Critical Thinking class 7 and 8

This session was about how we make ethical decisions and justify our actions. The session introduced key ethical theories that shape our perspectives on right and wrong, helping us navigate difficult choices in both personal and professional life.

One of the central discussions revolved around Moral Relativism, which suggests that morality is subjective and varies across cultures and individuals. This challenged us to question whether universal moral principles exist or if ethics depend on societal norms.It was also eye opening in the sense that my ethics can be exact opposite from someone else ,and I should be open about it and should understand there perspective leading to the conclusion that moral ethics might not be universal and that is ok.

We also explored Self-Interest Theory (Egoism), which argues that individuals act in ways that benefit themselves. While this may seem selfish, it raised interesting debates about whether acting in self-interest can sometimes lead to overall good.

On the other hand, Deontology, founded by Immanuel Kant, asserts that moral duties and rules should guide our actions, regardless of the outcomes. This theory contrasts with Utilitarianism, which emphasises the greatest good for the greatest number. The debate between Rule Utilitarianism (which follows general rules that maximize happiness) and Act Utilitarianism (which evaluates each situation separately) highlighted the challenge of balancing fairness and consequences.

It was also interesting to note that how most of us make decision on self-interest theory and how our ethics and decision changes based on the situation. Specially after reading the article “The man hired to have sex with children” it came to everyones immediate reaction that this is wrong, but then the question was how come parents are involved in this thing and making their daughter undergo the same. The conditioning was then discussed.

A key takeaway was that moral reasoning is not about choosing the “right” theory but understanding different perspectives to make more informed, ethical decisions. By questioning our assumptions and applying these frameworks, we can navigate ethical dilemmas with clarity and confidence.