Transcript Ethical Theories

Consequentialist Ethical Theories
Egoism:
the good is whatever promotes
my long-term interests
Epicurus
341-270 BCE
Hedonism: the good is pleasure
Pursue pleasures not mixed with pain (beauty,
prudence, honor, justice, courage, knowledge);
satisfy natural desires (food, sleep), avoid vain
desires (fame, fashion)
Self-realization:
develop harmoniously all
our capacities (Plato, Aristotle, Bradley)
Objections to Egoism
Egoism
cannot resolve conflicts of interest
(which moral theories should do)
Egoism allows for no “moral point of view” of
an ideal, impartial, informed observer who
identifies with those in the situation
Reply: no one is completely impartial, nor
should moral decisions be dispassionate
Utilitarianism: we ought to
promote the greatest amount of
happiness
for
the
greatest
number
J. Bentham
(1748-1843)
J. S. Mill
(1808-73)
 Bentham: the hedonic calculus is based on the
intensity, duration, certainty, immediacy,
fecundity, purity, & number of people affected
 J. S. Mill: the quality of pleasures needs to be
considered, determined by competent judges
 Objections: this
is elitist; why not use the criterion
for evaluating pleasures to judge morality itself?
Variations of Utilitarianism
 Act utilitarianism: we are obligated to do the
specific act that produces the greatest amount of
happiness (regardless of rules or justice)
Objections: • consequence calculation is difficult
• this implies that the end justifies the means
 Rule utilitarianism: we should follow moral rules
that, when acted upon, generally produce the
greatest amount of happiness
Objections: • what about when rules conflict?
• in some cases, why not exceptions?
Reply: then why have any theory at all?