laws is happiness, understood as pleasure, for as many people as possible. The difference between the utilitarianism of Bentham and Mill is that while Bentham considered all forms of happiness at the same level, Mill argued that pleasures related to moral and intellectual development were superior to other forms of physical pleasure.
Utilitarianism raises two objections:
- It is conceivable that, sometimes, the happiness
Understanding Robotics: Laws, Characters, and Challenges
Chapter 1: The Three Laws of Robotics
Understanding Key Concepts
Let’s examine the Three Laws of Robotics and define some important words:
- Harm: To injure, damage, or have a bad effect on someone or something. This is crucial to the First Law because robots, being potentially stronger than humans, could be dangerous without this rule.
- Conflict: When different statements or suggestions are contradictory, they cannot all be correct or happen simultaneously. This concept is vital in the Second and Third
Nietzsche: Morality, Metaphysics, and Nihilism
Nietzsche’s Critique of Western Philosophy and Thought
Nietzsche’s primary concern is the philosophical conception of the world. He felt that Plato (and Socrates) were wrong to prioritize eternal truth and goodness, denying the concept of becoming. Nietzsche’s critique of the Western tradition can be divided into several key areas:
Critique of Morality
Nietzsche refers to traditional morality as “contra-nature,” laws against natural instincts. He argues that this morality, rooted in Platonism (and
Read MoreEthics, Morality, and Citizenship: A Deep Dive
What is Ethics?
The word ethos comes from Greek and originally meant “abode” or “dwelling place.” Aristotle refined its meaning to “character.” This concept leads us to assert that ethics is learned. Morality is a set of values of good and evil that control the conduct of human beings. Ethics is a reflection on the various moral codes of people.
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development
Kohlberg’s moral stages comprise three levels:
- Preconventional Level: Rules are an external reality, respected only due
Marx’s Theory of Alienation and Value
Alienation in Marxist Thought
Marx adopted the concept of alienation from Hegel, but with significant differences. While Hegel saw alienation as a process of the *Idea* becoming *Nature*, Marx grounded alienation in the material conditions of human existence. For Marx, alienation refers to the exploitation of one human being by another. It signifies the loss of autonomy and freedom experienced by one social class due to the exploitation by another, primarily stemming from the private ownership of
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