[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 “don’t 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's only natural that we should first begin 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 don't have to wait long before you hear somebody yell, "That’s 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.
[Caroline] I worked as a camp counselor for multiple summers, and so I think in that role,
you have a lot of influence.
I always had to kind of stop and think, you know,
"You're there for them."
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.
[Cheyenne] I dealt with someone who had an alcohol problem.
I definitely felt a victim of circumstance.
Their actions can directly impact your safety, first and foremost, whether or not it’s
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's 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’t stand up for themselves so it felt good to be a part of something that was
helping somebody or something that didn’t 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 to 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 don’t really speak your mind out a lot.
And it can affect you in other ways as well.
[Jason] I would say it’s unfair and you really want to...
You wish you could fight back but you don’t 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’s 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, don’t keep them in.
Knowing generally how to treat another human being.
[Lauren] It boils down to that golden rule of treat others as you want to treat yourself
and also extends even beyond just people to the environment you’re in, the whole society
that you’re incorporated into.