John R. Hoffman is a Professor of Biology, public speaker and a scientist examining the recovery of the nervous system after injury. Since 2006 he has written several unpublished manuscripts and he is currently working on the first Nathaniel Smythe novel and short story collection. He spends his spare time with his family and running.

08 Value and Social Contract Theories

Objectives:

By the end of this lecture, the student will be able to:

  1. Identify and provide examples of how different ethical systems can contribute to different responses to the same situation.

Part 1. Vision and the Quest for Good

This mini-lecture examines Value Theory and the pursuit of the Good. The handout for this presentation can be downloaded and printed.

Reading:

Chapter 4 Value and the Quest for Good. Pojman & Feiser (2009) Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong, pp. 46 – 63.

Part 2. Social Contract Theory

This mini-lecture examines Social Contract Theory and the need for societal rules. The handout for this presentation can be downloaded and printed.

Reading

Chapter 5. Social Contract Theory. Pojman & Feiser (2009) Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong, pp. 64 – 80.

Assignment: The promise of societal values.
In your small groups, discuss: What values are promoted in today’s society? Should these values be elevated to rights that are provided by society (i.e. the government) to all citizens that follow the laws?

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