Holms take on policy making
societies (largely) are
- morally pluralistic
- liberal democracies
ethical pluralism
- idea that there are many theories about what is right and wrong which may be incompatible with a society (or own personal) moral norms
monist perspectives
share meta-ethical postulate that there is a fundamental unity to reality
are the big three rather absolutist
yes, bc they reflect a belief in universally applicable moral principles and objective qualities of right and wrong
ethical relativism
morality depends on culture
descriptive relativist ethics
- different cultures and times accept different ethical principles and share different moral beliefs and practises
- factual understanding of reality
normative relativistic ethics
- ethical norms are relative to social, cultural, and historical contexts
- these norms are only applicable within certain cultural limits
- no universal standard to evaluate ethical norms
if we accept ethical relativism
we cannot judge or condemn other cultures for their practises, or practises of other times
moral universalism
- how can we anchor universal principles so that they are binding on all and allow for judgement or condemnation of the other
pluralist
- accepts more than one correct moral frameworks
- doesn’t accept all frameworks equal
intrapersonal pluralism
- can one person can legitemetaly use different ethical frameworks to make different decisions
interpersonal pluralis
- is it acceptable for different people or cultures to use different systems of ethics
dirty hands dilemma
- political leaders justified in committing immoral actions for an important moral/political end?
Four approaches to the social dynamics of society
- liberalism
- libertarianism
- communitarianism
- egalitarianism
liberalism
- autonomy
- self governance
- individual rights
libertarianism
- individual freedom
- Justice limits coercion
communitarianism
- community
egalitarianism
- same, treated same, treated as equals
harm principle
only purpose for power to be exercised over someone is to prevent harm to others
libertarian paternalism
nudges
nudge vs sludge
nudge - alters behaviour in predictable way, without forbidding options
sludge - excessive friction that harms welfare
