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GE108-Reporting about William James perspective in ethics
- 2. William James was a psychologist and philosopher who had a significant influence on the development of psychology in the United States. Among his many accomplishments, he was the first to teach a psychology course in the U.S. and is often called the father of American psychology.
- 3. In an attempt for understanding the definition and social perspective of the good and bad human actions.He presented a discussion about morality, stating that there can't be a moral truth unless there are conscious individuals. James stated that the actions and their social interpretation are just ideals, so they are subject to interpretation. He concluded that history and other past events give us the basis for judging a given action as good or bad. Also, he mentioned that the moral quality of good or bad actions only exists in the mind of sentient individuals.
- 4. A five-year-old child has committed a wrongdoing or disobeyed his parents; after that, his parents scolded him and gave him a punishment, that he could not leave the house to play with his friends as a result of his action. With that, the child will somehow recognize that what he did was wrong because his parents were angry with him. This experience can be his basis for judging his future actions, whether they are good or bad.
- 5. James concept of morality focused on dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that it is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations. Unlike some moral theories that prioritize abstract principles, James emphasized the personal and contextual nature of morality, suggesting that what is morally right is what works and has positive outcomes in a given situation. This pragmatic approach sets him apart from more rule-based moral philosophies.
- 6. We chose Williams James as our philosopher to report on this subject because we like his idea that he is much more focused on the practical consequences of beliefs and actions than rigid principles. Also, as students, we somehow relate to what he concluded: that history and other past events give us the basis for judging a given action as good or bad.