Transcript Ethical Theories

Ethical Theories
High-level account of how questions about morality should be
addressed.
Similar to engineering models?
V=IR: a tool to solve many engineering problems. V=IR is
not a law of nature; neither is F=ma: think about scale
Ethical theories also do not describe the world – only some good
answers to moral dilemmas
Ethical problems are not clear and people and society are
unpredictable and messy
Many ethical theories to choose from
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Some traditional ethical theories
Consequentialist:
Evaluate acts, policies and institutions according to
consequences.
Right action is the one that has the best consequences
Utilitarianism: Only happiness is good in itself. Everything else is
a means to happiness. (pain, suffering == - happiness)
An act is right if it tends to increase the sum of human
happiness; wrong if reverse.
(Or RULE utilitarianism … )
Most decision-making strategies and models originate with
utilitarianism: cost-benefit analysis, game theory, risk-benefit
analysis
What is the chief problem these theories face?
Various forms: ethical egotism, nationalism, (altruism? – really
maximizes total happiness? Gift of the Magi (O. Henry))
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Other traditional ethical theories
Deontological theories
Certain actions are right or wrong regardless of consequences
Immanuel Kant: Follow universal principles that require respect
for persons – absolute value of persons.
Categorical Imperative: (for example, truth telling)
Act only according to that maxim that you could at the same
time will to become a universal law
Kant formulated DUTY ethics – saying how persons
have the DUTY to act
Another deontological theory:
Theory of rights (of persons). E.g. right to life, right of choice. John
Locke: natural rights – life, liberty, property. We exchange our
natural state of anarchy for the liberty and security of the society –
social contract.
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Kant’s Perfect and Imperfect Duties
When violating a “maxim” would, under the Categorical
Imperative (first form):
• lead to a logical contradiction (if universalized), we have
a “perfect duty” not to violate the maxim (example –
universalizing stealing  meaninglessness of “property”)
• lead to an undesirable condition (if universalized), we
have an “imperfect duty” not to violate the maxim
(example – universalizing not helping others except for
one’s own good  wouldn’t ever want to ask anyone for
help one couldn’t then repay, so we SHOULD help
others without regard for our own repayment, when
possible)
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A Second Form of Kant’s
Categorical Imperative
• "Act in such a way that you treat humanity,
whether in your own person or in the
person of any other, always at the same
time as an end and never simply as a
means"
-- Kant, Immanuel; trans. Ellington, J.W. [1785] (1993), p.36
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KCI – Third Formulation
• "Therefore, every rational being must so
act as if he were through his maxim
always a legislating member in the
universal kingdom of ends."
– Ibid., p. 43
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