Meta ethics explores the foundations and meaning of ethics. Three views on the origin of ethics are discussed: Platonic realism which holds that ethical principles originate from the spiritual world; moral skepticism which argues there are no objective ethical principles; and the view that principles come from society itself. The document also summarizes several major religious and ethical traditions and their teachings on key ethical issues.

1. Meta Ethics

2. Meta Ethics
• Meta-ethics is a branch of analytic philosophy
that explores the status, foundations, and scope
of moral values, properties, and words(
Encyclopedia of philosophy)
• Where do ethical principles come from? Why be
ethical? What is the meaning of ethical language?
a) Metaphysical deals with the origin of ethics.
Three schools that try to explain for us the origin of
ethics.
-Platonic Realists/platonic realism: Ethical Principles
originate from the spirit world.

3. Meta Ethics Cont’d
• Platonic realism is a philosophical term usually
used to refer to the idea of realism regarding the
existence of universals or abstract objects after
the Greek philosopher Plato (c. 427–c. 347 BC), a
student of Socrates.
• He holds that knowledge is inborn, Natural,
inherent, so that learning is the development of
ideas buried deep in the soul. That each soul
existed before birth with the form of good perfect
knowledge of Ideas. Thus, when an Idea is
"learned" it is actually just "recalled.

4. Meta Ethics Cont’d
• Reality must conform to the content of the
consciousness meaning that the presence of
any notion ( belief/idea/opinion) in our minds
proves a corresponding referent in reality.
• Therefore Morality exists in spiritual form.

5. Meta ethics Cont’d
• Moral Skeptics: There is no valued moral principle at all.
• N.B Dunning (2015) says that skepticism is not a bout mere disbelief
about things, but that it is the process of applying reason and
critical thinking to determine validity. Skeptics re-direct attention
towards something that perhaps has been a result of superstition.
Scientific methods are central in skeptic reasoning. As a scientific
method it then requires evidence, preferably derived from validated
testing. Kropotkin (1922) goes ahead to then highlight Darwin’s
conclusion about morality being a social instinct. Darwin studied
social insects ( the ants, bees and wasps ) in which the activities of
bees were compared to man’s/human societies.
• Therefore; perhaps Ethical Principles come from society itself.

6. Great Ethical Traditions.
• All traditions agree with the following as the necessary qualities of life,
• Humility
• Honesty
• Kindness ,
• Wisdom
• That relationships that are established with others should not only be enriching
but also inspiring.
• They provide guidance on how humans should relate( heterosexual relationships),
before Marriage, in marriage.
• Marriage, is among the four rites of passage
• Work and leisure ( Judaism emphasis the Sabbath)not necessarily for economic
value but every one has responsibility to do something to improve the world. The
balance should be maintained
• Wealth: some are against excessive accumulation of wealth: it corrupts, provokes
evil, selfishness, argue for collective wealth for the good of the whole society .
• Some argue that individuals have a right to accumulate wealth

7. Great ethical Traditions Cont’d
• Teachings on other forms of life.
• The concept of right and wrong
• Each have their own teachings about how
people should live with each other but
commonly is the concept of order, truth and
justice as ultimate cosmic ( outer) values and
realities, Not just human ideas

8. Great ethical Traditions Cont’d
• Teachings on other forms of life.
• The concept of right and wrong
• Each have their own teachings about how
people should live with each other but
commonly is the concept of order, truth and
justice as ultimate cosmic ( outer) values and
realities, Not just human ideas

9. Great ethical Traditions Cont’d
• Hinduism aims at attaining total harmony of the cosmic
order. Individuals are interlinked. They teach a bout
duties than rights. Rights are secured by other peoples
duties. Emphasis on equity rather than equality .
Experience and action are key rather than belief.
• Polytheistic in nature: There is general guidance but
actual life decisions depend on human beings’
conscience. Hindus turn to their conscience first in
seeking for solutions to a dilemma. They also look out
for solutions in good people of society, leaders, etc.
most decisions are made without reference to the holly
books. For example, Hinduism has no commandment
prohibiting killing.
• They believe in reincarnation as a guide to behavior

10. Great Ethical Traditions Cont’d
• Buddhism: the pre-occupation of the Buddhists is the sense of
dissatisfaction(dukkha) Dissatisfaction creates a dangerous
condition of human suffering, psychological conflict, pain, sickness,
anxiety anguish and meaninglessness. This ethics call for inner
reflection/concentration
• Their teachings are mainly influenced by those of Buddha ( read the
noble eight path) Central to their teaching is the sacredness in life
and all that has life. i.e. all living things should never be harmed.
NB Ethics is not religion and religion is not ethics. However ethics may
draw inspiration from religion. Ethics uses rational reflection to
pursue its goal. It has objective foundation even outside religion.
For This reason even atheists have ethics

11. Great ethical Traditions Cont’d
• N.B Unfortunately, Society is getting more secular,
people mind more a bout success, wealth, being busy,
and getting paid. The elderly, handicapped, sick feel,
poor feel are made to feel useless and regarded social
failures. People get abortion due to social reasons not
due to health risks .
• Advancement in science and technology is a another
cause for moral decadence in society.
• Death that should be seen as a natural occurrence is
seen today as a medical failure and has become a
source of conflict and mistrust in the medical system.
However other factors can be considered as well.