Gened 02 Week 4 Lesson

LESSON II: The Moral Agent
Developing Virtue as Habit
??Moral Character refers to the existence of virtues such as integrity, courage,

fortitude, honesty, and loyalty.
I. Moral Character and Virtues.
Character from the Greek work " charakter" which was initially used as a mark
impressed upon a coin.
Later meaning a distinct mark by which one thing was distinguish from others and
the assemblage of qualities that distinguish one person from another.
* The use in Ethics of the word character has a different linguistic history.
* NICOMACHEAN ETHICS BOOK II. Aristotle a Greek philosopher tells us 2 distinct of
human excellence.
1. Excellences of thought
2. Excellences of character
'Ethikai aretai' means moral virtues and moral excellences.
- All this refers to the blend of qualities that make a person the sort of
ethically admirable individual.
II. The Circular Relation of Acts and Character.
In the process of moral development, there is the circular relation between acts
that build character and moral character.
Human flourishing is attained by the habitual practice of moral and intellectual
excellences or virtues.
Virtue traits of character ought to be stable and enduring and are not mere
products of fortune, but of learning, constant practice, and cultivation.
III. Moral Character as Dispositions
The moral character traits that constitute a person's moral character are
understood as 'behavioral and affective dispositions'. Dispositions are particular
kind of properties or characteristics that objects can posses.
Ex. Moral Character traits - either virtues or vices.
Virtues - disposition of character which is deserving of a positive reactive
attitude, such as praise or gratitude.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue
* A virtue (Latin: virtus) is a trait of excellence, including traits that may be
moral, social, or intellectual. The cultivation and refinement of virtue is held to
be the "good of humanity" and thus is valued as an end purpose of life or a
foundational principle of being. In human practical ethics, a virtue is a
disposition to choose actions that succeed in showing high moral standards: doing
what is right and avoiding what is wrong in a given field of endeavour, even when
doing so may be unnecessary from a utilitarian perspective.
What are the 52 virtues?
* The 52 Virtues
* assertiveness. caring. cleanliness.
commitment. compassion. confidence. consideration. ...
* diligence. enthusiasm. excellence. flexibility. forgiveness. friendliness.
generosity. ...
* integrity. joyfulness. justice. kindness. love. loyalty. moderation. ...
* reliability. respect. responsibility. selfdiscipline. service. tact.
thankfulness.
- https://www.google.com/search?q=Virtues
* Vices - is a moral character trait for which the agent is deserving of a negative
reactive attitude, such as resentment or blame.
* Noun- immoral or wicked behavior.

* A vice is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered morally wrong in
the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative
character trait, a defect, an infirmity, or a bad or unhealthy habit.[citation
needed] Vices are usually associated with a fault in a person's character or
temperament rather than
their morality.[1]
* Synonyms for vice include fault, sin, depravity, iniquity, wickedness, and
corruption.
The modern English term that best captures its original meaning is the word
vicious, which means "full of vice". In this sense, the word vice comes from the
Latin word vitium, meaning "failing or defect".
IV. 6 stages of moral development. Lawrence Kohlberg ( 1927-1987) American

psychologist- theory of stages of moral development. Agreed with...
Jean Piaget (1896-1980) Swiss Clinical
Psychologist
Piaget's story telling technique involving moral dilemmas.
Between the rights of some authorities and the need of some deserving person who is
unfairly treated. His wife was dying from a special kind of cancer. There was one
drug that the doctors thought might save her.
IV. 6 stages of moral development.
STORY con't.
It was a form of radium that the druggist in the same town had recently discovered.
The drug was expensive to make but the druggist was charging ten times what the
drug cost to make. He paid $200 for the radium and charge $2000 for the small dose
of the drug. Heinz, the husband went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, he
could only get together about $1000. he told the druggist that his wife is dying
and ask him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said: NO, I
discovered the drug and I'm going to make money from it. So Heinz got desperate
and broke into the man's store to steal the drug-for his wife.
THINK...use your sound mind or reasoning.
* Kohlberg asked a series of questions.

* 1. Should Heinz have stolen the drug? Agree or disagree.
* 2. would it change anything if Heinz did not love his wife?
* 3. What if the person dying was a stranger, would it make any difference?
* 4. Should the police arrest the Chemist for murder if the woman died?
* 5. Or Heinz for Stealing the drug?
Six stages of Moral Development
* Level 1 - Pre-conventional Morality

- Stage 1. Obedience and Punishment Orientation.
- Stage 2. Individualism and Exchange
* Level 2 - Conventional Morality
� - stage 3. Good Interpersonal Relationship
� - stage 4. Maintaining the social order
� Level 3 - Post conventional morality
� - stage 5. Social Contact and individual rights
� - stage 6. Universal principles
* Level 1 - Pre-conventional Morality
Stage 1. Respect for power and punishment.

A young child ( ages 1-5) chooses what to do- what is right- according to what
he/she wants to do and can do without getting into trouble. In this level, to be
right, one ought to be obedient to the people in power and thus, avoid punishment.
Motto " Might makes right"
Stage 2. Self-interest
Children (ages 5-10) are disposed to be egotistic or self-serving. They lack
respect for others' rights but they give others the assumption that they will get
as much more in return. " you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." motto is
'what's in it for me?'
* Level 2 - Conventional Morality
Stage 3. Being a 'good boy' or 'nice girl'. (Ages 8-16) have shifted from pleasing
themselves to pleasing important others, ussually parents, teachers, and friends.
-Seek approval
-When charge of doing wrong their behavior is likely to be justified ' everyone
else is doing it' or 'I didn't intend to hurt anyone'. -Motto: "I want to be nice."
Level 3 - Post conventional morality
Stage 4. Law and order thinking

Ages 16 yrs old and older
Have internalyzed society's rules about how to behave in accordance to laws and
customs. They realize to do one's duty to maintain social order.
Social control is exercised throught guilt associated with breaking a rule,
believing that such punishment.
Motto: " I'll do my duty."
Stage 5. Justice through Democracy

People understand the moral purpose that are suppose to be served by laws and
social customs.
When the law in democracy ceases to serve in good purpose, they feel the people
ought to get active and change the law.
Respect for the law and a sense of obligation to live by the rules as long as in
fair manner.
Motto: " I'll live by the rules or try to change them."
??Stage 6. Deciding on basic moral principles by which you will live your life and
relate to everyone fairly.
?Rare people have evaluated many values and have rationally chosen a Philosophy of
life that truly guides their life.
?They do not automatically conform to tradition or others beliefs, and to their own
emotions,intuition, or impulsive notions about right and wrong.
?Highest level, as conscience is based on moral decisions
Analysis...
Problems with Kohlberg's Theory.
?Not all ethecist accept his Theory on moral development.
?He mentioned delimmas that are artificial.
?Ex. In the case of Heinz, his subject were aged bet. 10 and 16, have never been
married, and so not credible to answer whether or not Heinz should steal the drug.
Analysis...
Problems with Kohlberg's Theory- Con't
?Some say its biased because its based on an all-male sample, and thus the stages
reflect an androcentric or male definition of morality.
?Its argued that men's morality is based on abstarct principles of law and justice,
women's based on principles of compassion and care.
To be pass this week....
??https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f0WOIHs uX8

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LESSON II: The Moral Agent

Developing Virtue as Habit

??Moral Character refers to the existence of virtues such as integrity, courage,

* Noun- immoral or wicked behavior.

IV. 6 stages of moral development. Lawrence Kohlberg ( 1927-1987) American

* Kohlberg asked a series of questions.

* Level 1 - Pre-conventional Morality

Stage 1. Respect for power and punishment.

Stage 4. Law and order thinking

Stage 5. Justice through Democracy

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