Axiology
value theory

1. ethics: study of morality 
2. asthetics: philosophy of beauty 

• theoretical ethics: defenition of basic proniciples 
• reading on moodle 
• natural law - everything has a plan 
• if we listen to god we will have eternal happiness - divine law 
• everything has a purpose 
• argument 
• conclusion - the claim in need of justification 
• premise - evidence in support of the claim 
• normative statements: directive to action - " should", "ought", "should not" 
• Inference indicators: an argument indicator " george is a lawyer therfore george tells the truth" 
• get red wine 
• sue is rich because sh is an M.D. 
• indicators 
• conclusion: therfore, so , hence 
• premise because, since, due to 
• Racheals article 
• If ethics are based on a religion 
• Divine command theory - what commands is good, whatever god forbids is wrong 
• positives 
• authoritative: god is omnicient, omnipotent, omnibenevolent 
• 2. clean guidlines: if human laws contradict gods commands god wins 
• aquinas- natural law theory 
• negatives 
• not compelling to atheiests
• no room for human rationality 
• interpertation 
• where do we find gods commands 
• different people cite different texts and rationality : why do people believe in their tradition 
• socialization 
• even within traditions there are differ within traditions, there are differing opinions i.e. abortion 
• c.) selective interpertation : west burrow baptist church: god hates gays so he kills people in Afghanistan: leviticus, but why don't we have to not eat pork and own slaves 
• plato: eutyphro dilem; knows what is good; says killing a slave is good; socrates proves thats wrong 
• euthyphro dilem: Is what is good, good because god commands it or does god comman it because it is good 
• If A then you have an objective standard of good/bad, but its arbituary - changeable 
• If B there is a standard of good independent from god 
• aquinas natural law theory 
• teleology \
• goal and purpose orientation 
• humans have large brains in order to do complex reasoning 
• needs to be complex, orderly, purposive 
• we alone recognize teleology as extant in the universe 
• god is the author of this design ( see teleological argument) 
• things are good, right or just when they are moving toward fulfilling thier divinely ordained ends 
• nature is prescriptive 
• ( nature is value laden prescribing what should be, not merly describing what is 
• the telos of humans is to be rational 
• rationality allows us to recognize teleology of which alone we are capable) 
• i.e. to act in accord with our recognition ( rationality) things have a purpose by god 
• humans are good, right or just when they act in accord with the recognition of teleology
• the telos of the genetellia is procreations 
• any use of the genetelia contrary to their telos is un natural 
• Racheals- Is the telogical world view reasonable 
• natur being value laden/ purposive is question 
• humans do complex reasoning because they have large brains 
• the moral/ ethical status of homosexuality 'need natures purposes be our own 
• Is homosexuality unnatural - leiser 
• unnatural and natural are inherently ambigious terms 
• 5 possible meanings, does moral condemnation follow 
• un natural meaning contrary to the descriptive (i.e. law of nature = how nature functions) laws of nature 
• ex speed of light 300k km/s 
• homosexuality isnt unnatural because homosexuality happens in a variety of species : bonobo chimps 
• nothing that happens in nature could be un natural 
• what we thought was a law in nature if it happends in natur 
• ennatural meaning artificial or manmade  
• rare or uncommon 
• homosexualits is unnatural in this case: minority reoirt 10% is homosexual 
• but it doesn't mean its bad 
• unnatural contrary to purpose 
• (leiser) Is homosuxuality unnatural? 
• condemned by christians natural 
• 1 that is in conformity with the descriptive laws of nature 
• 2 that its is not artificial, that man has not imposed his will or his devices upon events or conditions as they exist or would have existed without such interference 
• laws of nature can't be violated as far as homosexuality is concerned ( bonobo chimps) 
• is using your eyes to flirt sinful because eyes are for seeing 
• if sexual organs are used to show love the homosexual sex is natural 
• if someone wiggles their ears for enjoyment it's not sinful so why should it be different when it comes to sex organs 
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