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How Should We Teach Moral Values to our Children? (What Should We Use to…
How Should We Teach Moral Values to our Children?
What Should We Use to teach?
Fables, Stories and Myths
What Principle does this apply?
'I ought to do as the characters in the stories had'
Characters as moral exemplars
Virtue Ethics
I ought to maximise my own welfare
Weak Hedonic Maximisation
'I ought to act according to the moral of the story'
Kant's Formula of Universal Law
I ought to refrain from acting as the villain/antagonist had
I ought to maximise my own welfare
Weak Hedonic Maximisation
Rewards and Punishment
What Principle does this apply?
'I ought to refrain from action X so as to not be punished'
I ought to maximise my welfare (Self-Hedonic Desiring)
Weak Hedonic Maxmisation
'I ought to perform action Y so as to be rewarded'
I ought to maximise my welfare (Self-Hedonic Desiring)
Weak Hedonic Maximisation
Rules and Laws
What Principle does this apply?
I ought to act according to the rules
Who sets what rules?
The individual
Kant's Formula of Universal Law
Society/The Group
Contractualism
Thomas Hobbes' Social Contract Theory
I ought to defer to an authority so as to have my rights protected
I ought to respect authority
I ought to do to others as I would require them to do to me
Kant's Formula of Universal Law
What Moral Values Do We Want to Teach?
Virtues
I ought to respect other human beings
Kant's Formula of Humanity
I ought to help those in need
Singer's Principle
I ought to maximise my family and my parents' welfare
Filial Piety
Confucian ethics
Obey God's Commandments
I ought to do as God bids
Divine Command Theory
It is wrong to harm others
Weak Hedonic Maxmisation
Utilitarianism
Which Ethical Theory should we teach?
What criteria should we use?
What do we want our children to become?
Do we want our children to be as happy as possible?
No
What is our next biggest want for our children?
For our children to be successful
Utilitarianism (it is permissible to let our children suffer some harms now if it will bring greater total welfare benefits over their lives)
For their potential to be actualised
Eudaimonia
Virtue Ethics
To become filial children
Confucian ethics
To be faithful and religious
Divine Command Theory
Yes
Weak Hedonic Maximisation
Utilitarianism
What benefits does teaching the ethical theory provide?
Utilitarianism
Intuitive
Easy and practical decision procedure
maximises welfare
easier to explain
some of its setbacks can be reduced by adopting other milder forms of Utilitarianism, like Weak Hedonic Maximisation
Virtue Ethics
easiest to teach (via stories)
teaches a range of moral values
provides an exemplar children can aspire towards
Divine Command Theory
provides a community our children can turn to
community takes part in teaching; child's learning strengthens
What are the setbacks of each theory?
Utilitarianism
Provides no alternative
Impersonal, not concerned with the individual's inducements or projects or relationships
Virtue Ethics
Has no decision procedure
Counterfactual Fallacy
Divine Command Theory
God's commands are arbitrary
Hard to justify without reference to sacred text; circular logic
Can conflict with wider society's values
Verdict: Weak Hedonic Maximisation