TOK introduction ethics

• TOK
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Make sure you have your TOK journal for notes. 

What is ethics?

Ethics 

The study of what is good (right) and bad (wrong). 

Upload an image to visualise ethics.

Is it possible to study ethics at university?

1. Yes
2. No

What is NOT an ethical question?

1. Is killing always wrong?
2. Do good lies exist?
3. How important is intent in our action?
4. Is art beautiful?

What is the difference between ethics and morality?

1. There is no difference.
2. Morality is more subjective.
3. Ethics is more subjective.
4. Morality is only for religious people.

Morality 

Your sense of right and wrong, all your opinions about good and bad, made up from norms and values. 

Where does our sense of morality come from?

Possible sources of morality

• Human nature 
• Religion
• Observation and/or reasoning
• Emotional empathy
• Social and political

Ethical Reasoning

• Consequentialism: emphasis on the consequences of the choice.
  
• Deontology: emphasis on features of the choice.
  
• Virtue ethics: emphasis on moral agent.
  
• Ethics of care: emphasis on the social context.
  

Drawbridge Dilemma 

• The Baron 
• The Baroness
  
• The Lover
• The Friend 
• The Boatman
• The Gateman

https:

Rank the characters by giving them a number from 1 (least) to 6 (most) ethical. 

Character	Round 1	Round 2
The Baron
The Baroness
The Lover
The Friend
The Boatman
The Gateman

With your group 

• Discuss the ranking (listen to everyone).
• Fill in round 2 (differences are alowed). 
• Identify the underlying ethical principles for the rankings and write them down.    
• Come back to this presentation at: 10:10 am. 

Group Number	Students
1	Afnan, Khalifa, Rahma, Jess.
2	Mason, Sofia, Samuel, Isabella.
3	Sarah, Phebe, Carlo, Ian, Alyssa.
4	Matheus, Rebelle, Janaki, Frida.
5	Enock, Neda, Zoe, Terrence.
6	Selin, Mido, Rana, Or, Rokas.

Which ethical principals did you identify?

What have you learned?

• We have different 'gutfeelings' about right and wrong. 
• What ethics is.
• What morality is. 
• What sources of morality are.
• That there are 4 major streams in ethics.   

Homework TOK Tomorrow 

Make the Edpuzzle on Peter Singer's TED talk: The why and how of effective altruism (see Managebac).