Unit Synopsis
A natural way to see the role of morality in our lives is to view it as a constraint on the pursuit of self-interest. Were we to pursue our aims without any check on our conduct we would, it might be expected, do more bad deeds than we would were we controlled by moral rules and opinion. But, from the perspective of self-interest, how can we show that it is reasonable to conform to the expectations of morality? Why might it pay to be moral?
Doesn’t morality demand that I suppress my own inclinations and desires for the benefit of others and how can that be reasonable?
In this topic you will be introduced to three contrasting approaches which try to make sense of the relation between self-interest, practical reason and morality.
General Resources
Textbook:
"AQA An Introduction to Philosophy for AS level" by Jones, Hayward and Cardinal.
pp 1-79
Lacewing on Morality
This is an EXCELLENT resource. It is basically Lacewing's book typed up in worksheet format. I think it is better organised than the published book myself. USE IT!!
Summary Notes
Detailed notes written by an AQA examiner. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
They cover most of the ground included in the textbook, but they specifically identify AO1 and AO2 information.
There are also some essay titles at the end of these notes with some advice.
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The issues to be covered are:
Click on each sub-heading for resources, activities and links:
This is an introduction to ideas that underlie the entire unit, It's not specifically mentioned in the spec, but you can't understand the debate without getting this!
1) Morality as a social Contract – According to this approach it is reasonable to conform to the expectations of morality because morality is a conventional agreement for our mutual advantage. But exactly what kind of agreement could it be? Can we articulate our self interest independently of morality?
2) Morality as constitutive of self interest According to this approach it is reasonable to conform to the expectations of morality because self-interest can only be realised in the context of a moral life. But are self-interested reasons compatible with an understanding of morality?
3) Morality as overcoming self-interest – According to this approach it is reasonable to conform to the expectations of morality and these expectations disregard self-interest as morally relevant. But does eschewing self-interest leave us without any motivating reasons to act altruistically? Is moral motivation a reflection of natural dispositions?
This is an EXCELLENT resource. It is basically Lacewing's book typed up in worksheet format. I think it is better organised than the published book myself. USE IT!!
Summary Notes
Detailed notes written by an AQA examiner.
They cover most of the ground included in the textbook, but they specifically identify AO1 and AO2 information.
There are also some essay titles at the end of these notes with some advice.
Philosophy the classics podcasts - This link will take you to a podcast. Search for the Philosopher that you are studying and listen to the chapter!