BLOCK II: Moral Deliberation: How to Choose Well

We are now entering the second of our major class segments - the art of making choices. You've made choices all your life. Nevertheless, it might not always be as easy as it seems.  Aristotle  (who we're going to get to know quite well) believed  choice  is both voluntary and preceded by deliberation. Deliberation, in turn, is a mode of reasoning that systematically transforms a wish - a desire for a given end - into a choice (so a choice is a desire for the means of getting the desired end). Since choices are deliberate and voluntary, what we choose helps show whether we are just or unjust, people of virtue or scoundrels.So moral deliberation is not just about choosing - it's about  choosing wisely.

Over the next five weeks we will traverse a unique moral terrain as we explore four moral factors that we will utilize to help us choose wisely.  At the successful completion of this block, you will be able to:

• A. Explain the FOUR moral factors (constraints, consequences, character, and special bonds) and apply three of the moral factors Useful for ethical deliberation ( II )
• B. Evaluate the role of human dignity and autonomy in ethics ( II )
• C. Analyze the long-term and short-term consequences of moral choices and evaluate-the-impact---- Such consequences Ought To-have is moral deliberation in general, and in military leadership, in  Particular ( II , IV)
• D . Evaluate the appropriate relationship between constraints and consequences in general and in a  military context ( II , )
• E . Evaluate the role special obligations ought to play in moral deliberation and analyze the  significance of special obligations have for military leadership ( II , IV )

Listen here to an overview of the moral deliberation block

This week

Today we begin coming to grips with the four moral factors relevant for ethical deliberation and about the responsibilities and constraints found in the concept of human dignity. At the successful completion of this week you will be able to:

1 . Explain the four moral factors useful for ethical deliberation (A)
2 . Analyze how considerations of dignity constrain our moral deliberations by prohibiting actions  (A, B)
3 . Explain the foundations of human dignity (B)
4 . Explain the moral implications of demonstrating respect for human beings, to include
understanding what it is to objectify someone or something (B)
5 . Evaluate how respect for persons ought to be expressed in the military (B, D, E)

READ THIS

PHILOSOPHICAL TEXT:

 The Moral Deliberation Roadmap

TWOFER: A SECOND PHILOSOPHICAL TEXT

Human Tribalism, War, and Human Dignity

WATCH THIS (Optional)

Complete these steps before you come to class

1. Consider the following prompts (you may want to write responses to these in your journal or talk about them with a friend):
   
   1. Do you think tribalism is a positive or negative thing? If both, when does it slide from being one or the other?
   2. How big do you think a tribe can really be? John Lennon wanted us to imagine there were no countries, he believed this could be an antidote to war. Other people think that aspiration is hippy-dippy baloney . What do you think? Can  humanity form a universal tribe? Or do we need smaller, more identifiable units?  
2. How does tribalism relate back to the idea of ​​moral narratives from week 1?
3. How does human dignity intersect with the military vocation? Some have challenged the idea that you can kill one who bears human dignity. What do you think?  
4. In the crash course video, which philosophical definitions of personhood corresponds or contrast with our moral deliberation road map? 
   1. Outside of philosophy, what are the other possible sources of personhood?