Feelings as Instinctive and Trained Response to Moral Dilemmas

⮚ When feelings are involved in the decision-making, the process may be considered as
subjective
o In this sense, ethical subjectivism as a theory emerged. A theory which holds that
our moral opinions are based on our feelings and nothing more
⮚ This idea of ethical subjectivism has developed as a simple idea in the words of David
Hume who claimed that morality is a matter of sentiments and not a matter of fact
o Simple subjectivism states that the idea that something is good or bad means
approval or disapproval of that something
⮚ What are the implications of Simple Subjectivism?
o It cannot account for disagreement
o It implies that we are always right
⮚ An improved theory related to simple subjectivism is Emotivism
o It was developed by Charles L. Stevenson, and was considered as one of the
most influential theories of ethics in the 20th century (Rachels, 2007)
o This theory started by looking into the usage of language in our daily conversations
o Telling facts is one of the uses of language
o Another use of language is to state a command, like: “Submit your reflections!”
o Another use of language which is neither a fact nor a command is simply to
express speaker’s attitude on something such as: “Aha! Amazing”
⮚ Emotivism holds that moral language is not fact-stating; it is not used to convey
information; its purpose is different (Rachels, 2007)
o First, language is used to influence people’s behaviour
o Second, it is used to express one’s attitude

Is Feeling Helpful in Making Right Decisions?

⮚ We are persuaded by reason, but we are moved by emotion
o Several studies conclude that up to 90% of the decisions we make are based on
emotion
o We use logic to justify our actions to ourselves and to others
o Significant factors include past experiences, a variety of cognitive biases, an
escalation of commitment and include outcomes, individual differences, including age
and socioeconomic status, and a belief in personal relevance but the question of the
help of feeling in decision making is significant

Connecting With Emotions in Decision Making

⮚ Yes, feeling is helpful
o Most of us are groping in the dark, swimming in a mixture of emotions – from the
misery that may trigger the thought of escape from a bad situation, to the
excitement that comes with the spark of an idea, to the feeling of quasi-terror
when we imagine all the things that could go wrong if we leave the comfort of
what we know and venture forth onto a new path
⮚ When we are in doubt or feeling lost, we seek anchors: a path, a formula, a strategy and
tactics to go with it
o However, there is no official process or manual for knowing when you are ready
to make a life-changing move
o Yet, we seek a foothold so that, as we go through the necessary emotional and
mental turmoil, we can stand up straight and take our first steps towards
evolution, change, and fulfilment. Towards our freedoms, dreams, and desires
⮚ We go through a process each time we make big decisions or choices that lead us on a new
path
o It is partly emotional, intuitive, and intellectual
o It is partly planning, rationalizing, and imagining
o And it is entirely driven by a relentess need to be better persons, to live better
lives, and to make life better for others
 ⮚ Ultimately, however, if the heart is not involved, decisions will not feel ‘right’
o We can numb out our feelings, our intuition and our heart. We can ignore or
suppress emotions. But only for so long
⮚ Feeling is different from emotion (feeling as a sensation)
o Feeling can help to identify underlying emotions that are rising up inside you and
manifesting as actions, thoughts, and behaviours
o Without awareness of this concept, we can feel like we are being pushed around
by invisible forces or that we have no control over ourselves
o With every major life decision, there are a consistent set of feelings for me:
restlessness, anxiety, and inner turmoil. Depending on the reason for the decision
I need to make, there are underlying emotions that include: unhappiness,
sadness, rage, hope, excitement, and optimism
⮚ The foundation of the process is in the emotions, whether we are aware of them or not
o Identifying the emotions, feeling them through and through, accepting and
working with them is the key to being more in control of the decision
o If we cannot identify the emotions, they could overpower our rational thinking and
lead to choices we may regret, rather than choices that empower us

The Seven Steps of Moral Reasoning Model

⮚ A model for making moral decisions, Rae (1996) suggests the following procedure for
making moral decisions – within this, his work is not to get you to the “right” answer but to help you
ask the right questions in your ethical deliberation
o Rae says his model is free from cultural, ethnic and religious background biases –
though it is consistent with the Bible and uses biblical principles, it is not a
distinctively “Christian model”

A Model for Making Moral Decisions

⮚ It is oriented towards virtues and principles with consideration of consequences as a
supporting role
⮚ What is an ethical dilemma?
o An ethical dilemma is a conflict between two or more values – or virtue driven
interests
⮚ There follows Rae’s list of elements for making moral decisions:
1. Gather the facts – the simplest way of clarifying an ethical dilemma is to make
sure the facts are clear
2. Determine the ethical issues – ethical interests are stated in terms of
legitimate competing interests or goods
3. Determine what virtues / principles have a bearing on the case – in an ethical
dilemma, certain values and principles are central to the competing positions
4. List the alternatives creatively. Determine possible courses of action for your
dilemma – some will almost immediately be discarded but generally the more
you list the greater potential for coming up with a really good one
5. Compare the alternatives with the virtues /principles – this step eliminates as they
are weighed by the moral principles which have a bearing on the case
6. Consider the consequences – if principles have not yielded a clear decision,
consider the consequences of your alternatives
7. Make a decision – ethical decisions rarely have pain-free solutions – it might
be you have to choose the solution with the least number of problems / painful
consequences

Moral Courage: The Difference between Reason and Will

⮚ Moral courage is described as the willingness to act for moral reasons even at risk and
adverse consequences
⮚ As we look into the discipline of human activity, we can see two great dynamos: the
intellect and the will of man
 ▪ The work of the first is to know; and of the second is to desire, to move, to
enjoy
▪ The will of itself is blind; like every other appetite in every other
creature, it trails along, following and limited by knowledge
▪ The intellect, of itself, is powerless to move itself or anything else
▪ Yet from the combination of these two, we have that distinctive human
product – movement with knowledge, controlled or deliberate movement,
that is the means by which happiness is obtained. Not movement alone,
but controlled movement make a success of life

Will as Equally Important as Reason

General Principle – reason is the form of human activity

⮚ The answer is easy enough. But, to grasp all its implications, it is necessary to
remember that reason is the form, as it were the soul, of human acts; as the soul of man
gives life to his body, so the reason of man gives humanity to his acts
o From the very beginning, then, reason must lead the way; until reason has
placed its stamp upon the coin of human activity it is not coin of the realm
⮚ The apparently vicious circle of the interaction of intellect and will is broken by
tracing the beginnings of that interaction to nature and ultimately to the source of
nature
o Reason must lead the way; but the first movement of reason is inspired, not
by the activity of the will, but by push from nature

With reference to the goal or end – apprehension, volition, enjoyment

⮚ The beginnings of human action deal with the end of human action. Looking for the
roots of that action which alone is human, we must fool: first at the actions of intellect
and will that deal with the goal or end
o And of course the first act of the intellect deals with the work of knowing
o The very first step is knowledge or apprehension of the end
o The will, riveting this end proposed by the intellect, pays it the flattering tribute
of wistfulness (volition). Further impressed by the desirability of this end, the
will does more than merely wish; it wants this end or goal, and that means it is
ready to take what steps are necessary to get it
o Finally, when the attainment of that desirable object is over and done with, the will
sits down to enjoy the possession of its goal
 No risk is taken with the beginning of all human activity
o The goal that is naturally, necessarily known by the intellect is goodness; what
the will necessarily wishes is the good, the desirable; moreover that is what it
wants, what it will take steps to attain, and what alone will satisfy it
 The solid foundation of human activity, the element of it that needs no control, does not
detract from man’s mastery of his life but rather makes it possible