Have a Moral Dilemma? Start with Your Gut Reaction, but Don’t Stop There | Glenn Cohen | Big Think

TL;DR

Start with gut intuition and explore variations of ethical problems to develop principles. Consider consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics, and strive towards ethical mindfulness in everyday life.

Transcript

When thinking about an ethical problem first of all you should start always with your gut intuition. What's my intuition about this case? You never stop there. You have to keep pushing yourself to say why do I think this. First thing to do I think is to think about cases that are somewhat similar and somewhat different. Sometimes it's varying one f... Read More

Key Insights

• 😀 When facing an ethical problem, start with gut intuition, explore variations, and derive principles.
• 💭 Three major schools of ethical thought are consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics.
• 🫒 Living ethically and being ethically mindful in everyday life is as important as studying ethics.
• 💱 Historical judgment may change our perception of current ethical decisions.
• 🤗 We should be humble and open to learning as we navigate ethical dilemmas.
• 🥺 Everyday life presents numerous ethical dilemmas, and being attuned and mindful can lead to more ethical decisions.
• ❓ Studying ethics alone does not necessarily make one more ethical; it is important to put ethical principles into practice.

Questions & Answers

Q: How should ethical problems be approached?

Ethical problems should be approached by starting with gut intuition, exploring different variations of the problem, and deriving principles from these variations. This helps in developing a deeper understanding of the problem and potential solutions.

Q: How do consequentialists approach ethical dilemmas?

Consequentialists, such as utilitarians, believe that the right action is the one that maximizes overall good. They prioritize the welfare of the majority and consider individuals as containers of utility.

Q: What is the main idea behind deontological ethics?

Deontological ethics, like Kantianism, propose that certain actions are right or wrong regardless of their consequences. The focus is on moral obligations, rights, and universal laws of nature, separate from the concept of maximizing good.

Q: How do virtue ethicists approach ethical problems?

Virtue ethicists, following the ideas of Aristotle, emphasize the development of virtuous character traits. They believe that ethical decisions should be based on what a virtuous person would do in a given situation rather than solely focusing on the right or good action.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ethical problems should be approached by starting with intuition, exploring variations, and deriving principles.

• Three major schools of ethical thought are consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics.

• It is important to be mindful of ethical dilemmas in everyday life and strive to live ethically.