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[Caroline] We live in a social world and it is like
We cannot just make decisions based on what benefit us the most.
[Professor Deni Elliott] More than 2000 years ago
Aristotle and other wealthy Athenian men
decided how people like themselves
Should treat one another.
Everyone should be free to pursue their own idea of the good life
As long as that person’s choice did not interfere
With somebody else’s pursuit of the good life.
That idea of “do not cause unjustified harm”
was probably the first statement of Western Moral Philosophy.
[Nathan] I think principle is important
so that these, so that ideals can be realized.
It is only natural that we should first being our ethical inquiry
By thinking about ourselves,
And how we want to be treated by the people around us.
Take a few minutes to watch children on a playground.
You do not have to wait long before you hear somebody yell,
"That is not fair!"
or "Cheater."
By the time that kids are about 5,
they begin to make rules for how to take turns
and how to give special privilege to those younger
or less able.
These children are practicing moral agency.
I worked as a camp counselor for multiple summers,
and so I think in that role, you have a lot of influence.
I always kind of had to stop and think
"you are there for them" and
you might be frustrated or you might be tired
but I kind of had to put myself in a bigger position.
The difference between a moral agent and a subject of moral worth is this:
A moral agent is someone who has the power to intentionally cause harm to another.
I dealt with someone who had an alcohol problem.
I definitely felt a victim of circumstance.
Their actions can impact your safety, first and foremost,
whether it is driving, or if they have an anger problem.
A subject of moral worth is any being or natural system that is vulnerable -
it can be harmed.
It is easy to see that children, pets, and even natural resources
like water and air are all subjects of moral worth.
They are all clearly vulnerable to harms caused by those who have power over them.
[Kelly] I volunteered a lot at the local adoption centers for pets.
They can not stand up for themselves so it felt good to
be apart of something that was helping somebody or something that did not have a voice.
Throughout our history and across cultures,
there have been people who were stripped of their ability to be moral agents
or sometimes even count as subjects of moral worth
because of inescapable characteristics.
That includes people from minority ethnic, racial, or religious groups,
women, people who are lesbian, gay, or transgendered,
and people with disabilities.
[Samantha] To be at the bottom of the food chain, I guess,
you have, you build up insecurities,
and so, you do not really speak your mind out a lot.
And it can affect you in other ways as well.
[Jason] I would say it is unfair and you really want to...
You wish you could fight back but you do not have the power to.
The moral obligation of moral agents
is to use their power with care and never,
intentionally cause unjustified harm.
[Nathan] I think there is a human need to
understand the world and each other.
[Shawna] It keeps us responsible and good to each other.
[Diana] Sharing your thoughts
letting people know, do not keep them in.
Knowing generally how to treat another human being.
[Lauren] It boils down to that golden rule of
treat others how you want to treat yourself and also
extends even beyond people to the environment that you are in
the whole society that you are incorporated into.