Introduction to

Philosophy and Ethics

MD. ARIFUL ISLAM
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF MIS, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA

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 The Oxford English Dictionary
definition of PHILOSOPHY:
Use of reason and argument in seeking truth
and knowledge of reality, especially knowledge
of the causes and nature of things and of the
principles governing existence.
Particular system or set of beliefs reached by
this.

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Branches of Philosophy
Epistemology: What is knowledge?
Ontology: What is the nature of existence?
Aesthetics: What is beauty?
Ethics (moral Philosophy): What should I
do?

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Ontology vs Epistemology
 Ontology is the philosophical field
revolving around (the study of) the nature of
reality (all that is or exists), and the different
entities and categories within reality.
 Epistemology is the philosophical field
revolving around (the study of) knowledge
and how to reach it. One might say that it
includes the ontology of knowledge.

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Moral Philosophy (Ethics)
Ethics, or moral philosophy, ask basic
questions about the good life, about what is
better and worse, about whether there is
any objective right and wrong, and about
how we know it if there is.

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Ethical Theory
A systematic exposition of a particular view
about what is the nature and basis of good
or right.
An ethical theory provides reasons or
norms for judging acts to be right or wrong
and attempts to give a justification.

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Ethical Theory
DESCRIPTIVE: Factual, describes what IS

NORMATIVE: Evaluative, describes what

SHOULD BE

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 WHAT
SHOULD
I DO?

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EGOISM
You should act in your own best interest.

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Happiness vs. Reason
Morality motivates us to act
Our actions must be brought about by
either reason or happiness.
Happiness is conditional: what makes
people happy differs, and happiness can be
good or bad.
But reason is universal, categorical.
unconditional.
UTILITARIANISM
You should act to create the greatest
good for the greatest number.

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UTILITARIANISM
The moral philosophy that actions derive
their moral quality from their usefulness as
means to some end, especially as means
productive of happiness or unhappiness.
Applied to civics and politics, the greatest
happiness of the greatest number should be
the sole end and criterion of all public
action.

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UTILITARIANISM
Ends justifies the means…

Action

Principle

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KANTIANISM
You should do your moral duty by following
the Categorical Imperative:
Form 1) Do only that which you would will to
be a universal law
Form 2) Treat all people as ends, never as
merely means

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KANTIANISM
Morality is universal, the same for everyone:
◦ “Everyone must admit that a law, if it is to be [legitimately
binding] has to carry absolute necessity with it…” Kant,
Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals
◦ Rationally speaking, the moral law must be obeyed.
◦ And when we act, we act on maxims or practical
principles of action.
So “Act only on that maxim through which you can
at the same time will that it should become a
universal law”.
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KANTIANISM
Formula of Universal Law: "Act as if the maxim of
your action were to secure through your will a
universal law of nature"
Formula of Humanity: "Act so that you treat
humanity, whether in your own person or that of
another, always as an end and never as a means
only"
Formula of Autonomy: “Act as if you were through
your maxims a law making member of a kingdom of
ends."
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KANTIANISM
Means comes first…

Principle

Action

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 Case-1
Kevin is the engineering manager for the county road
commission. He must decide what to do about Forest Drive,
a local, narrow, two-lane road. For each of the past 7 years,
at least one person has suffered a fatal automobile accident
by crashing into trees, which grow close to the road. Many
other accidents have also occurred, causing serious injuries,
wrecked cars, and damaged trees. Kevin is considering
widening the road. Thirty trees will have to be cut down for
him to do this. Kevin is already receiving protests from local
citizens who want to protect the beauty and ecological
integrity of the area. Should Kevin widen the road or not?
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 Case-2
ACME manufacturing has a plant in the small town of
Springfield that employs about 10% of the community. As a
consequence of some of its manufacturing procedures, the
ACME plant releases malodorous fumes that annoy its
neighbors, hurt the local tourism trade, and have been
linked to a rise in asthma in the area. The town of
Springfield is considering issuing an ultimatum to ACME-
“Clean up your plant or we will levy a million dollar fine.”
ACME had made it known that the business will shut its
doors if it is fined by Springfield. What should Springfield
do?
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 Case-3
In Dr. Jones’ hospital, 5 patients will soon die because they
are in need of transplants. One needs a heart, two need
lung transplants, and two need kidneys. That day, a man
comes in to see Dr. Jones for a routine checkup. The man is
in perfect health. Dr. Jones also comes to notice that this
man is a perfect tissue match for each of the 5 patients in
need of transplant. Dr. Jones also comes to learn that this
man is new in town, that he has no family or close friends,
and that no one knows that he came to Dr. Jones for a
check-up today.

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 Case-4
Company A is a huge, prosperous aerospace engineering
firm. Company B is a small aerospace firm that does quality
work but is in deep financial trouble. A and B are
competing for a government contract. If B doesn’t get the
contract, it will fold, throwing hundreds of employees out
of work. If A doesn’t get the contract, the thousands of
employees and stockholders will barely take any notice.
Jennifer is in charge of the proposal for the prosperous firm
A. No one will notice if she intentionally botches the job.
Should she do it?

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 Case-5
A and B are the shopkeepers of two shops respectively. They are
doing business on the same street. They are honest
businessmen. When asked why they treat their customers
honestly, shopkeeper A would say: “It's very simple, customers
are smart people, and you cannot think you can always deceive
them. If they find out I have cheated them, my shop's
reputation will be destroyed. Will I not end up paying a cost for
this?” Shopkeeper B will say, “My father taught me that no
matter what, to be human is to be honest. To do business is part
of being human. Honesty is our duty.”
Whose argument do you support?
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To be continued…

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