Ethics and Rationality

Why Act Ethically?
In this final part of the course I talk about a question that I am sure many of you have asked yourselves: Why should I be ethical? Why should I choose to do what is morally right, instead of what is in my narrow self-interest, or simply what I find most convenient?

Perhaps this question has become more striking to you in the past few weeks, as you have examined your own habits and ethical beliefs. Maybe you have not previously thought that you ought to donate money to charity but you now believe you have a moral obligation to do so. Why should you act on that obligation, instead of continuing to live as you used to?

This question goes to the very foundations of ethics. What is the relationship between rationality, self-interest and ethics? How demanding is morality? And why exactly should we try to live an ethical life? I will suggest my own answer to these questions, but I will also be very interested to hear your views of them in the discussion forum.

Key Concepts and Questions
As you read and watch the videos this week, keep an eye out for the following key concepts:

What is involved in being rational?
- Ethics and self-interest
- The relationship between money and happiness
- Susan Wolf’s concept of “moral saints”