Ethical Explorations: Marvin C. Katz, Ph. D
Ethical Explorations: Marvin C. Katz, Ph. D
Ethical Explorations: Marvin C. Katz, Ph. D
EXPLORATIONS
Table of Contents
Page
PREFACE 3
WHAT IS ETHICS? 4
ON EXISTENTIALISM 11
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES 20
BIBLIOGRAPHY 43
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PREFACE
These pages contain the transcript of the proceedings of a
fictional conference called to discuss Ethics. Picture this:
in a large meeting hall with the chairs arranged in a circle we
see assembled the regular conferees along with several new
participants..
Some of the topics which receive attention in this Part III are
immorality, selfishness, corruption, free will, human nature,
self-interest, happiness, criteria for a good theory of ethics,
derived ethical principles; and the issue of whether ethics
can be objective as well as subjective. Let’s listen in as the
discussion is already under way.
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ETHICAL EXPLORATIONS
WHAT IS ETHICS?
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and a better life. This is an objective matter, not just a matter of what
"we like." [Sure, esthetics enters into it, but how much do we now
know about the science of esthetics? One axiologist I know, using
the mathematics of the Differential Calculus, actually ran tests
measuring peoples' ratings of what they considered to be "beautiful."
There was - it turned out - a larger consensus on beauty than what
everyone expected there would be.]
Jeb: I agree with what you are both saying, Mark and
Harry. I think the our most dangerous human tendency is
perhaps to exclude from our sympathy, or have contempt
for, those who do not share our ideology.
-5-
Another point: we share this amazing planet; yet do we
appreciate it?
The beauty of all this is, as Baron explains1, “An ethic which
says that it is good to pursue our projects is specific enough
to favour values associated with the development of the
individual, because individuals need to be allowed to devise
and pursue their own projects. Correspondingly, the ethic is
opposed to values that would justify the oppression of
some people for the good of others, because the
oppressed would not be able to pursue their own
projects.” (emphasis added)
___________________
1) Richard Baron, Projects and Values: An Ethic for Today,
(London: Authors-OnLine Books, 2006) www.authorsonline.co.uk
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DOES HUMAN NATURE CHANGE?
For every day different people gain new insights and hence
-7-
change their behavior accordingly. They have learned
something new.
Jerry: Many people today already have figured out that the
concept “Might makes right” is in and of itself an immoral
means of adjudicating virtually anything, and certainly not
morals or rights. Just because, in 1940, Hitler had might that
certainly did not make him right. He was deranged, and
even so he was voted into power by under-informed voters –
or by the apathy of those who stayed home and didn’t vote
at all. [Now I am straying into Political Science, which is a
field very close to Social Ethics, but not necessarily the
same.] My point is that might does not make right since it
violates the definition of Ethics which is that every individual
is to be Intrinsically valued, (abbreviated as: I-valued.)
-8-
Keith: Regardless of our intentions, the consequences of
our actions themselves have consequences. Let's take
something as simple as lying. Maybe the only bad thing that
happens from lying is a loss of trust. That loss of trust puts
people on the defensive; and enough distrust and
defensiveness results in a society that is very
unpleasant to live in.
-9-
Modern-day genetic biologists firmly believe that Darwin has
already effectively shown that searching for a “true definition
or fixed nature” of a given species is not only futile but
absolutely unnecessary, since the definition of a species is
always-already something temporary, something which
changes, something without any permanent lasting or stable
reality.
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ON EXISTENTIALISM
Bill: Our paradigm (framework, model) for Ethics makes sense out
of that proposition by interpreting "precedes" to mean ”is more
valuable than” and by understanding "being of a person" as “our life
is our project, and that within limits we can make of it what we will”;
and understands "essence" as meaning: our genetics, our talents,
traits, and those other attributes mentioned earlier by Jack, as well as
our anatomy and physiology, body type, etc. {See page 8 above.}
Carl: Does “free will” enter into this? As I recall, Sartre emphasizes
our freedom to choose, and to live. And freedom to define ourselves.
Frank: You ask about “free will.” While I don't deny that 'every
effect has a cause' I am open to the probability of spontaneous
events being a fact of this universe. So not every event has a cause,
but every effect does. When we are truly creative we have entered
the realm of I-Value, the dimension of playfulness and spontaneity
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intuition, insight and what the Zen speak of as ‘satori.’ There are
many, many anomalies in science: unexplained events, which - for all
we know - may practically-never be explained. Mysteries remain.
What decided the outcome was that I had been studying the Golden
Rule a short while ago before this incident occurred. I finally ended up
throwing it into the box and sending it on its way to its intended
destination.... but it was a struggle - one that I have never forgotten. I
felt afterward as if I experienced free will in action!
Larry: I find that living the truth, honestly, is living knowing that you
and your loved ones (and anyone else) might well die at any moment!
'Tomorrow' may never come! Yes, this is a 'raw' sensitive place to
live, painfully aware of such a 'brutal truth', but it keeps priorities
straight. You don't take each other for granted, people become more
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important (and worthy of your precious time) than things.
Fortunately, not every moment can be spent in this (painful)
awareness, but enough, I find, to 'keep it real'. I practice ‘living in the
moment.’ Yes, I make plans, I have goals; but I like to stay in the
here and now – not letting either the future or the past rob from the
quality of life in the present.
Bert: And Reality (an Intrinsic Value) is more valuable than both.
Why? Because these are all well-defined terms and relationships in
Formal Axiology when it is applied to Metaphysics. {For details, see
Note 4 in the notes to A Unified Theory of Ethics.}
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it is I>E>S -- places Life at the top, indicating that it is worth
more than material things, which in turn are worth far more
than ideologies, doctrines, black-or-white thinking.
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OBJECTIVITY AND ETHICS
Kay: Yes, Jeb, there is. We can argue from the existence
of virtually-universally-held beliefs. Research has shown that
there is a universal belief that slavery is immoral. Would
reasonable people claim that at one time it was right for us to
hold slaves, but that now it is not? No. Rather we would
reason that then, when we enslaved human beings, we
didn’t know any better. We were ignorant, or we lacked the
capacity to I-value.
Bill: And research has further shown that people honor and
respect fair-dealing all over the world. They don’t want to be
cheated. Fairness is regarded as a high value, although
there are some difficult cases, in practice, in arriving at what
is the fairest settlement. Still people admire a negotiation
that results in a win/win, in a mutually beneficial outcome.
Being fair is one more way to add value. {See pp. 28-29 of
A Unified Theory of Ethics.}
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George: Yes, and if we are to continue surviving, any field
of study which, when applied, would aim us in the direction
of a more harmonious world is very, very useful to us. Ethics
does that, or has promise for that. Once it is more-thoroughly
researched, and the findings are widely publicized and
popularized; once its results are the story-lines for children’s
books, comic books, for movies and TV,, we are likely to
flourish and enjoy life even more than we do now.
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ourselves rather than pursuing wars, murder, revenge, or
societal harm such as ‘dissing’, blaming, and putting one
another down.
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ETHICS AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR
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Intrinsic: the organic psychotherapies, gestalt therapy,
logotherapy, etc.
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ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
___________________
(1) (Source: The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Ethics): Ethics [Internet
Encyclopedia of Philosophy]
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In our paradigm (model) for Ethics (as a coherent discipline)
we can now derive many of the above principles from a
small set of premises, as follows:
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solutions given are final. All findings are tentative, subject to
later development -- same as in physical science.
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Ida: Yes. A better and more-harmonious one would be the
result. Aristotle said that everything and everyone aims for
the good. He learned it from Plato, who learned it from
Socrates. So let each of us aim for the good, for the ideal of
a good person. I pledge that I will.
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By force of habit such a person does the “ethical thing.” The
rules s/he learned in her youth were principles of Ethics.
Many of them follow from the one imperative to I-value fellow
members of one’s species. “I ought to I-value an individual”
is the one basic imperative we derive in the coherent
discipline which we here have named Ethics. What follows
from this? Well, “I am an individual. Thus I ought to I-value
myself. And other human beings are also individuals. I must
therefore I-value them. Everyone within my ethical radius
should be I-valued. I ought to if I can extend my ethical
radius – those who I consider to be in my in-group.” As to
violations of ethical principles – of which there are plenty in
this world at the present time – this constitutes our
immorality. We might though here and now say a few words
about one of its paossible causes when it arises in people
who are otherwise generally good. Nick, do you have some
observations on this topic?
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up higher repeating the second unfounded belief over and
over to ourself. It wins out and immorality results.
Bill: To say that “If doing good deeds brings a person joy
they are only being selfish” is a misuse of language because
selfishness entails a disregard for others (instead of a
positive regard – which is what Ethics requires.)
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others, and they "walk the talk." (Those who cannot feel
caring toward others are known as 'psychopaths.')
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is something to be suspicious of, generally. Symbiotic
relationships are ideal. Those who don't love themselves
don't love others either.
S: conformity
E: individualism
I: individuality.
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HOW TO OVERCOME CORRUPTION
Dan: In his column bearing the caption “Stumbling Blocks
on the Path of Righteousness”, Benedict Carey writes, in a
N. Y. Times article published May 4, 2009:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/05/health/05mind.html?scp=1&sq=Mind+-+Stumbling+Blocks&st=nyt
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Nick: Professor David Dunning of Cornel University,
based on empirical studies which he has done, informs us
that “many types of behavior are driven far more by the
situation than by the force of personality. What someone
else did in that situation is a very strong warning about what
you yourself would do.” It may be what they actually did -- or
what you believe they did based on what you heard.
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S-value is the least of the three basic dimensions of value,
S, E, and I. All this is based on the degree of meaning upon
which each dimension is derived and defined, namely, finite,
countable, and uncountable meaning. These dimensions
are sets of predicates. Now I’m getting too technical for a
general audience, so I’ll stop here.
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Ida: We need to find motivation and discipline for some
necessary routines. For doing what we love to do we need
no motivation: we will do it. We’ll even go without eating at
times to do it.
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incompatible with the type of corruption we have, those
contrary good habits will substitute for the bad habits. Then
we will likely no longer be corrupt - in that area.
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16, 2008 - The New York Sun. I recommend a perusal of
that article to gain insight as to what is important in the field of
Ethics.
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Dan: We should each of us have a vested interest in
preserving and in many respects improving the conditions
that are prerequisites for our continued existence on this
planet. A continuation down this current road of resource
exploitation and unchecked industrial expansion is
undoubtedly unsustainable, That, at least, is one reason why
we should work for a better world. I am though aware that
Matt Ridley, in his latest book, The Rational Optimist, does
not agree with my point on “unchecked industrial
expansion.”. I find some of his reasoning to be faulty. There
is more to life than the specialization of labor and an
economy that encourages exchange. He is correct though
in his view when he argues that ideas should be freely
exchanged and shared. To do research at times means to
borrow from multiple sources. I am glad and encouraged
that the internet, our World Brain, facilitates such free
exchange. Avoiding petty egotism and cultivating humility is
the way to go.
He clearly explains how value itself depends upon the properties of what
is being valued. The properties are the facts. When we want to evaluate
a graphic work of art we consult someone who knows the facts about
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pigments, colors, canvasses, painters, etc. We require credible evidence!
Hence the implication here is that our beliefs ought to be grounded in
evidence.
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Nick: There are literally countless instances in which humanity has
suffered because people “knew” they were right without a doubt and
without the requirement of evidence. Every holy war serves as an
example of the results of belief on insufficient evidence because the
participants believe that violence is the only way to resolve disputes.
A moral individual is opposed to dogma. She wants to avoid being
doctrinaire. She holds her beliefs tentatively, in the same way as
scientists do, or should do.
For example, within the past one hundred years the average lifespan
in the U.S. has increased by 50% due to improved sanitation and
public health measures, as well as better knowledge about nutrition,
due to scientific research. That is one benefit that some of us
appreciate.
Jerry: Even further under the radar for most people are the positive
social changes that have occurred due to an improved understanding
of the human species. Just hearing about the Stanley Milgram
obedience-to-authority experiment makes people more likely to
challenge what they are told.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Milgram_shock_experiments
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systemic-thinking; “it either has to be this or that.” No other options
are considered. Working hypotheses and assumptions are a
necessary part of belief-formation, so there are other options..
I would argue that each time anyone holds an incorrect belief they
make it less likely that they will in the future be able to recognize a
theory that better aligns itself with the evidence.
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with regard to factors such as conscience, altruism, and moral
reasoning.
Children who have greater empathy skills have higher levels of every
one of those aspects, and in later life they tend to give credit for any
kindnesses they have shown to their feelings of empathic connection
and inclusiveness.
Further, child sexual abuse is not a rare occurrence. One in four girls
and one in six boys experience some kind of sexual abuse before
their eighteenth birthday. Though not every case is traumatic, there
are millions of individuals who suffer the legacy of abuse every day of
their lives. Only a tiny percentage of these go on to commit criminal
or violent acts, but given the magnitude of the problem, it is certain
that child sexual abuse is at the root of many of society's problems.
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We value something and we like something but keep in mind
that "valuing" and "liking" are two different concepts and do not
necessarily correlate. The former concept belongs to Value
Theory while “liking” belongs to Psychology. That is where it is
analyzed and explained. Right now we ought to consider that
makes an ethical theory “a better theory.” Frank, I understand
that you have some ideas on that topic, so I call on you. Would
you be so kind as to share your findings with us?
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6) it is compatible with the many and varied forms of The Golden
Rule; See http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc3.htm and
http://www.jcu.edu/philosophy/gensler/goldrule.htm
11) it derives a series of 'ethical fallacies' and shows why they are
errors in reasoning;
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16) it applies to business and management and shares a common
premise with the prevailing principle that drives enterprises, namely to
add value.
17) the meta-ethics for this theory is able to offer a precise definition
for key terms such as 'better,' 'appreciation,' 'bad,' 'fair,' 'ought',
'approval' etc, No other theory so far accomplishes this.
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Enrico: You may be interested in this update on advances
in the extention of the concept, “happiness.” The Gallup
polling organization has a Well-Being Index, a sub-section of
which measures Happiness. Here is a link to it:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/122264/Well-Being-Hawaii-Utah-Top-Nation.aspx#1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Richard Baron, Projects and Values: An Ethic for Today, (London:
Authors-OnLine Books, 2006) www.authorsonline.co.uk
To read Chapter One, click on this link: http://www.rbphilo.com/projvalchap1.pdf
Albert Ellis - with Mike Abrams, PhD, and Lidia Abrams, PhD..
Theories of Personality: Critical Perspectives (New York: Sage Press,
2008).
Epley, N., & Dunning, D. (2000). Feeling “holier than thou”: Are self-
serving assessments produced by errors in self or social prediction?
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 861-875.
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Denis Waitley, The Double Win (NJ: Revell, 1985)
http://www.amazon.com/Double-Win-Denis-
Waitley/dp/0425085309/ref=sr_1_47?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277343072&sr=8-47
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