Introduction to Moral Philosophy

Moral philosophy is about making moral choices – about

how people decide what is moral / immoral.

Morality is concerned with ideas of right and wrong.

Making a moral choice is not like choosing something to

wear; it involves choices about how we should behave
and the intentions behind our behaviour.
It involves what society, and we see as the correct
values to have.
Introduction to Moral Philosophy
Think of some of the topics that might be
covered under

“Moral Philosophy”
Introduction to Moral Philosophy
What is morally right is not the same as
what is legally right (although what is
legal is usually thought to be moral too).

Think of something legal

but you could argue is immoral
Introduction to Moral Philosophy

Now think of something illegal

but you could argue is moral
Introduction to Moral Philosophy
Moral philosophers look at the reasons
behind decisions about what is right and
wrong and debate whether these decisions
are justified.

This is important because if we don’t have

good reasons against murder, torture etc we
don’t have any real justification in
condemning it.
 Introduction to Moral Philosophy
Others say there is more to moral decision
making that it makes sense to discuss and
debate decisions of this nature in a way that it
does not make sense to debate the taste of
sauce (obviously tomato is best !!!).
Introduction to Moral Philosophy

Think of an argument to support the idea

that morality is a matter of taste.
Introduction to Moral Philosophy

What are the possible consequences of

dealing with morality like this?
Introduction to Moral Philosophy

Think of an argument to support the idea

that morality is more than personal taste.
Introduction to Moral Philosophy

What are the possible consequences of

dealing with morality like this?
Introduction to Moral Philosophy
Why should we be moral?
Before you came to this class, you have probably had to
make at least one moral decision. Perhaps you could
have taken a chocolate bar from the canteen without
paying and not been caught, perhaps you promised to do
something for a friend and they seem to have forgotten
and you have to decide whether to remind them.
Everyday you have to choose between what you want
and the interests of others, between your desires and
perhaps, rules you feel you should obey.
Introduction to Moral Philosophy
But why should other people matter,
why shouldn’t we just suit ourselves?
Answers like ‘because it is unfair to others’ don’t always work.
Some people don’t care about others. The answer ‘because the
consequences will be bad for you’ might not apply if there is no
way anyone will find out.
So why should we be moral?
Here is a story told by the famous philosopher Plato.
It is known as the

‘Myth of the Ring of Gyges’

Introduction to Moral Philosophy
‘Myth of the Ring of Gyges’

Plato’s friend, Glaucon tells the story

of a magical ring, which allows the
person wearing it to be invisible.
Glaucon says that if we had such a
ring and could get away with anything,
we would do so. We would be selfish if
we could get away with it.
Introduction to Moral Philosophy
‘Myth of the Ring of Gyges’

If you had the ring of Gyges what would you like

to do?
What ‘immoral’ acts might you commit if you
knew you would not be caught?
Are there any things you still would not do even
if you would get away with it? What are they?
Why would you not do these things?