Is Ought Argument Essay

When one hears the word Ethics the first thing that may come to mind is the word morals or the concept of good and bad. The aims of the video were to examine the subject matter of ethics, distinguish between moral subjectivism and moral realism, examine the Is-Ought problem and the difference between teleological and deontological theories of ethics.

This video was designed to take one’s cognitive process from what ethics is perceived to be to what it actually is as well as the schools of thought that are associated with the concept of ethics. It outlines a few points starting with the history of ethics, making reference to the fact that it is a philosophical discipline that originated in Ancient Greece over 2 millennia ago. The definition

. . For as this ought, or ought not, expresses some new relation or affirmation, ’tis necessary that it should be observed and explained; and at the same time that a reason should be given; for what seems altogether inconceivable, how this new relation can be a deduction from others, which are entirely different from it.” (Hume 470). The generally accepted thought after examining and interpreting Hume’s work is that the Is-Ought concept is not logical and cannot be done as logically one cannot derive a statement or make judgement of what ought to be the case from what is the

These theories came from the Greek philosophers Plato, Aristotle, and Epicurus and are noted as being some of the oldest records of teleological ethics.

The Deontological view states that people must obey the actions prescribed by morality not because of the consequences that will follow from such actions but simply because they are duty bound to do so. Most times this theory has used a god as the authority upon which morality is founded and the Judaic, Islamic and Christian conceptions of divine law are believed to be the original inspiration for deontological ethics. It was especially noted that not all deontological theories of ethics uses a supreme being as their basis for morality. Academy of Ideas (00:07:30-00:07:45)

Lastly it is explored as to whether or not philosophical ethics can help create good individuals. Some philosophers, Immanuel Kant and Arthur Schopenhauer, are skeptical and disagree with the premise while others, Richard Taylor, are of the opinion that philosophical ethics can help create good