"Intro to Ethics: as Taught by Professor Yesudas Choondassery" E-Notes (2022)

INTRO 2 ETHICS: E-NOTES

Taught by Professor Yesudas Choondassery, interpreted by Alana Taije.

WEEK 1:

What is/are “ethics”?:
- Ethics is a philosophical investigation or study of "right & wrong."
Why study ethics?:
- To develop and assign better understandings of what is socially acceptable and why, being shaped by societal consciousness, knowledge, and forever-shifting standards.

EX:) CONSUMPTIVE MORALITY: not wanting to consume cheap labor + price gouged food is conscious consumption. *more severity seen in dietary restrictive choices (veganism, pescatarianism)
Morality & ethics are directly related to how people relate to one another.
MORAL INJURY:
- (as defined by the University of Syracuse):
  ...the damage done to one’s conscience or moral compass when that person perpetrates, witnesses, or fails to prevent acts that transgress one’s own moral beliefs, values, or ethical codes of conduct.
- (as defined by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Program):
  ...when one feels they have violated their conscience or moral compass when they take part in, witness or fail to prevent an act that disobeys their own moral values or personal principles.
  - EX): In the context of War, "Moral injury manifests from participation in actions related to combat warfare, such as killing or harming others. Moral injury can also come indirectly from acts like witnessing a death or others dying, failing to prevent similar immoral acts, and granting or receiving orders that can be viewed as immoral or inhuman."
- (as defined by the Online Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences): ... [Moral injury] is a dimensional problem that can have profound effects on critical domains of emotional, psychological, behavioral, social, and spiritual functioning (15–18).
  - EX):

Ethics is a branch of philosophy [ philos {love} - sophia {wisdom} ] - philosophy means “love of wisdom”
- philosophy deals with epistemology - “how do I know i exist? How do I know god exists?” - metaphysics, & ethics
“Ethics” is interchangeable w/ “morality” (right & wrong): “moralis” means “customs or manners”
- “ethics” is different from “aesthetics” (customs, manners, etiquette)... obviously
- ethics comes from “ethos”, meaning “character”
- approaches the study of morality
In a scientific or descriptive approach, [the] observation of human behavior creates conclusions based on observations, and no ‘value [based] judgements’ are made.
In a philosophical approach, normative or prescriptive ethics are applied & goes beyond observations to ask: how should we act & why?
“Metaethics” - committed to analysis of language, concepts, reasons & foundational structures of ethical systems
- Sati: Hindu belief system; when husband passes, is cremated, wife must commit suicide by fire during cremation (now outlawed)
- Perhaps in similar fashion to when a grieving family member collapses over the casket of a deceased loved one and falls into the grave with them after an emotional outburst... (but to have it be expected or engraved in belief and sub-ordinance to a husband is outrageous. an action of genuine passion rather than an action of expectation is always, obviously, more authentic and in-alignment with the human condition...) now most [modern] funerals and burial ceremonies force you to stand six-feet away from your loved one and make you "say your graces and get it going," before they're dropped into the dirt, and you never see them again, dying alone, being cradled and rocked to sleep for the very last time, with your backs turned to them as strangers lull them to rest...

Socratic Method: Why? Why? Why?
- Just keep asking questions, lol.
Utilitarianism: if the majority of the “population” votes “yes”, then it is the right thing to do. (Not necessarily true...)
Reason, logic, & scientific evidence is the foundation of moral philosophy.
Moral philosophers or ethicists will prescribe & describe a diagnosis to correct, or treat, immoral practices.
Sociologists merely describe situational, environmental, & personal afflictions [& do not proceed any further].

WEEK 2:

DIVINE COMMAND THEORY: “If God commands it, it must be done.”
- The belief that one is obligated to perform certain actions by moral justification, & under guidance of their believed higher power. (Joan of Arc, Spiritual Leaders & Organizations...)
Christianity is the 1st largest worldwide religion (Santeria, Mormonism, & 300+ branches of Christianity); Islam is 2nd; Hinduism is 3rd.
Judaism is one of the most ancient religions kept alive (today)
Atheism: anti-theists (lacking belief in higher powers)
Theist: one who, in academic language, believes in higher powers
Agnostic: one who, in academic language, is spiritually unsure or questionable toward the existence of higher powers
Monotheism: the belief that a singular God or higher power exists (Judiasm, Christianity, Islam; Yaweh, Jesus, Allah)
- Abrahamic Religions; Abraham was the founding father of Judiasm, thus combining the trio in origin
Polytheism: the belief that many, or multiple, Gods or higher powers exist (Hinduism, Shintoism [Japanese - kami = spirits], Confucianism [mainly state-approved Chinese spirituality]
Things that are considered societally ethical and moral are not always viewed as ethical and moral by religious groups or teachings.
There is radicalism in every aspect in life; as it can be used as faith or as a guide, it can also turn very ugly very quickly.
Values can be traced down from generations of abuses & traumas, colonization/diasporic followings, and nature vs nurture.
Human nature is something that is constantly changing and evolving as a result of conscious & subconscious knowledge, environmental circumstances, and beliefs.
Humans have a very faint hint of instinctual morality as developed through generations of emotive expression.
Tabula Rasa Theory: when born, our minds are a completely blank slate which gradually develops traits through experiences, peers, culture, beliefs, and evolves into one's' own unique moral & ethical understanding(s)
Recollection Theory: the belief that humans are born with the innate sentiment, belief, or understanding that something is off-beat when incorrect information is being processed

Socrates’s Dilemma with Euthyphro:
- “If something is good, is it good because it is under the direction of [Divination], or is it because it is innately good?”

Morality is an independent system.
Religion is not necessary to operate as a good human being - you can identify the innately good - you do not NEED the direction of scriptures or institutions to be ethical.
- Professor Choondassery asks: "How might a person be a theist (a person believing in God), but still not accept Euthyphro's Divine Command Theory for how best to live? It might be helpful to know this [Abraham] story can be clearly contrasted [with another] where the Patriarch [Abraham] actually argues with God about what justice would require [of even the Divine Creator]; that story being the famous "Sodom and Gomorrah,", found in Genesis 18:16-33."
  - Here is the second Abraham story that doesn't follow the divine command theory: LINK
  - (Links to an external site.); when this page opens scroll down to the heading "Abraham Pleads for Sodom" and notice his argument with God).

- Taije responds: "Being a theist, or believer in God, and following Euthyphro’s Divine Command Theory are not mutually exclusive. One may study or practice a certain religion that does not accept homosexuality or abortion, but may use their own *moral and ethical* discretion to abide by their own customs. Religion may be used as a guide, as faith, or hope or structure for one's life, but it is not necessarily vital [because spirituality and worship take place in many forms and facets of human behavior]... One may engage in spiritual practices to reach inner fulfillment or simply dictate themselves based on their alignment within society’s forever changing standards of political correctness, which is what I believe most people do. I believe all people are shaped by nature and nurture and it plays greatly into their perception of Divine Command Theory or following authority without question (which is also enforced by the American Education System’s Hidden Curriculum), which therefore affects one’s ability to fully stray from fulfilling Euthyphro’s Divine Command Theory. One may also simply abide by the morality of modern laws, such as not intentionally causing physical harm to another person through physically violent or dangerous acts, to not take financial advantage of others, to not steal, etc… There are many facets of life and many viable options for faith and motivation other than religious practices and/or institutions."

WEEK 3:

Understanding Ethics

Is morality objective?
Ethical or Moral Relativism:
- ...the view that [morals & ethics] are only relative to some particular degree and that no opinion or belief is unique nor 'more correct' over all others. [source]
- ...the understanding that morality varies from culture to culture, generation to generation, & differing personal beliefs.
  - - ex). Female genital mutilation or entitled “circumcision of the clitoral hoods” (to prevent the positive sexual stimulation or arousal of a woman)
      
      ex). “Honor Killing” - if the girl decides to be with a man her family disapproves of, her family will murder her for disrespecting/dishonoring their decision
      - ex). Inuit Infancide - if certain tribes do not have resources to survive, they will murder their newborn baby in order to sustain food for longer.
      - ex). Elderly Homage, Neglect or Nursing Home Culture
      - ex). Arranged Marriages - Ghana, India (forced, may include child grooms) practiced in Western World before Victorian Era
      - ex). Cannibalism...
Are there factual or scientific explanations for morality, or is it of one's individual taste + perspective?
- There are subjective + objective facts regarding the science of morality.
- Neuroscience-linked-morality is founded on the mental processing of factual information.
  - Neuroscience studies which areas of the brain are responsible for physical + cognitive functions...

- Immoral people [possibly sociopathic], those who do not feel remorse for inflicted acts of violence/discomfort/pain, often do not have the neurological links to provoke said remorse on a chemical level.
Studying neuroscience will allow you to understand the “why’s” and “how’s” of one’s logical processing, choices, and/or decision making.
- ex). Choosing apple juice in the morning - about 0.39seconds before consciously choosing to drink the juice, your subconscious brain has already taken action. That section of your mind selected that drink because your sensors, to neurons, made an educated guess about what would be best for you.
Sometimes your brain can be incorrect - under the influence [of intoxication], under duress, during psychosis, etc …
- Review facets of cognitive therapies.
Laws are not ALWAYS moral.
- ex). Capital Punishment constitutes state-mandated killing (Death Row sentencing), Anti-Abortion laws of Texas + right-winged states
  - Objective - “murder is wrong” can be wrong in more than one area; moral..
  - Subjective - “ice cream is good” is up to one’s personal taste
    
    Moral facts can be subjective or objective.

- - - Objective - “ice cream is bad for your health” can be true because of diabetes, disease, etc.
The separation between science and human values is a DANGEROUS one.
- To act impassioned or stoic as if the human experience is to be studied and intellectualized in every facet is not only draining, but is an utter disconnect from the human experience itself. Mildly reminiscent of themes in the seventh circle of Dante's Inferno.

Values are facts about the wellbeing of conscious creatures.

- Review “Sam Harris Answers Moral Questions” TED Talk on YouTube.

For knowledge to count, certain arguments/opinions must be excluded. (An act of othering)
- In terms of radicalism and monetization, yes, but the slippery slope is integrated deeply within the culture(s) of colonization & pedigree…
- EX): Opinions are good, but not all count. If you are uneducated on laws of physics, you cannot skillfully debate the laws of motion with a physicist.

WEEK 4:

Egoism, Altruism and the Social Contract

Egoism, or selfish driven individuality v. Altruism, or sacrificial lamb archetype community “peoples”
- ex) a man who would sacrifice their life for a stranger by helping someone who fell off subway tracks
Why are some people willing to help others, to the point of martyrdom? Are these behaviors taught?
"The Paradox of Helping Someone"
- “There are no [selfless] good deeds; all people feel they’ve gained something after helping another in some way, shape, or form.”

- You receive a reward irregardless of physical gifting; whether it be deeper connection, or expectation of “feeling good”, you still receive a typically *good* reaction.
  - Mother Teresa - Albanian catholic nun, joined catholic convent in India as a young girl and started her own charities; helps abandoned peoples of the world + societies and homed them [NJ, BXNY…]
  - Were her actions selfish? Did she help people for the genuine belief of helping, or because she feared damnation?
    - Catholics believe if you do good things, you get to heaven; people believe she went out of her way to secure her spot in the Heavens.
Egoism - Psychological & Ethical
- “Everyone is selfish”

- - Strong Belief - people always act for their own interest
  - Soft Belief - people often, but not always, act for their own interest
- Ethical - we MUST be selfish (for self preservation); it is part of our human nature
  - EX): self-care, general health, setting boundaries, etc...
- Psychological - we are in fact selfish, and only do things for ourselves; it is part of our human nature
  - Ayn Rand - “people must be selfish; you don't have to care for others. Selfishness is a virtue” (I disagree!)
    - Virtue (character or qualitative traits)
Individual - “I must look out only for myself, and am only concerned when something is affecting me.”
Universal - “Everyone must look out for themselves and pursue their own interests. You should help others only when it’s beneficial for you to do so.”
“Society will benefit from people progressing at their own pace” (?)
PROSOCIAL BEHAVIORS
- An act performed with the goal of benefitting another person without reciprocation
Why do people help others?
- Emotional expectations (kindness, pity)
- Generosity, without hope of reciprocation
Altruism: the desire to help another person even if it involves aspects of martyrdom
Conscious altruism is a transcendental quality of human beings.
- Most altruism and prosocial behavior is found in non-domesticated mammals, such as chimps. :)
Prosocial Behavior, Benevolence, & Pure Altruism...
Theories of Prosocial Behavior
- Evolutionary psychology - instincts and genes that provide a genetic foundation for the progression of emotional and conscious awareness + empathy skills
- Altruism is passed through the womb <333

- Social Exchange - the cost & reward; the beneficial outcome will outweigh the sacrifice made by oneself.
  - EX) A person who agrees to have their organs donated to those in need after passing.
- Empathy & Altruism - the pure motive for helping - people feel empathetic and provide emotional space/motive for behaviors
The Bystander Effect - the greater the number of bystanders who witness an emergency, the less people will offer help, because they assume someone else will do something first.
- Women are perceived as more kind and helpful, but over 90% of Carnegie Hero Awards are given to Men - definitely to do with gender and social structure... there have been many cases of faux baby-abandonments, staged in rural or far-out areas, intended to lure empathetic women to the 'baby' (most likely a radio or doll wrapped in blankets, tucked into a carriage)... by the time the Woman would unravel the fake baby, she would have already fallen victim to whomever set up the ploy.
- Women are less likely to help strangers - due to the perceived areas of danger, they are more restricted to close relationships such as neighbors, elderly folk, and children.
Cultural Normativity
- People are more likely to help those within their in-group, of which their identity aligns.
- You end up helping those who seem most like you.
  - Colorism, texturism, classism, sexism, racism, religious bias, etc.
  - Impersonal decision making is easier...
Mood - positive mood generates neglectful behavior, negative moods generate helpful behaviors.
Those who are in negative moods are more likely to try to help, those who are in good moods and less likely to offer condolences
Age:
- ex) Young children have not developed empathetic or sympathetic skills and therefore encounter some difficulty when in negative moods.
Media:
- Television, preschool programs

- - families from poverty and/or lesser education(s) have less self-serving acts than others

Being selfish is not always bad. There is always balance.
Professor Choondassery asks: "After hearing about the moral values of Ayn Rand [in her video interview with Mike Wallace -] - Do you think her call for living selfishly and not altruistically threatens the moral values of America, as the interviewer Mike Wallace suggests? And what would you say are the real moral values of America today that keep our society running as it does?"

Taije responds: "I believe that the interviewer Mike Wallace was misinterpreting Ayn Rand’s statements. In my understanding, Ayn describes her believes as humans must be self-serving in order to achieve fulfillment, because if not, they would have devoted their entire beings to serving others [to the point of martyrdom] for the sake of pleasing others, not for the sake of themselves. I am in definite agreement; if one lives entirely for the standards and preconceptions of others, they may never find themselves truly happy. I believe people begin to find fulfillment and success once they discover what that looks like for themselves, in all of its uniqueness and glory. But, if said person were to never question or pry themselves open to change standards, they would perhaps remain forever questioning what within them must be catered to. On another note, when Ayn mentions love as a bit of a business deal, I can agree with that too. People are sold and advertised love as a thing of happenstance or of very little effort, but it’s truly not that way. In order to to connect with another human, you must find cooperation, stability, communication, and equal love within another - then, you must find out what one another receives best in forms of love languages and adhere to their preferences, and move forth, or back, even, within the relationship until it fades or continues to grow. It is very much transactional in that way, in means of having to put in effort as well; you can’t expect to be loved unconditionally by anyone other than kin if you don't return the affection or put in work to make your partner feel cared for, seen, and safe."

WEEK5:

Utilitarianism

Consequentialist ideologies revolve around making moral choices because of the consequential impact it would have on others
Telos - “there are always a means to an end”
The human brain makes about 35,000 decisions a day.
- ex). What to eat, when to eat, how to eat, what to wear, where to go, what to do next…
Subconscious & conscious choices are being made 24/7.
Hedonism: looking at the diluted areas of human life; pleasure & pain - and most or all people are driven by either. You must always follow the instincts that fuel your pleasures, for they are of the highest value, on emotional, physical, and spiritual levels. Pain is to be avoided and pleasure is demanded.
- Can be a fine line, or slippery-slope; advocates for binging behaviors, love-bombing, & may possibly skew lines for predatory behavior.
Utilitarianism: evaluating and assessing the “usefulness” of items
MORAL CALCULATIONS (Hedonistic Calculus):
- Judgment + Motive + Action = Consequences.
  - The end goal is always the pursuit of happiness.
    - Judgment + Motive + Action = Pursuit of Happiness ?...
    - Pursuit of Happiness = Judgment + Motive + Action [divided by] Consequences...
  - (Positive) Action - Unhappiness = Happiness
  - (Negative) Action + Happiness = Unhappiness
    - Severe Unhappiness = Negative Net Utility [Aura?]
    - More Happiness = Positive Net Utility
Happiness is a byproduct of your actions, surroundings, and life, whereas pleasures are momentary. Happiness is fulfilling intellectually, of physical and flesh, of mind and spirit, and all of the above.
Actions should be judged right or wrong based upon their tendency to promote the pleasure or happiness of the greatest # of people.
You can suck the pleasure out of your favorite items - you become bored with repetition and will pounce at the newest make or model. Pace yourself.
Although the outcome of your choices may be identical (or the same at its root), the means by which your goal is achieved is what affects your moral compass.
- Professor Choondassery prompted: "In terms utilitarian ethics, discuss the moral issues at stake in the famous so-called Trolley Problem as related in the eText and also Michael Sandel’s Harvard lecture.), where “you are beside a train track with a train headed down the track. However, on the track ahead are five people who will all be killed if the train continues. But you also have access to a switch, and if you pull it the train will be diverted onto another track where there is only one person” (eText p.36). Do you think that this type of moral choice between the lesser of evils as in this Trolley Problem is realistic to what we might face in our everyday lives or places of employment? Do you think there is such a thing as a moral duty to choose between the lesser of evils? Why or why not? Can you give an example to support your point?"
- Taije responded: "I do very much believe the Trolley Problem is a dramatization; but, a realistic example of having to choose between two seemingly bad options. In my own family, I experience difficulty with my mother, who is an addict. [Of course] ...I desire her maternal connection, but [I] am forced to make sacrifices daily within our interactions. I must sacrifice my personal desire for an intimate connection with her because it causes me and my family more pain than it causes any form of safety. [She suffers from various comorbidities] ...and so it is a great struggle to maintain healthy boundaries with her. [My mother] struggles to maintain healthy relationships with [the family] as well, due to her inhibitions and ideas of what healthy love looks like. Although it is a great pain to have to reject her almost daily, it is more relieving than [the ladder]. The grief is unpalatable. But it is easier to cope with detachment than [d]anger. With her issues, she is prone to episodes of extreme aggression and physical violence. It is safer to love her from a distance than it is to put ourselves in harm’s way."

WEEK7

Good Will

Kantian Moral Theory: both the outcome & motive must be beneficial/ “good” - main idea(s) of american & french revolutionary times
Central focus > human dignity > anti-religious (believed they were sectarian & unreliable)
Kant believed humans were of utmost importance - we are capable of reasoning beyond instinctual bases(?) - indivision; instinctual gut feelings
Humans can analyze & mentally process choices to generate conclusions
Humans only think about 7 minutes a day LMFAOO
Organisms that move have brains - brains generate locomotion - humans have the largest and most complex machinations, with dolphins being 2nd
The Ultimate GOOD WILL:
- The mental ability to act within rules & regulations
Good, not by what it produces, but good within itself
- ex) corrupted will would result in crime, as one would not be able to restrain oneself
Laws & Rules:
- Laws are created by legal authorities and MUST be abided by; applies to all.
- Created by oneself or within familial regulations, may change
Saint Augustine: “An unjust law, is no law at all.”
If there is a law made, it is because it benefits a large number of people, not because it is always morally correct.
Rules and laws are not always healthy, beneficial, or meant to protect people.
You must make your own rules and laws of your body, mind, & spirit, & carry on.
Morality begins by rejecting any principle of action that cannot be universalized.
Maxim: one’s own principle for action in particular situations
You have a duty to treat humans, not as a means to an end, but as an end itself. “Treating people as the journey, as the goal, not as a stepping-stone.”
“Dignity has no price” self preservation is a moral duty to oneself.
- Nurturing talents, curiosities, hobbies
Sociobiology: duties to children, family are biological urges to preserve one’s gene pool, basic respect
- Duties to oneself are based on natural laws (eating, bathing, sleeping, medical care, developing natural capabilities)
- Duties to others are based on principles of reciprocity (helping others will always generate a result)
Perfect: obligations that may be pursued without the aid of other people
Imperfect: obligations that must be pursued with the aid of other people
Obligations are legally + morally binding, often by contract

Feeding your kids is a moral obligation, but legal duty
Jury Duty is both morally and legally obligated

“If everyone agrees with you, it’s the correct thing to do. If at least one person disagrees with you, then it’s not the right thing to do.”

WEEK8

Natural Law Ethics

Consequences are not always punishment, or negative.
Ethics of female-identifying persons are different from male’s.
Consequentialist Theory: nature has a purpose, a plan, and if we reason to nature’s course, we can learn from it & make moral choices based off of “natural laws”
- Natural laws describe the way nature operates & its visceral purpose, and how it affects the natural process of all living beings (human, instinctual, evolutionary survival)
  - Nature implants certain behavioral priorities in animals!! (Think of your internal body clock, the urge to procreate, sexual desire and the urge to connect... at the end of the day, no matter how smart we [humans] are, we are still mammals)
    - ex). Female animals pretend to be injured to distract predators from her nest
    - ex). Nature designs for survival, and survival requires cooperation
We can learn from nature, but we cannot say nature is always “good”
- ex) murder, cannibalism, physical & sexual assault
The legal system is morality based on natural laws.
Most religious groups follow “divine command theory”...
Natural Inclinations & Instinct:
- Desire for self preservation
- Resisting destruction, conflict or combating

- The desire for procreation & protection of offspring

- The desire for sociality
Stepping from “What Is” to “What Should Be”:
- Living organisms are designed to self-preserve, and so we learn to act as such beginning with ourselves

- Living beings are designed to procreate, and so we learn to shape facets of intimacy with sexuality
Does Nature Have Values?
- Social Darwinism:
  - serves racist and capitalist belief systems

- - “All human beings are not meant to survive”

- - Those who lack stature in wealth, education, sexuality, and looks, they will be slowly eradicated.

- - These ideologies were used to justify heinous acts such as slavery, The Holocaust …

- Feminism:

- - Feminist Theory has roots in natural law systems

- - “The long-standing history of control and dominance by men throughout the world, men who have not viewed women as their equals”.

- - In the 21st Century, Feminist Theory is the dominant sociological belief, but still are shifting tides and breaking glass ceilings.

- - Women were considered 2nd-quality citizens for eons

- - Believed to have an inability to excel in math and science, to compete in sports, to withstand physical & psychological hardship

- - BlPOC women have always endured the worst treatment, as a woman, as a black person, to be combined
  - Women are sentimentally-driven; they refer to concepts of emotional consequentialism rather than men; men think of rule-breaking and quite often “do not care”. Meanwhile, care seems to be a natural inclination of women.
  - They consider caring for others.
You have no moral obligation to care for people who are harming you, oppressing you.
The demand of care is often in conflict with the demand of “etiquette”.
ETHICS of CARE: requires personal relationship
- Caring for someone and taking care of someone are completely different things.

WEEK9

Ethics of Discrimination

The intentional & institutional aspects of wrongful discrimination in employment
- How widespread is job discrimination? Why is it wrong to discriminate?
- What is affirmative action & why is it so controversial?
Discrimination - the wrongful act of distinguishingly illicitly among people not on the basis of individual merit, but on the basis of prejudice or some other invidious or morally reprehensible attitude
- Purposeful discrimination with obvious intent by an individual or group
- Routine behavior of an institution
- Isolated
- Race, sex & gender, sexual orientation, religious/spiritual belief, economic class
- INTENTIONAL
Who are the victims of discrimination?
- Ethnicity and race are different
- Race reflects your physical genotypes, while ethnicity reflects where you came from
- Religious, ethnic, racial, & sexual groups
- Homophobia - fear of other human beings (homo = human)
- The utalitarian argument; discrimination is wrong because it violates the rights & privleges of a human’
- Justice based; results in unjust distribution of benefits & burdens society. Violates principles of

Week10

The wealthiest person on Earth is Elon Musk; he has the most worth known to any man, ever.
2nd is Jeff Bezos (amazon)
The top 8 wealthiest people on Earth are from The United States of America. Something went wrong during the distribution of wealth in the world.
The wealthy are becoming richer & the rest of us are barely sliding by.
- I believe the economy is highly similar to the way the Constitution was built; very carefully, meaning to exclude certain groups of people, and only meaning to uplift those who were already in power. Take city tolls, for example; if you can't afford a bus ticket, you have to drive somewhere - all tolls to cities are different, depending on the economic status of said town or county - New York City tolls are about 16$ to 20$, getting to Hudson County, NJ tolls are about $2.30 - $4.00.

What contributes to poverty and what can we do about it?

The richest 1% of people own nearly half of all of the wealth on the planet.

The richest 10% of people claim 86% of global wealth.

Theories of Poverty

Climatic Theory

Baron de Montesuieu (1689 - 1755)

Production and distribution of resources are limited by certain climates of the world

Has some element of fact

Classical Economics

Adam Smith (1723 - 90)

Give people freedom, and it will allow them to work better & more

Government has limited control

Population Theory

Thomas Malthus

The countries that have more people, are the poorer countries
Enforced population control: China had a 1 child policy for several years, and now have allowed 2

Communist Theory

Karl Marx (1818 - 1883)

Government controls distribution of resources, not people

Cuba, Venezuela, China, Russia, North Korea, some areas of Vietnam

The Iron Curtain & the Soviet Union

Imperialism and the Drain of Wealth

The colonization of the Western Indies led to the destruction of economy today, have been enforced by the British takeover

The Capitalist Ethos

Max Weber (1864 - 1920)

Dependency Theory

André Gunder Frank (1929 - 2005)

When you give things to people, such as welfare, they become dependent on you and produce the paradoxical input vs output

Globalization and Cultural Imperialism

Ivan Illich (1926 - 2002)

Charity is not justice, justice is not charity.

Justice goes deeper into analyzing the cause and effect of problems and to fix the issues at hand.

Justice compared to charity, efficiency, and liberty

Process & End State Distributive Justice

It’s not about how much money you have, it’s about how you made that money

Equal Opportunity

Equality of wealth is not required; if everyone is equal in this world, everyone has an equal chance to escape poverty.

Equal Opportunity is a foundation of ethics but is quite often a dream.

John Rawl’s Theory of Justice

The original position & the Veil of Ignorance

The Main Idea & Choices behind the Veil of Ignorance

Equal Liberties:

The Difference Principle

Each person has their own skill set, advantages, and disadvantages, and therefore should be accommodated accordingly. One should receive praise when necessary, not engaging in the paradox of praise

Education is an investment

Help people access opportunities that they may not be able to access on their own; INVEST IN ART STUDIO FOR FRIENDS & PEERS!!

FIND STUDIO PLOT IN DOWNTOWN JERSEY CITY, HOBOKEN, OR MANHATTAN

Week 10 Discussion Post

Consider the following quote from chapter 14 of the eText: ”The gap between the rich and poor in the United States …has been widening for some time. In recent years, the gap has been the widest since our government began to keep records on it in 1947” (eText, p.143). For example, one report states that: “Since 2009, 95% of U.S. economic gains have gone to the wealthiest 1% of the population” (“Income Inequality: Why Does the Gap Keep Widening?” The Week Feb. 7, 2014).

But not only is there a widening gap between the “Rich and the Rest of Us” (to use the title of a recent book by Tavis Smiley and Cornel West: LINK

Links to an external site.

), there is also the ever widening reach of marketing into everything or what Michael Sandel calls the marketization of society. In Sandel’s TED Talk video, he expresses this concern that America is becoming a market society, meaning a society that uses monetary rewards to motivate desired behaviors in all aspects of life (LINK

Links to an external site.).

For our discussion, please answer the following two questions:

[1] Discuss the growing income inequality in the U.S. and the world with someone mature enough to have some perspective from experience about it. Ask them what they think about the widening gap between the rich and the rest of us in America, as our course materials speak of this problem. How has the economic trend for middle class Americans affected them? How has it affected you?

[2] Two examples of the marketization of society today that Sandel discusses are cash for grades and pay for getting around long lines. What, if anything, is wrong with these practices? Beyond what Sandel discusses, think of at least one social, personal, or relational good or value that you think would be negatively affected by marketization. And explain why.

Asked my friend Justine:

“The rich keep getting richer, the poor keep getting poorer. I think it’s kind of ridiculous, because it’s like they’re hoarding money. Charity doesn’t work but there’s no perfect utopia, and those theories too, with communism, capitalism, the gap just keeps getting wider no matter what. Because the people who already have the money just really continue making the money, you know? I feel that there’s more [the rich] could do. I don’t know what, but actually do something with it - I know the reason the gap keeps getting bigger is because they obviously like being rich. I’m sitting here struggling with low insurance, the most money I've had at once is $5,000. Also, the people who are not part of the top 1%, [us], could be doing more. I should be investing in a savings account, I should be doing this, and that, we all should be doing more. Most poorer people should be able to do more with themselves and the rich should do more to help.”

I agree with Justine’s opinion; the “rest of us” should be able to access certain resources that will benefit our well being, beyond basic necessities such as medical care, food, and housing. The top 1% enjoys their wealth, and sees it as privilege rather than a right to live comfortably. While we, as Justine reiterates, struggle day-to-day and quite often sacrifice our wants for visceral needs.

VIP Ticketing markets directly to upper, wealthier class citizens because they know they can afford the extra spending. The lobbyist line-holding practice is fairly exploitative of homeless people and allows the wealthy to continue living comfortably while treating “normal people” like servants. The fact that “there were more private military contractors on the ground than there were U.S. military troops” in Iraq and Afghanistan - according to Michael Sandel’s TED talk, “Why We Shouldn’t Trust Markets With Our Civic Life,” - is a bit disturbing and unsettling… The U.S. was outsourcing the war to private companies. Regarding the cash reward for good grades - it creates a bundle of issues. I agree with the woman Heike Moses; “I think it just kills intrinsic motivation, so in respect [to] children, if they would like to read, you just take this incentive away in just paying them, so it changes behavior… The intrinsic motivation should be to learn. To get to know the world. And then, if you stop paying them, what happens then? Then they stop reading?” Cheating, the concept that knowledge should be exploited or transactional, could create a whole new gap of funds in hypothetical circumstances.

Week 11

Environmental Ethics

Global warming is not necessarily “warming”, but is Climate Change.
Ozone depletion results in less protection from UV rays, cancers & other things
Acid rain; sulfuric acid in rain from pollution
Air-borne toxins
Microplastics being found in air, fetuses, & human brains & body parts
Google air quality of towns! Can contribute to long-term health hazards
Water pollution; planet earth consists of 30% of the world
Forum Week11:
- 1. Hearing of the U.N. report on the climate crisis does not shake me in any way, shape, or form. I was raised by a mother very adamant on caring for nature; every day & week she would come home from her college classes and tell me endlessly about the damage humans were doing to the ozone layer, and fun facts about how we could potentially “give back” to our home planet. I figured from a young age that I would live to see a world much different than my family had encountered, climate and social-wise. Even at the age of 20, I can recall how intense and blistering the winter storms of my childhood were, and how frequent they were, too - but now, the snow barely sticks to the pavement.

[1] How does the hearing of this U.N. report on the climate crisis affect you, your values, your sense of the world and its future? What human beliefs or values today will more likely prevent needed changes in our way of life, methods of production, or government policies? And what beliefs or values will more likely lead to the kind of changes needed to address the climate crisis?
[2] Do you think humans are biased against animals, as moral philosophers like Peter Singer express with the term speciesism, and do you think this speciesism is comparable to other human biases such as racism, as Richard Ryder claimed in the 1970s? Why or why not?

I believe people will have to develop a more utilitarian perspective of their relationship with our environment and get into the habit of treating Earth like a living organism. I think, moreso people who populate the tri-state, are accustomed to living within a society where we are detached from the idea that the Earth is deserving of care, as we are. Although the Earth is not sentient, sentient beings do inhabit this planet, and require this planet to be at its “best state” to continue living. I do believe everyone should be able to contribute to the Earth’s well being, through simple things like recycling or carpooling or upcycling, but I’m unsure how we can do more without government interference.

2. I do think humans are biased against animals depending on where & how they are raised - the typical argument of nature vs nurture. Generally, in certain parts of the southern U.S., people are more accustomed to hunting & eating their kill, whereas people more up north would possibly cringe at the thought (as i am now!). Certain cultures believe there are certain animals worthy of eating and not, such as pigs; in Islamic Law, eating pork is discouraged because “it is dirty, and can make humans dirty by ingestion,” or in Catholic practice of “Good Friday” where believers can only eat fish, because “it is a more favorable type of animal product to eat.” Generally speaking, I do believe it is something you can unlearn. All sentient beings are deserving of basic respect, but I do not necessarily think it is comparable to racism or sexism. Racism and sexism have been long-reigning issues of our society that have plagued and affected countless generations of families. Speciesism does affect living beings in the most severe cases, such as animal abuse or neglect, but generally speaking it does not severely harm any parties involved. For instance, I believe having pets is completely fine as long as they are properly loved and cared for, but there are some folk who oppose having pets altogether out of consideration for the animal’s attachment to its own kin.

Week 12

How can war be justified?
- ex) After 9/11, the U.S. got approval from the U.N. to declare war against Iraq “because of the terroristic threat” (oil, armory)
- Gandhi in 1947 & MLK practiced nonviolence but were murdered.
- Violence is only justified in extreme circumstances.

Certain conditions must be met before war is initiated, during, & after.
War is considered when over 100,000 people have been murdered
To declare a war, the United Nations must approve
Back when the U.N. first came about, enemies were declared and clear. nowadays , terrorists are everywhere & in every country, and it is harder to dictate between large nationalistic groups. “War against Terror” indicates we do not have a single identity for an enemy.
Drones are now being used in combat as well.
Explore ideals of Nonviolent movements - civil disobedience -
Realism

JUS AD BELLUM

Last resort
Just cause
Legitimate, competent authority
Comparative justice (good values vs the horrors of war)
Right intention
Probability of success
Victory must be worth it, not in vain

Restoration & rehabilitation as the final part(s) of war; you must return the land as you found it, not as you left it.
Obama & Bush’s Afghanistan & Iraq War:

Not last resort
No Weapons of Mass Destruction
Bush & Supreme Court approved
Iraq wasn’t the problem, Al Qaeda was. (they were in Afghanistan)
Oil
No exit strategy
Too many American lives lost

Peace is always the best answer, but violence must be used to settle war.
“If you want peace, prepare for war.”

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