The Concept of Moral and Immoral Actions - Coursework Example

Humanities Ethics: Questions and Answers What is a moral judgment? David Hume dismissed the argument that moral judgments are products of reasoning. Rather, he observed that either feelings of disapproval or approval (sentiments) played a great part in determining how people made moral judgments (White, 31). The reasons are not determiners of moral action but deal with matters of factual value and ideas. In fact, no ideas or factual matters that influence the common moral evil of humans. Hume adopted a model of elaborating his outstanding premises: ‘A Treatise of Human Nature’. On his premises, he developed a peculiar understanding of the human nature with regard to the moral choices that the human made. 2. What human actions are considered moral? Three examples were given by Hume to illustrate the moral position on human action and these sentiments are the major drivers of moral application. These included incest, murder and ingratitude. He sought to emphasize the reason why incest is perceived to be wrong with humans, while the same action when replicated in animals is not wrong (White, 31). To illustrate his point, Hume argued that there are no ideas or fact that support why incest is wrong in humans but the same action in animals is perceived normal. Referring to incest, He noted that there is no difference between human beings and animal actions, but only that the human being can disprove this claim. He also used deliberate murder, whether it is right or wrong and whether there are ideas or facts that support the wrongness of an action. He said that murder is wrong and that is a fact, but people dismiss that fact and intentionally murder. Concerning ingratitude, he argued that it is a crime, which lacks observable facts or any set of relation to ideas, but a conflict and a conviction of the mind. It is the feeling of indifference or ill will after being ungrateful. 3. What actions are often considered to lead to moral or immorality? After dismissing morals as products of facts or ideas but mere sets of sentimentalism, it is therefore clear that Hume’s way suggests that human actions are majorly guided by sentiments in as far as morality is concerned. It further asserts that reasons cannot be applied to undertake a moral action because the two (morals and Reasoning) are completely unrelated (White, 31). Contributing to Hume’s concerns on morality and human, James stipulates that “if morality had naturally no influence on human passion and action.” Moreover, he claimed, “it would be in vain to take such pains to inculcate it and nothing would be more fruitless than that multitude of rules and precepts with which moralists abound” (White, 31). He notes that as a practical division, morality is supposed to play an integral role in directing the human passion and action. He reiterates that because of morality the human beings, they are governed by their duties, deterred from certain actions due to the feeling of injustice and compelled to undertake certain actions as matters of obligation. 4. What actions that influences morality Acknowledging that human actions are influenced by their morals, it is infallible to depict reason as the causal subject. These premises justify that human actions are seldom determined by reason but rather sentiments. Morals have a peculiar way of exciting or stimulating human action, which results from doing the action or stopping it. James then states that conclusions cannot be extracted from the rules of morality. In line with Hume’s argument, James also observes that most of the human action and the outcome of such actions are elements of fact or reasons. He used willful murder as an example to establish if there exists a fact in human action. For instance, if the action is examined in all aspects there is no matter of fact or any real existence that may qualify the action as a vice. In response, only motives, passion, volitions and thoughts are present in this aspect (White, 31). In most cases, things that are described as facts are merely objects of feelings and not reason. It lies completely within an individual; therefore, guided by sentiments. As a result of this, when an individual qualifies an action as either bad or good, pleasant or unpleasant, there is nothing meant as far as reason is concerned but it only emanates from the constitution of the human nature that instill a contemplation of an object (White, 31). James illustrates that human sentiments of pleasure and uneasiness are the only things that are more realistic for them. He denotes “if these are favorable to virtue and unfavorable to vice, no more can be requisite to the regulation of our conduct and behavior (White, 31).” 5. What actions that often justify human actions as moral behaviors? It is believed that morals justify the way people behave and the actions they take. They also believed that most of the things are merely justifications of the human feelings and hence lack material facts to stand out as reasons. The crime of ingratitude for instance, is often observed in places where good will is supposed to be applied, known and expressed (White, 31). If someone accepted to do a favor, that is a sign of goodwill. Gratitude is expected to act as a repay of the favor given. In an event one fails to show that, the favor given is satisfied by being grateful, and then a sense of guilt sets in since it indicates an ill will. James concurs, “Wherever we observe goodwill, expressed and known, together with good offices performed, on the one side, and a return of ill-will or indifference, with ill offices or neglect on the other; anatomize all these circumstances and examine by your reason alone, in what consists the demerit or blame. You never will come to any issue or conclusion (White, 31).” In trying to put aside reason and sentiments, James analyzes that reason deals with the premises of facts or relations. For instance, he uses the word crime that is common in dealing with moral and actions. It may seek to determine why something is referred to as a crime. Can it be pointed out or can one establish when and where it emerged or first existed? Can one be able to describe its essence or nature? What of the sense and the faculty through which it discovers itself? 6. How can moral and morality be related to nature? Most of the judgments made against certain things are feelings and not fact can justify their existence and why they happen the way they do. Crimes are only crimes when the person who previously demonstrated goodwill. A complication of circumstances brings about ingratitude and one cannot apply any factual evidence. The sentiment of blame gets aroused or excited the moment any set of complicated circumstances present to the spectator through the distinct structure or fabric of the mind. Crime in one particular is difficult to identify in a certain factual way. It is merely a sentimental perception that a particular behavior or action is conceivable as a crime (White, 31). According to Hume in the Treatise of human nature, the human feelings and perceptions are the premises that justify whether an action is wrong or not. He used the examples of incest, murder and gratitude as issues and actions considered by human beings as a crime. However, he reiterated that no facts or ideas that support that the above-mentioned are qualified as a crime. 7. Are immoral actions justified or pleasing? The domain of morals has been identified to have a bearing with human actions. Take for instance, a majority of people would not want to do certain things or behave in particular ways while in public where the public judgment and condemnation is readily available. This indicates that the sentiments of the people are the morals that guide the behavior and actions of the people. In this regard, those actions perceived ‘bad actions’ or often demonstrated unconsciously in public or where the scrutiny of ‘feared the audience’ is not available. On the other hand, people would also want to demonstrate their ability to undertake ‘good action’ before an audience that is ready to judge and commend positively. Within the spectrum of the society, people are judged and ranked depending on their actions and behavior. On the same angle, they behave in a manner that protects their image, the way the public have an opinion of them. It is in this situation that people who are revered and respected in a society would not want to behave or act in a particular way thereby tainting their otherwise much-respected names. They defend their good name by showing good actions and behaviors. Therefore, morals are guided by sentiments as opposed to the voice of reason. It is this sentiment that people apply in perceiving, qualifying and justifying actions. Morals then have greater influence in as far human behaviors and actions are concerned. Work Cited White, James E. Contemporary Moral Problems. Australia: Thomson Wadsworth, 2009: Pg. 31. Read More