Ethics

The information that you will need for the discussion can be found in Case 14, p. 49; Case 11, p. 167; and Case 12a, p. 62 of Thinking Critically About Ethical Issues. For one of these cases, identify the parties and the moral issue(s) posed by religious belief, keeping an eye out for similarities that it shares with the other cases. Identify common ground. You may draw on any moral concepts discussed throughout the course: utility, duties, rights, virtues, and care.

Part II

In this week’s module we took a look at what is often called the ‘Euthyphro Dilemma’. Socrates is looking for that characteristic that makes all holy acts and only holy acts, holy. Acts we saw might have all sorts of characteristics. They might be done slowly, frequently, in the evenings, in the presence of many other people, few people, etc. Are any of these characteristics (being slow, frequent, occurring in the evenings, being done in the presence of many people, few people, etc.) absolutely required for an act to be holy, or are they just incidental? Think of an example of a holy action. What absolutely must be part of it; what can be omitted without loss? Give your best answer, and as always be sure to provide your reasons for believing it to be the best answer.