COMPARE AND CONTRAST (RKS)
Compare
- Interpretation and emphasis based on society
- Whether they are innate is debatable
Contrast
- Ethics is the base line that is necessary for a society to function
Difference in Ethics
THE BIG QUESTION
- Would one feel bad about killing without society teaching us about the unethical nature of hurting others?
- Another related question is: Is killing inevitable?
- No culture with written laws, fails to prohibit homicide
- Based on geographical regions, ethics tend to change
- If it is innate, why are there variations in ethics?
- Ex. Eastern Culture vs. Western Culture
- This difference in ethics shows that ethics are majorly impacted by culture, social conventions and religion.
At times, the definition of killing is important
- If the word killing is not used, the word that is used in its place is important
- e.g. Senicide/geronticide is not seen as unethical in some tribes of the Kalahari
- Points toward the idea of innate aversions to an act depending on the relative definition of the act
- Evolutionary psychology explains why humans are less violent that we once were
BALANCE
Is Killing Wrong?
BIOLOGY
There are different definitions of killing
Innate behavior can be a product of biology
- Killing may include murder, self-defense, or as form of punishment
- Different societies associate the different synonyms with various connotations
A Blank Piece of Paper
- Cannibalism is a great example and investigation into it can reveal support into the theory of innate ethical knowledge
- Even the societies whose culture says that designated cannibalistic rituals are ethical, incur physical and mental ailments (Kuru)
- Innate ethics in this way are then also evident in animals (e.g. Cows and Mad Cow Disease)
- Different levels of acceptance
Instinct to Reciprocate
In Doctor Who, there are three main attitudes towards killing
- We are all blank pieces of paper. We write on these pieces of paper, but the majority is written by our parents, society, media, etc.
- The paper represents the innate ethical knowledge since it’s a basis that everybody has
- The knowledge that is written on our blank pages represent the ethical knowledge we derived through society, thereby making it different for everyone
- This shows that ethical knowledge has an innate basis, but varies depending on the person because we all derive ethical knowledge from society in different way depending on our perception, the geographic region, our religion, our culture, etc.
The part that is innate in humans is not so much an in built system of ethical rules, but rather an instinct to reciprocate
Intuitive, Innate
Based on Society
Negative connotation of such an act can also impact mental state of mind
- Psychologist Carol Dweck: "We have evolved automatic forms of empathy and special brain cells called mirror neurons that allow us to gauge others' emotions [and act accordingly]"
- Supports claim that innate ethical knowledge leans towards altruism
- Trying to save everybody despite the odds
- Sacrifice a few to save the mass
Even the 'lack of ethical knowledge' seems to stem from reciprocity and balance
- Cannibalism releasing certain proteins that can adversely affect an otherwise healthy brain
- Also, going back a little bit to society, the taboo associated with this sort of act is why some cultures view it as normal and others as sick or revolting
- Regardless, all would be biologically affected this way.
- Aggression: combination of biological factors - like genetic, neurological, and biochemical influences - and our environment and experience
- Muzafer Sherif (1961)
Nature VS. Nurture
- Innate knowledge, behaviour we are born with
SOCIAL CONNECTION
SHARING IS CARING
- Refers to the social environment people grew up in
- Built upon personal and shared experiences
Ethical Knowledge being affected by society doesn't have to be because of teaching
In ethics, there isn't a balance between nature and nurture
- Proven through evaluations and studies done on differences in ethical behaviour
- Nurture is harder to prove since it's based on genetics
- Nurture is proven by somebody displaying a trait or knowledge without being previously taught
- It has been found that people are more likely to based their decisions where ethics is ambiguous on whether the other person(s) involved in the situation have a social connection with them.
- "Stanford psychologists find that altruistic behaviors may be governed more by relationships, even brief ones, than instincts."
- If ethics aren't innate, then why do babies behave "ethically" even though they are not yet influenced by society?
- Experiments done by Yale prove that babies generally tend to be altruistic.
- They tend to prefer "good guys"
- They tend to help those in distress even if it means giving up their own happiness
- This shows that ethical knowledge can be innate
In Supernatural, many of the major decisions that the brothers make, are based more on their love fore each other than the 'greater good'
- Minor decisions such as those about money allow. the brothers to commit 'victim-less' crimes (e.g. credit card fraud) "for the greater good"
- When the issue arises of each other's sacrifice for a greater 'greater good', it is suddenly off the table
TOK: Areas of Knowledge - Ethics
To what extent is ethical knowledge based on society?
THANK YOU!
Have a Great Day!
Asya Twahir, Shruthi Srinivasan, Jenny Wu