ENVS203: Environmental Ethics, Justice, and World Views

1.1: Overview of Ethics

• 1.1.1: What Is Ethics?

  • Penn State University: "What is Ethics?" and "Basic Ethics Concepts" Page

    Read these articles, which offer a comprehensive introduction to ethics and also introduce the concept of justice, which will be covered in Unit 4. As you read, attempt to correlate the types of ethical theories and origins with your personal viewpoints and experiences.

• 1.1.2: Foundations of Western Ethics

  • The Philosophy Pages: Garth Kemerling's "The Origins of Western Thought", "Socrates: Philosophical Life", "Plato: Immortality and the Forms", and "Plato: The State and the Soul"

    These articles will guide you through the early major philosophical thinkers of the ancient world, and how their thoughts and beliefs helped to shape our society. Aim to compare your beliefs and morals with the ethical and moral theories of these early theorists, and think about how ethical theory has evolved through time.

• 1.1.3: Ethics and Morals

  • 1.1.3.1: How Do Ethics and Morals Differ?

    • WiseGeek: "What is the Difference Between Ethics and Morals?"

      Read this article, which examines some of the dimensions along which ethical behavior and morality differ.
      

    • 1.1.3.1 Discussion URL

      After you have finished reading, reflect on the following questions. If you wish, please post your thoughts on Saylor’s Discourse forum. Leave a reply to your classmates’ posts as well!

      1. Do you agree with the differences between ethics and morals in 1.1.3.1? Why or why not? 
         
      2. What would you add to this definition? What would you delete from it?
         

      Note: You will need to create an account at discourse.saylor.org to participate in the forum. Signing up is free and only takes a moment.

  • 1.1.3.2: Ethical Behavior

    • DCU Institute of Ethics: Bert Gordijn's "Ethics - Current and Future Challenges" Page

      Watch the video, which is a presentation by Professor Bert Gordijn, a leading international expert in bioethics. The speaker introduces the key ethical behaviors and notes the current and future challenges of ethical behavior facing various organizations. As you watch the video, try to relate the behaviors to how current challenges are faced in areas such as healthcare, religious organizations, and the media.
      

    • The Open University: "Ethics in Complementary and Alternative Medicine" Page

      These sections examine a real-world link to ethical behavior in the healthcare sector. It presents an example of how we apply ethical behaviors to our fellow human beings, a concept which contrasts to how we treat the environment in which we live.
      

• 1.1.4: Ethical Viewpoints

  • 1.1.4.1: Metaethics

    • New World Encyclopedia: "Metaethics" Page

      Take notes as you read this entry. This is the first of three ethical viewpoints presented in Subunit 1.1.4. As you work through the rest of Unit 1, make sure you can correctly distinguish among these concepts because they will appear often throughout this course.
      

    • University of Oxford: Marianne Talbot's: An Introduction to Ethical Reasoning Page

      Watch this lecture that introduces and discusses ethics and the key differences between the four theories about moral facts. As you watch the video, try to frame the main theories and beliefs discussed within the context of the early philosophers you studied in subunit 1.1.2.
      

  • 1.1.4.2: Normative Ethics

    • New World Encyclopedia: "Normative Ethics" Page

      Take notes as you read this entry.  This is the second of three ethical viewpoints presented in Subunit 1.1.4. As you work through the rest of the unit, make sure you can correctly distinguish among these concepts because they will appear often throughout this course.
      

    • 1.1.4.2.1: Normative Ethics: Virtue Ethics

      • University of Oxford: Marianne Talbot's: Virtue Ethics Page

        Watch this lecture that discusses Virtue Ethics, a key normative ethical theory that was introduced in Subunit 1.1.4.2. As you watch the video, try to frame the main theories and beliefs discussed within the context of the early philosophers you studied in Subunit 1.1.2, noting particularly the links to Aristotle. Consider how this branch of ethics may have evolved since the early ethical philosophers.
        

    • 1.1.4.2.2: Normative Ethics: Deontology

      • University of Oxford: Marianne Talbot's: Deontology Page

        Watch this lecture that discusses Deontology, another of the key normative ethical theories that you read about in Subunit 1.1.4.2. As you watch the video, you should attempt to compare these ideas with the ideas presented in the lecture in Subunit 1.1.4.2.1 on Virtue Ethics. Do you have any strong feelings as to which theory may hold more value in terms of your own beliefs and morals?
        

  • 1.1.4.3: Applied Ethics

    • New World Encyclopedia: "Applied Ethics" Page

      Read this entry, taking notes as you read. This is the third of three ethical viewpoints presented in subunit 1.1.4. Make sure you can correctly distinguish among these concepts - they will appear often throughout this course.