Ethics: Dilemmas of Loyalty
First, read chapter 9 from Justice by Michael Sandel. Linked here:
https://iasbaba.com/wp-
Next, watch the lecture here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Then, complete both of the following tasks (#1 and #2):
-First, in the lecture, I make some claims. I am genuinely trying to sort through some of these ethical issues along with you, therefore I welcome your critique and feedback. Do either of the following:
–Option one: if you disagree with one of the following claims I made, explain why:
—The only way to maximize welfare is to respect freedom.
—The force of law cannot enforce goodness (promote virtue), only punish badness. Virtue must be promoted within smaller groups and institutions like churches, clubs, schools, families, and peer groups.
—The force of law should only enforce obligations derived from “natural duties” and not “obligations of solidarity.”
–Option two: if you agree with all of the claims I made above, tell how we ought to think about voluntary obligations. What are the relationships between voluntary obligations and the force of law, the respect of freedom, and the cultivation of virtue? Should the force of law enforce all or only some voluntary obligations? If it is only some obligations, how do we decide which voluntary obligations should be enforced by law? Note: I am not asking whether the law should force us to undertake certain voluntary obligations, but should the law have a role in punishing people who break their voluntary obligations?
– Second, regarding obligations of solidarity, there is one of two options. Defend which approach to obligations of solidarity seems correct:
— Option one: obligations of solidarity don’t actually exist. When we observe people performing actions of solidarity, we are observing their inherent bias. For example, a parent choosing to save their drowning child over another drowning child is a demonstration of the parent’s bias in favor of their child, but the parent is not morally obligated to save their child over another child.
— Option two: obligations of solidarity actually exist, and with belonging comes responsibility. Moral obligations can be imposed on us without our consent. For example, a parent is morally obligated to save their drowning child over another drowning child.
