Normative Statements 6t2c37

NORMATIVE STATEMENTS Normative ethics (V.Grassian 1981)

: attempts to give coherent /logical,systematic & justifiable answers to moral questions.

moral ethics focuses on normative statements which have implications on human behavior. normative statements: a value judgement that is good/ bad,wrong/ correct, acceptable/ unacceptable. E.g: abortion. a normative statements is usually in the form of value judgement. normative statements do not involve moral value judgements. value judgements of the non-moral domain evaluate matters other than those mentioned earlier. They may be connected withcars,arts,experience,forms of government. We can say whether these are good/bad,necessary/unnecessary. We do not intend to say they are morally good/bad.(free from moral values) moral judgement Deontic judgement   

An action/ type of action in morally good/ bad,correct/ wrong,obligatory/ nonobligatory,necessary/ unnecessary. Judgement of moral obligation Discuss matters that are not actions/ types of action concerning persons,their motives,aims,behavioral traits or nature.

Aretaic judgement

 

Moral value judgement An action/ type of action that are morally good,bad,virtuous,vicious, responsible, blameworthy,saintly,despicable.

1.normative statements with moral judgements Deontic judgements

Aretaic judgements

Special -I do not like to despise anyone. -What Ali has done is wrong. -He is always responsible in his work.

General -We need to keep our promise. -A good person does not cheat.

2.normative statements with non-moral judgements Deontic judgements

Special -You really should sleep earlier.

Aretaic judgements

-The car is good.

normative statements about people,their motives,aims,behavio ur/nature

General -To answer carefully,candidates must read the questions carefully. -Sweet food is not healthy.

good/bad noble/wicked responsible/blameworthy

aretaic judgement (judgement of moral values)

saintly/despicable

good/bad normative statements about deeds /actions

correct/wrong obligatory/non-obligatory

deontic judgement (judgement of moral obligation)

necessary/unnecessary Non-normative statements :descriptive statements,not concerned with judgement of moral values. √ factual & do not relate to any value judgement. √ e.g In Malaysia,reshuffling the cabinet is the prerogative of the Prime Minister.

Value: something or some matter that can be gauged firstly from the point of view or price which can be counted and secondly from intrinsic quality,i.e. something that can be felt internally or in our thoughts. morality is a type of value even though not all value are moral. the values of a person & his/her perception towards certain values can be different from other individuals. the term value is used in 3 different contexts. value as an attribute. value as a measure of price or of marks assigned to something,i.e. quality. value in axiological context,i.e. pertaining to moral or aesthetic value judgements.

Instrumental (Extrinsic) Values and Intrinsic Values Instrumental or Extrinsic Values Quality received or rejected as instrument to achieve certain objective. Dependent on other values to achieve certain objective. Second order value,e.g. bravery,diligence,respect for others. Example: Bombing Hiroshima to end the war Imposing the death penalty for drug traffickers to stamp out drug trafficking activities.

Intrinsic Values Quality received or rejected solely because of is good or bad without considering its effect. Not dependent on other values to achieve certain objectives.The value mentioned is itself the final objective. First order values,,e.g. kindness,love. Example: A judge es a ‘death by hanging sentence’ on a person found guilty of trafficking drug purely because it is obligatory for the judge to do so because of the lawnot because the judge himself wishes to stamp out drug.

Subjective Values and Objective Values Subjective Values Quality accepted or rejected by someone who gives his views. Accepted or rejected on the basis of an individual’s opinion. Example: The USA’s desire to attack Iraq for the sake of long term peace in the world so that Iraq could not continue to produce weapons of mass destruction. on the other hand said that US should not attack Iraq because such an attack would sacrifice the lives of many innocent people.

General Quality that may be valuable or not valuable but free from personal choice. Accepted or rejected on the basis of a set of criteria agreed upon by all or a majority of people. Example: War is horrible tragedy. Slavery does not reflect humanitarian values. Child labour is a cruel practice which must be abolished.

Relative Values and Absolute Values Relative Values √ Value accepted or rejected by regulations in a society to achieve certain societal objectives. √ It is arbitrary,not perfect and differs in other societies. √ Can change wth times. √ In Kuala Lumpur,a family can develop only through an official marriage of a couple.On the other hand,in California,a family can be formed without an official marriage.

Absolute Values √ Value the worth of which is not related to the custom of a certain society. √ Generally accepted and tested or proven to be good or bad. √ Constant at all times and in all places and in almost all norms of society. √ Living as a legally married couple is a good practice.