Overview
This week you will go over Utilitarian moral reasoning and the problems that arise from its application. You will examine Kantian ethics and the implications; that arise from its application. You will also compare and contrast consequential and non-consequential moral theories. The Philosophical Essay is due this week, the Discussion is optional.
Email and Instant Message etiquette:
When you approach me through an Email or the Instant Message feature, always include the name of the course. While asking a question or seeking more information, it is important that you clearly state the name of the Assignment or the Discussion week.
Week 6 Discussion Wrap up ??
I went over your week 6 Discussion posts; I am delighted with the selection of the discussion topics and found your interactions interesting. I am posting a case study related to Moral Relativism, go over the ethical problem given here. In her article, ‘Trying Out One’s New Sword’, philosopher Mary Midgley presents a moral problem. I have posted this case study in my Discussions reply as well.
“The word tsujigiri in Japanese literally means ‘cross roads-cut.’ However as used in Samurai culture it meant something like, ‘to try out one’s sword on a chance wayfarer.’ It seems that the only test that would guarantee that a samurai’s new sword was sharp enough was to slice a human being in half diagonally from the shoulder to his opposite hip. In order to accomplish this test, the samurai would wait at the crossroads for the next (unfortunate) traveler”.
Is this practice morally acceptable?