Assignment task: I Need Help Answering the Questions Below
Prompt: a central tenet of Utilitarianism, Kantian Ethics, and Virtue Ethics is that the ethical principles are universal, meaning that the principles apply to everyone regardless of time, culture, acceptance of the principle, or any other condition. They believe morality does not change from person to person or from culture to culture. Furthermore, Bentham, Mill, Kant, and Aristotle all believed there are "moral experts," those who have spent more time and energy thinking about ethics; those who we ought to turn to for advice and expertise on what to do and how to live.
Neuroscientist Sam Harris also believes that moral principles are universal and that there are moral experts, and he expresses both views in his TED Talk, "Science can answer moral questions." After watching the video, answer the following questions:
How does Harris define facts and values? Does he think there is a big difference between facts and values? Why or why not? Do you agree or disagree with Harris?
Harris believes there are (many) right and wrong answers to questions about how human beings flourish (about what's morally right and wrong), just as there are right and wrong answers to questions of physical health or healthy food. What reasons does he give for this statement? Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?
Harris claims, "When talking about morality, we value differences of opinion in ways we would not in any other area of our lives," before asking whether you'd take moral advice from the Dalai Lama or Ted Bundy. He also gives an example of a physics professor's contribution to a professional conference versus his own contribution. What's he getting at here? Should everyone's opinion about morality count equally or should some moral experts (if they exist) get more of a say? Why?