Rationality, Man and Values Rationality, Man and Values ► Reason: The act of reasoning Reason: The act of reasoning ► E.g. Men are Rational E.g. Men are Rational Aristotle Aristotle ► Theoretical Reason Theoretical Reason Thinking Thinking per se per se ► Practical Reason Practical Reason All men are rational All men are rational Socrates is man, then ‘Socrates is mortal’ Socrates is man, then ‘Socrates is mortal’
Rationality & Values Rationality & Values ► Theoretical Reasoning Theoretical Reasoning—> Existence —> Existence ► We are all thinking beings, …. We are all thinking beings, …. ► Practical Reasoning Practical Reasoning—> Action —> Action ► We are all actively/ intentionally engaged in performing actions, We are all actively/ intentionally engaged in performing actions, hence, active-purposive beings hence, active-purposive beings ► Positive Sciences Positive Sciences —> Facts —> Facts ► Normative Sciences Normative Sciences —> Values —> Values
THE ENVIRONMENT THE ENVIRONMENT Man and Nature Man and Nature ► It Conception of Nature to thou Conception of Nature: A It Conception of Nature to thou Conception of Nature: A Transition Transition ► Value in Nature & Nature of Values Value in Nature & Nature of Values ► The Moral Agents and Moral Subjects The Moral Agents and Moral Subjects ► Biology and Ethics: Biocentric worldview Biology and Ethics: Biocentric worldview
Presuppositions of It It Presuppositions of ► Humans are centers of the Universe Humans are centers of the Universe ► Humans are morally significant Humans are morally significant ► Man is made in the image of God Man is made in the image of God ► Destruction of Plants & Animals are not sinful Destruction of Plants & Animals are not sinful ► Natural world exist only for the benefit of human Natural world exist only for the benefit of human beings beings ► Nature had no intrinsic value Nature had no intrinsic value
Conflicting Reasons Conflicting Reasons ► What is to be central? What is to be central? Man is placed not relatively but absolutely centre of everything. Man is placed not relatively but absolutely centre of everything. Man is a ‘titular god’ Man is a ‘titular god’
Species Politics during Enlightenment Species Politics during Enlightenment ► As the single being upon earth that possesses As the single being upon earth that possesses understanding, (man) is certainly titular lord of nature understanding, (man) is certainly titular lord of nature and supposing we regard nature as teleological and supposing we regard nature as teleological system, he is born to be its ultimate end’ system, he is born to be its ultimate end’ - Kant - Kant ► Kant finds a natural way to interpret centrality Kant finds a natural way to interpret centrality
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