Chapter 1: Egoism and Moral Skepticism

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-

White/dp/0534584306

Quote: “Of course people act unselfishly all the time”

What I expect to learn: I expect to learn what the types of egoism are and all about skepticism

Review:

This chapter talks about the types of egoism. The first one is psychological egoism that
has a definition from James Rachel that says it is a false and confused because we as a person act
unselfishly and in ways contrary to the self interest of the person. Through my own research
about psychological egoism I found out that people always do anything even if they are not
enjoying it for as long as someone is benefiting from it. They do not care if they are not enjoying
it and they get really bored but what the matter is they are helping someone in some ways. Let me
give you a concrete example, if you have a party to attend to and your father ask you to stay at
home and take care of the house you will choose to take care of the house even if you have no
self interest on it. So, psychological egoism is false.

The next topic that we will talk about is ethical egoism. It is define as a duty that people
do that is what is in their own self-interest. I will give you one example that shows ethical
egoism. When you are ask by your mother to clean the room because your grandmother is allergic
to dust and at the same time you will hang out with your friends. You choose not to clean it and
instead hang out with your friends. You did not think of your grandmother’s condition and you
just think what you want and what you like. Ethical egoism is like thinking your self interest and
doing it even if there are people who will be harm if you did it.

What I learned:

• The types of egoism

• The meaning of psychological egoism
• The meaning of ethical egoism

Integrative Question:

1. What are the types of egoism?

2. What is the meaning of psychological egoism?
3. What is the meaning of ethical egoism?
4. Do they have similarities?
5. What do you prefer to do?
Chapter 2: Religion, Morality and Conscience

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-

White/dp/0534584306

Quote: “Children would not be taught to be ashamed when they steal or hurt others”

What I expect to learn: I expect to learn how religion, morality and conscience relay to each other
and what their differences are.

Review:

John Arthur stated that although there are some ways that morality and religion are linked
there are still some differences in their traditions. Religion came be so close to morality and it can
also be very vague in some cases. Being morally good is very connected to religion because in
the bases of religion being good is the best way on how you will show you are religious. Lying to
someone is an immoral act and when you think of anything that is connected to religion in terms
of lying I’m sure you cannot think of anything link to religion. Committing a moral act is very
linked to religion but when you commit an immoral act it is somehow vague. Abortion is a
concrete example because doing an abortion is like killing and it is said in our religion that no one
can take a life except God. Religion is related to God and the divine command theory is also
together with God. The first thing that comes in to my mind when I read this was the 10
commandments and it is define as without God’s commands there would be no moral rules and I
agree with that.

Morality is also link to society because it helps govern relationship among people,
defining our responsibilities to others and vice versa. Morality is the guidelines that we need to
use to be able to do what is right and what is good. We are being see by others and being criticize
through are action so if you do something stupid you are an immoral person.

What I learned:

• Divine commandment theory

• Difference between morality and religion
• Similarities between morality and religion

Integrative Question:

1. Define Divine commandment theory

2. What are the difference between morality and religion?
3. What are the similarities between morality and religion?
4. Why is morality social?
5. How do you connect morality and religion?
Chapter 3: Master- and Slave-morality

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-

White/dp/0534584306

Quote: “The slave has an unfavorable eye for the virtue of the powerful”

What I expect to learn: I expect to learn how their social statuses can affect their beliefs in
morality

Review:

There are 2 types of morality based on what Friedrich Nietzsche said. The first one is
master morality and the second one is slave morality. Master morality is said to be the good kind
of morality because they are the people who are strong. They are the good people in the stories
who risk their lives to save others and use their strength physically and mentally in a good way.
They are the noble ones that are in the top of the social status because they are good and decent.
Slave morality is said to be the people who are weak and cannot stand on his own without the
help of somebody. This people are usually the pawns in the chess board. They are just being their
to squeeze something out of them and after that people will not even show care for them.

The reason why there is a master morality is because of the slave morality. How can you
be a master without a servant? You cannot be a master if you don’t have someone you can give
orders. For me being a master doesn’t mean that you are the most powerful and the most fearless
person because in everything you do you will relay on your slave to do this and to do that to be
able to be successful in what you will do. Discrimination should be eliminated and equally should
arise in rich, poor, strong and weak.

What I learned:

• Social status can affect morality

• Master morality
• Slave morality

Integrative Question:

1. How can social status affect morality?

2. What is master morality?
3. What is slave morality?
4. What are their differences?
5. What are their similarities?
Chapter 4: Trying Out One’s New Sword

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-

White/dp/0534584306

Quote: “We cannot criticize culture that we do not understand”

What I expect to learn: I expect to learn all about the moral isolationism

Review:

Moral isolationism is the main topic in this chapter. Moral isolationism is defined
according to the article that we cannot make any moral judgments about the practices of the other
culture because it is impossible to understand other culture well enough and because we owe
respect to other culture. For me we should not do moral isolationism because it is a chance for us
to learn from others and for them to learn from us. We should not disrespect the culture of other
because if we are in their place do we want people to disrespect our beliefs? According to Mary
Midgley moral isolationism is essentially a doctrine of immoralism because it forbids moral
reasoning and falsely assumes that culture are separate and unmixed, whereas most culture are in
fact formed out of influences. We as a person cannot judge anybody according on what they are
doing because we do not really know who they are and who they really are.

All the culture of every people is just the combination of all the culture of others because
they are just being influence by each other. For example us Filipinos we have cultures that did not
originated from us and there are cultures that are a combination from the Filipinos and other
races. Knowing other culture is a good thing because it serves as socialization and gaining friends
by letting them share something about their culture. Through this we also experience new things
that we might never encounter before. Criticizing other culture is like judging other people so we
should just understand the other culture and appreciate it.

What I learned:

• Moral isolationism
• Cultures
• Judgment to other culture

Integrative Question:

1. What is moral isolationism?

2. What is the hindrance to other cultures?
3. How can you resolve it?
4. Where does culture came from?
5. Is it fair to judge other cultures based on what they do?
Chapter 5: Utilitarianism

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-

White/dp/0534584306

Quote: “Some kind’s pleasures are more desirable and more valuable that others”

What I expect to learn: I expect to learn all about utilitarianism and concepts about it.

Review:

According to John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism is a person that should act to have a result
of good consequence for the greatest number of people but within reason. As I search for the
meaning of utilitarianism I found a meaning that says a doctrine that the useful is the good and
that the determining consideration of right conduct should be the usefulness of its consequences;
specifically: a theory that the aim of action should be the largest possible balance of pleasure over
pain or the greatest happiness of the greatest number. This should be the kind of mentality that us
Filipinos should have because if we are thinking for the common good I’m sure that if not all
some of the problems of our country will be solve.

Pleasure is also being talked about in this chapter. There is a line in the chapter that says
what I mean by difference of quality in pleasures, or what makes one pleasure more valuable than
another, merely as a pleasure, except its being greater in amount there is but one possible answer.
Pleasure is being more valuable than another by the contentment of the person on what he or she
is doing like given you have two pleasure that you are doing. Doing the pleasure itself makes the
person more contented compare when you are just doing it virtually or not physically. For
example, you get pleasure in driving really fast if you are really doing it you are more satisfied
compare when you are playing video game and driving really fast.

What I learned:

• Concept of utilitarianism
• Practices of utilitarianism
• Principle of utility

Integrative Question:

1. What is utilitarianism?
2. What are the practices of utilitarianism?
3. How can you differentiate one pleasure to another?
4. What are the consequences of utilitarianism?
5. What will happen if all people have the concept of utilitarianism?
Chapter 6: The Debate over Utilitarianism

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-

White/dp/0534584306

Quote: “Happiness is not something that is recognized as good and sought for its own sake”

What I expect to learn: I expect to learn what the arguments are over utilitarianism and the
principles behind it

Review:

According to John Rachels utilitarianism is telling us to consider the consequences of

actions and in advising us to be impartial, but incorrect in ignoring other important moral
considerations such as merit. He has 3 classical utilitarianism propositions, the first one is actions
are to be judged right or wrong solely in virtue of their consequences. The second one is in
assessing consequences the only thing that matters is the amount of happiness or unhappiness that
is caused. Last is in calculating the happiness or unhappiness that will be caused, no one’s
happiness is to be counted as more important than anyone else’s. This chapter also point out 3
antiutilitarian arguments and the first one is justice. Justice is a very essential attribute that every
people should have because through this you can attain fair judgment and transactions. The
second one is rights which give us human a right to choose what religion we want, the right to
speak and the rights that a human have. The last one is backward looking reason which states the
reasoning of a human being.

There are also 2 kind of utilitarianism and the first one is rule-utilitarianism. This states
that an action of a person is moral if it would lead to the common good. A person with this kind
of concept in life would always do the thing that can make many people happier and more
comfortable even if his own happiness suffers. The second one is act-utilitarianism which states
that an action is based on what the result would be. This concept focuses on the end result of the
decision even if you choose the best option it doesn’t matter as long as the result is a failure.

What I learned:

• 3 classical utilitarianism propositions

• 3 antiutilitarian arguments
• 2 kind of utilitarianism

Integrative Question:

1. What are the 3 classical utilitarianism propositions?

2. What are the differences and similarities of it?
3. What are the 3 antiutilitarian arguments?
4. What are the differences and similarities of it?
5. What are the 2 kind of utilitarianism?
Chapter 7: The Categorical Imperative

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-

White/dp/0534584306

Quote: “The moral worth of an action does not depend on the result”

What I expect to learn: I expect to learn what comprise the evil and good act in morality.

Review:

As what Immanuel Kant said our moral duty can be formulated in one supreme rule, the
categorical imperative, from which all our duties can be derived and the other one is hypothetical
imperative. Hypothetical imperative is a person that does not know beforehand what it will
contain until its condition is already give. It is like a person can never answer a question if there
are no clues that will be given. If the clues are given that is the time that the person can answer
the question and may come up with the best possible solution. A person that conceive a
categorical imperative that person know at once what it contains and even if there are no clues or
hints he/she can answer or guess what it is. As what Kant says “there is only a single categorical
imperative and it is this: “Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will
that it should become a universal law”. “As for hypothetical imperative, it compels action in a
given circumstance”. A concrete example would be if you want to be a DL in your school then
you should study hard, pass your requirements on time and make sure that you are at your best
behavior. Practical imperative for Kant is an act in such a way that you always treat humanity,
whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means but always at
the same time as an end. In doing something you should always think of the people that will be
involved and going to be affected in that action.

What I learned:

• Categorical imperative
• Hypothetical imperative
• Practical imperative

Integrative Question:

1. What is categorical imperative?

2. What is hypothetical imperative?
3. What is Practical imperative?
4. What are their similarities?
5. What are their differences?
Chapter 8: Happiness and Virtue

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-

White/dp/0534584306

Quote: “Each man judges well the things he know”

What I expect to learn: I expect to learn how happiness can influence motivation in doing
something.

Review:

In the article Aristotle stated that “happiness is an activity of soul in accordance with
perfect virtue; we must consider the nature of virtue; for perhaps we shall thus see better the
nature of happiness.” Aristotle also argues that all human beings seek happiness and happiness is
not pleasure, honor or wealth, but an activity of soul in accordance with virtue. Every people has
different concept of happiness. Some people are happy just being able to see other people happy.
Some people are happy in helping others and devoting their time to help the less fortunate people.
But some people, you may call them selfish but they find happiness in satisfying their self with
there pleasure, wealth and honor without helping others. Happiness for me is being able to fulfill
something without stepping on anybody and being able to contribute to mother earth and help to
other people.

Aristotle also talks about the 2 kinds of virtue which is moral virtue and intellectual
virtue. Moral virtue comes from training and habit and generally is a state of character that is a
mean between the vices of excess and deficiency. This act is the result of the habit of the person.
Whereas intellectual virtue produces the most perfect happiness and it is found in the activity of
reason or contemplation where a person think to be able to attain happiness. Virtue is defined as
righteousness and goodness and every person can relate it to happiness because you should be
able to become happy if you are able to do the good and the right thing in your acts.

What I learned:

• People happiness
• Virtue
• The link between the happiness and virtue

Integrative Question:

1. How can a person be happy?

2. What is moral virtue?
3. What is intellectual virtue?
4. What are their similarities and differences?
5. How can you link happiness to virtue?
Chapter 9: The Nature and Value of Rights

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-

White/dp/0534584306

Quote: “Ordinary people had ordinary rights against one another”

What I expect to learn: I expect to learn the rights of the people and what will happen if your
right is violated

Review:

Joel Feinberg wants us to visualize Nowwhereville where it is a world just like our world
but the difference is no one or hardly anyone has rights. When I read that line I pause for a few
minutes and thinking where in the hell in Nowwhereville and how can people live in a country
where they do not have any rights. Nowwhereville is defined as a remote or isolated town or
village, a job, position, rank, etc., completely lacking in status, recognition, or a chance for
advancement and anything unrealistic, impractical, or useless. You cannot imagine a world where
you do not know what your rights are and you cannot claim what’s rightfully yours because there
are no laws that can help you and based from. He said that, “Fill this imagined world with as
much benevolence, compassion, sympathy and pity as it conveniently hold w/o strain. Now we
can imagine men helping one another from compassionate motives”. For him through this kind
of mind set people can learn how to care for one another and give way to the people who
is kind, compassionate and good rather than to the people who do not care about the
others. Joel Feinberg introduces two practices and the first one is personal desert. It means that a
person deserves something valuable or good if he/she was able to finish his/her task with flying
colors and if he/she was not able to deliver it on time the person should be punished. The second
one is sovereign right monopoly which means a person must do something good to a person
because it is a obligation according to the law.

What I learned:

• Nowwhereville
• Role of rights in a person and country
• The effect when there is a lack of right

Integrative Question:

1. What is Nowwhereville?
2. What is the role of rights in a person and country?
3. What is the effect if their will be a lack of right?
4. What is personal desert?
5. What is sovereign right monopoly?
Chapter 10: Taking Rights Seriously

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-

White/dp/0534584306

Quote: “Court decision is still a legal decision”

What I expect to learn: I expect to learn how people rights affect each other.

Review:

A right is an essential part of every person in the world. In our society rights should be
present because if not the world will be like a Nowhereville where justice and rights are not
implicated resulting to a country or even world without peace and goodness. All the rights of the
people came from the state and they are the one that is dictating it which means that they are the
source of rights. These rights are the rules and regulations that a person should obey but what
about the rights that does not dictate you and comes out obviously. Rights in the state can be
compared to the handbook of a school. They rights that are listed there are just the limitations of a
person or the things that they should not do. People are just receiving this rights coming from the
last generation and they are just adding and adding to it until we are just full of it.

Even if they are people that have the liberty to do things that won’t hurt someone or
destroy something they are being limited because of the rights that the states are giving to them.
The freedom of a person should be keeping to him or herself and should not intervene to the
freedom of other people. The government is the one that has the responsibility to limit the people
in intervening to others freedom. The people required to prevent other people intervening to each
other’s freedom are the police officers. This is where the law and their power take effect. They
have the right to call your attention or even arrest you if you are intervening to others freedom.
This is done to be able to have a justice and equality to all.

What I learned:

• Effects of rights
• Importance of rights
• World without rights

Integrative Question:

1. What is the effect of rights to each other?

2. How important is a right?
3. What will happen if a county do no have right?
4. Who is the one dictating peoples rights?
5. What is the reason why people violate rights of others?
Chapter 11: A Theory of Justice

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-

White/dp/0534584306

Quote: “Liberty is a certain pattern of social forms”

What I expect to learn: I expect to learn how justice takes control.

Review:

The people expert in the rights and ethics are also that people that are trying to find out
why people are not an ordinary thing in this world. They are brainstorming and thinking how to
reveal the special kind of person but they are thinking the danger that one might be special to
another. So, they are thinking how to expose the specialness of a person but without over
specialing the other one. Ethics and rights are very connected to law and governance and without
each other there can be anomalies that will happen. This four should stay together and when their
will be a case this four should be the first thing that you should look for. It is like the other one is
the air of the other one and without it they cannot live. The law and government are formed
because of the ethics and rights. The law is the one that is responsible for the people who have a
bad ethic and the people who are abusing their rights. Every people should always respect the
rights of the other to give justice on the other person freedom. Justice should be present in all
time because without it all the rich people in the world will be the ruler and the poor people will
be the pawns. Justice is the value that keeps the persons dignity and rights in place and preserves
the person freedom to express him or herself.

What I learned:

• Control of justice
• Connection between rights, ethics, law and government
• Justice for a person

Integrative Question:

1. How justice takes control?

2. How are rights, ethics, law and government connected?
3. What are the effects to each other?
4. What will happen if one does not exist?
5. How can a person get justice?
Chapter 12: The Need for More Than Justice

Amazon Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-

White/dp/0534584306

Quote: “Maturity may be a rational life plan”

What I expect to learn: I expect to learn what are the essential things that are connected to justice.

Review:

Every person has the capability of being rational. Being rational should not involve
emotion and feelings. For a rational person emotions and feeling are hindrance to a clear
reasoning. These characteristics over shallow the reasoning part of the brain and result to a hasty
decision making. Being rational means being more on the intellectual side and on the reasoning
side in making a decision. Rationalism dictates its followers that every person living in this world
is born equal but for me t is not true. There are such things a rich and poor. Many people are born
poor because the person who does not have more money is the people who are rich in members of
the family. Then there are the rich kids that inherit their parent’s wealth and pass it on their
family’s generation. This is the concept that the rationalist do not see because they see people as
generally equal with each other but the truth is they are not. Maybe they have the same rights but
when the money starts to talk justice is being jeopardize. Emotions should also be consider in
decision making but you should not relay all on the emotion side you should also need to think
and think really hard.

For rationalist their theory in a moral act is also consider justice. I really believe that you
should consider emotion as part of the decision making of a person because it is very essential in
making a decision. Being in the rational side alone is wrong but combining it with the feminist
side, I’m sure you will have a prosperous theory that will be developed.

What I learned:

• Rationalist
• Feminist
• Effects on decision making

Integrative Question:

1. What is the concept of a rationalist?

2. What is the concept of feminist?
3. What are their similarities and differences?
4. What can each one influence decision making?
5. What will happen if they join their theory?