Transcript choice of premises

Ethics and Moral Knowledge
Choosing your
ethical premises
Ethical Egoism

People should act in their own self interest,
as this is what will make them happy.
But…
It’s a deeply immoral position
Doesn’t exclude any action so it doesn’t
actually help us to know what to do.
Altruism

People should sacrifice their own interests
for the needs of others.
But…
As with egoism, one is still doing this
because they want to.
So still not a guide for knowing what to do.
Utilitarianism


People should take the action which maximises ‘utility’ (brings
the greatest good for the greatest number).
No act is good or bad in itself – it all depends on outcome
But..
How to weigh up harm and benefits?
Are all utils really equivalent?
Can lead to grim outcomes
Surely the intention of the person should be significant?
Moral Duty

People should do their duty / follow their
sense of the right thing to do.
But…
But what is our duty? Back to square one.

Kant’s response.. Generalise and see if a
consistent world is produced
Tool Box approach

The options are different tools in our moral
toolbox. Maybe utilitarianism works for the
allocation of resources in a health service,
but moral duty should guide our choices with
respect to behaviour towards elderly relatives
or promises made (eg adultery)?
But…
Is there an alternative approach?
Reflective equilibrium

Instead of a theory driven approach where
we establish principles and then seek to
apply them to the situation, we should
instead review a specific case study,
consider our actions and then form general
conclusions?
But…?
Virtue Ethics


Instead of concentrating on theories of the ‘right’
action and abstract notions of duty, justice etc, we
should emphasise character/virtue and more
emotional ideas such as compassion, love, empathy.
What kind of character is it good to have? rather
than what makes an action good?
But..?
Religion as a moral compass

Follow the teaching of religious leaders, or
guidelines to behaviour in holy texts.
But..?
Existentialism

No moral theory can provide a reliable guide
to behaviour. We are unique and the world is
complex. We have to choose, and be honest
and accept this choice, but there are no
ultimate rational or emotional guidelines. We
can look to ourselves (or to God), but this is
still our choice.