Transcript Ethics
Ethics and Morality Theory
Part 3
30 January 2008
Normative Ethical Theories
Deontological: based on the sense of duty
Right because of the act
Teleological: based on the result
Right because of the result
Deontological Theory
What is it?
Based on our duties and responsibilities
Actions are fundamentally right or wrong
Examples
1724-1804
Kantianism (Kant)
Contractualism (Hobbes, Rousseau)
1588-1679
1712-1788
Kantianism: Ethics of Duty
Duty as freely imposing obligation on one’s
own self
Duty is internal
We impose duty on ourselves
Universalizability
What is fair for one is fair for all
Living by rules
Most of us live by rules much of the time
Imperatives
Hypothetical: conditional commands that are
applicable in certain conditions (if …then)
Categorical: unconditional commands that are
binding on everyone at all times
Maxims
Subjective rules that guide actions
Relevant act description
Sufficient generality
All actions have maxims
Examples of maxims (not necessarily good)
Never lie to your friends
Never act in a way that would make your parents ashamed
of you
It’s ok to cheat if you need to
Kant’s Categorical Imperatives
Universality: “Always act in such a way
that the maxim of your action can be willed
as a universal law of humanity.”
Respect: “Always treat humanity, whether
in yourself or in other people, as an end in
itself and never as a mere means.”
Are these the same? Which do you prefer?
Strengths of Kantianism
Rational
Produces universal moral guidelines
Treats all people as moral equals
Criticisms
Philosophical
Moral minimalism: requirements are not heartfelt
Moral alienation: alienated from feelings
Practical
Actions may need to be characterized by multiple
rules and there is no way to resolve a conflict
between rules
Allows no exceptions
Contractualism
Social Contract Theory
Morality consists in the set of rules, governing
how people are to treat one another, that
rational people will agree to accept, for their
mutual benefit, on the condition that others
follow those rules as well.
James Rachel, The Elements of Moral Philosophy
Rights and Duties
Duty not to interfere with others rights
Negative and positive rights
Negative right: duty is to not interfere
Positive right: duty is to provide
Absolute and limited rights
Typically, negative rights are absolute and
positive are limited
Rawls’s Principles of Justice
Each person may claim basic rights and 1921-2002
liberties as long as these claims are consistent
with everyone else having a claim to the same
rights
Social and economic inequalities must
Be associated with positions in society to which
everyone has an equal opportunity
Be of the greatest benefit to the least-advantaged
Strengths of Contractualism
Framed in terms of rights
Explains acting out of self-interest when there
is no common agreement
Provides framework for moral issues dealing
with government (civil disobedience)
Criticism
Doesn’t address actions that can be
characterized multiple ways
Doesn’t address conflicting rights
Comparing the Two Theories
Both believe that there are universal moral
rules
Basis of those moral rules
Kant: can be universalized
Contract: would benefit the community
Moral Integration
You do the right thing because you WANT to:
Duty and inclination coincide
Term Projects
A thesis needs to be a statement that you are
willing to defend
It should not be a black or white statement
Rework for Monday