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 Since 2006 he has written several unpublished manuscripts and he is currently working on the first Nathaniel Smythe novel and short story collection.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.

10 Kant and Virtue Theory

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 Kant and Deontological Theories

This mini-lecture examines the moral philosophies associated with Immanuel Kant. The handout for this presentation can be downloaded and printed.

Reading:
Chapter 8 – Kant and Deontological Theories. Pojman & Feiser (2009) Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong, pp. 121 – 145.

Part 2 Virtue Theory

This mini-lecture introduces the concepts associate with virtue theories and virtuous behavior. The handout for this presentation can be downloaded and printed.

Reading:
Chapter 10 – Virtue Theory. Pojman & Feiser (2009) Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong, pp. 146 – 169.

Assignment: The Basis of Character
“Character is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking.  There are too many people who think that the only thing that’s right is to get by, and the only thing that’s wrong is to get caught” J.C. Watts

In your small discussion group: Discuss whether or not it is better to “do the right thing for the wrong reason” or to “do the wrong thing for the right reason.”

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