What is Moral Philosophy

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Moral philosophy refers to philosophical theories about human ethics. An area of ​​study dating back to ancient civilizations, the examination of right and wrong and the codes created by these terms have remained an area of ​​constant debate and theory throughout history. There are many fields of study within moral philosophy, including meta-ethics, practical or normative ethics, and applied ethics.

The Origins of Moral Philosophy

Meta-ethical moral philosophers consider questions about how people determine right and wrong, whether morality is relative or universal, and where the concept of morality comes from. Unlike practical ethics, which seeks to build codes of conduct based on ethical theories, meta-ethics seeks to define the vocabulary of moral philosophy.

For example, if you want to tell others to do good, you must first understand what the word good means, where the concept comes from, and how an action is logically defined as "good."

There are many different theories in the field of meta-ethics, stretching from ancient times to modern times. Plato and Aristotle are often referred to as the fathers of meta-ethics, as both wrote extensive research on the nature of moral philosophy.

The practice of Moral Philosophy

Practical moral philosophy involves determining the rules by which to judge actions on ethical grounds. While some moral theorists establish a specific code of ethics, other moral theorists choose to develop a framework within which one can answer the moral and ethical questions raised by any situation.

For example, the moral philosophy of consequentialism asserts that the morality of an action is determined by its outcome, independent of the action itself. If the consequences of an action can be considered "good", it may justify the means.

Deontic, most famously studied by Immanuel Kant, claims the opposite, suggesting that an act is moral or immoral regardless of the outcome.

Applied ethics concerns the application of normative moral philosophy to certain circumstances. In this field, scholars and thinkers seek to reason moral decisions using practical ethical frameworks.

For example, where a person stands on the question of torturing terror suspects can be determined through the application of moral philosophical principles. If a person believes that torture is fundamentally wrong but takes the consequentialist argument that information obtained through torture can save lives, he or she will probably agree to allow torture.

Taking the deontic argument, if one believes that torture is fundamentally wrong, it is wrong regardless of the consequences and should be shunned. Law, the judicial system, and personal opinion on social issues are often the concern of applied moral philosophy.

Not a few people also argue that moral philosophy can also depend on circumstances. For example, we would all agree that it is unethical to torture someone. But if torturing that one person would make it possible to obtain information that would save the lives of 300 innocent people, wouldn't that be acceptable?

So it all depends on the circumstances and choices. If doing something unethical will yield results that have great benefits, then it may be right to do so.

Moral philosophy is interesting, and also many argue that it is a complex thing. Where some people believe that some ethical rules are universal. There are things that are clearly unethical in all societies and cultures, such as rape or murder.

However, there is another problem that is not so obvious. Some societies may consider it ethical, while others may consider it unethical. For example, eating beef may be unethical in some cultures, while in ours, it is completely ethical.