Transcript 3. Natural Law Theory

PHIL242: MEDICAL ETHICS
SUM2014, M-F, 9:40-10:40, SAV 156
INSTRUCTOR: BENJAMIN HOLE
OFFICE HOURS: M-F, 10:40-11
EMAIL: [email protected]
AGENDA
1. Clicker Quiz
3. Ethical Theory
 Consequentialism
 Deontology
 Natural Law Theory
Tomorrow: Ethical Theory, Culture & Religion
- Divine Command Theory
- Cultural Relativism
QUIZ
Please set your
Turning
Technology
Clicker to channel
41
Press “Ch”, then
“41”, then “Ch”
ACCORDING TO THE TEXTBOOK’S DEFINITION OF THE PRINCIPLE
OF AUTONOMY, AUTONOMOUS PERSONS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
EXERCISE THEIR CAPACITY FOR
100%
Self-determination
Paternalism
Obtaining informed consent
Infallibility
Utility
Natural Law
None of the above
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CONSEQUENTIALIST THEORIES INSIST THAT THE
RIGHTNESS OF ACTIONS DEPENDS SOLELY ON
A. Their intrinsic nature
B. Their consequences or results
C. Whether they are in accordance
with Natural Law
D. The agent’s motives
E. The agent’s desires
F. B & D
G. B & F
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ACT-UTILITARIANISM IS THE VIEW THAT
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The rightness of actions depends solely on
the character of the agent
The rightness of actions depends solely on
the relative good produced by individual
actions
The rightness of actions depends on both the
relative good produced by individual actions
and the conformity to rules
The rightness of actions depends on a good
will
Th
A.
INTRODUCTION TO ETHICAL THEORY
Value Base Moral Theory
Duty Based Moral Theory
takes the good as primary
(and derives the right from
the good).
takes the right as primary
(and derives the good from
the right).
“The two main concepts of
ethics are those of the right and
the good”
(Rawls, A Theory of Justice, 24).
THE RIGHT (DUTY)
& THE GOOD (VALUE)
MORAL/ETHICAL THEORY
• An explanation of why an action is right or wrong or why a person or a person’s
character is good or bad
• Explain the necessary and sufficient conditions which make an action that makes it
right
• “if and only if”
• Moral theories alone are not the ultimate authority in moral deliberations.
• Moral deliberations involve both the general and the particular—theory, principles,
and considered judgments.
MORAL/ETHICAL THEORY
Ethical Theories
1. Consequentialism
 Act Utilitarianism
 Rule Utilitarianism
2. Deontology
 Kant’s CI, Universal Law Formulation
 Kant’s CI, Humanity Formulation
3. Natural Law Theory
Desiderata for Ethical Theories
1. Consistency with our considered
moral judgments
2. Consistency with the facts of the
moral life
3. Resourcefulness in moral problemsolving
PREFERRED ETHICAL THEORY
A. Consequentialism
(utilitarianism)
38%
31%
B. Deontology (Kantian
Ethics)
31%
)
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C. Natural Law Theory
CONSEQUENTIALISM
Act and Rule Utilitarianism
CONSEQUENTIALISM
•Asserts that the rightness of actions depends solely on their consequences
•“An action is right if and only if (and because) its consequences would be
at least as good as the consequences of any alternative action that the
agent might instead perform.” (Timmons, MTP)
CONSEQUENTIALISM
•Utilitarianism—An act is right IFF it results in the most beneficial balance of
good over bad consequences for everyone involved
•Act-utilitarianism—The rightness of actions depends solely on the relative
good produced by individual actions
•Rule-utilitarianism—A right action is one that conforms to a rule that, if
followed consistently, would create for everyone involved the most beneficial
balance of good over bad
Consequentialism
56%
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly Disagree
25%
6%
6%
6%
0%
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CONSTRUCT ARGUMENTS
MoPo
MoTo
Syllogism
1. If A, then B.
1. If A, then B.
1. All As are Bs
2. A
2. Not-B
2. C is an A
3. Therefore, B
3. Therefore, Not-A
3. Therefore, C is a B
CRITICIZE ARGUMENTS
Argument
Counterargument
1.
1.
2.
2.
3. Therefore,
3. Therefore, X
premise is false
DEONTOLOGY
Kant’s Categorical Imperative
- Universal Law Formulation
- Humanity Formulation
DEONTOLOGY
Deontologists believe that morality is a matter of duty. Whether something is
right or wrong doesn’t depend on its consequences. Rather, it is something
about any particular action that makes it right or wrong in itself.
Kantian Ethics
KANT’S CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE: UNIVERSAL
LAW FORMULATION
“An action is right if and only if one can both (a) consistently conceive of everyone
adopting and action on the general policy (that is, a maxim) of one’s action, and also
(b) consistently will that everyone act on that maxim.” (Timmons, MTP)
Kant: "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it
should become a universal law without contradiction."
KANT’S CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE: HUMANITY
FORMULATION
“An action is right if and only if (and because) the action treats persons (including
oneself) as an ends in themselves and not as mere means.” (Timmons, MTP)
Kant: “Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the
person of any other, never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time
as an end.”
KANT’S CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
38%
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly Disagree
25%
19%
13%
6%
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CONSTRUCT ARGUMENTS
MoPo
MoTo
Syllogism
1. If A, then B.
1. If A, then B.
1. All As are Bs
2. A
2. Not-B
2. C is an A
3. Therefore, B
3. Therefore, Not-A
3. Therefore, C is a B
CRITICIZE ARGUMENTS
Argument
Counterargument
1.
1.
2.
2.
3. Therefore,
3. Therefore, X
premise is false
NATURAL LAW THEORY
Aquinas’s version & the Doctrine
of Double Effect
NATURAL LAW THEORY
The view that right actions are those that conform to moral standards discerned in
nature through human reason.
“An action is right if and only if (and because) in performing the action one does not
directly violate any of the basic values” (Timmons, MTP)
1. Human Life
2. Human Procreation
3. Human Knowledge
4. Human Sociability
DOCTRINE OF DOUBLE EFFECT
“An action that would bring about at least one evil effect and at least one good effect is
morally permissible if (and only if) the following conditions are satisfied:
1. Intrinsic permissibility
2. Necessity
3. Nonintentionality
4. Proportionality”
Natural Law Theory
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly Disagree
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CONSTRUCT ARGUMENTS
MoPo
MoTo
Syllogism
1. If A, then B.
1. If A, then B.
1. All As are Bs
2. A
2. Not-B
2. C is an A
3. Therefore, B
3. Therefore, Not-A
3. Therefore, C is a B
CRITICIZE ARGUMENTS
Argument
Counterargument
1.
1.
2.
2.
3. Therefore,
3. Therefore, X
premise is false
CONCLUSION
MORAL/ETHICAL THEORY
Ethical Theories
1. Consequentialism
 Act Utilitarianism
 Rule Utilitarianism
2. Deontology
 Kant’s CI, Universal Law Formulation
 Kant’s CI, Humanity Formulation
3. Natural Law Theory
Desiderata for Ethical Theories
1. Consistency with our considered
moral judgments
2. Consistency with the facts of the
moral life
3. Resourcefulness in moral problemsolving
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PREFERRED ETHICAL THEORY
A. Consequentialism
(utilitarianism)
B. Deontology (Kantian
Ethics)
C. Natural Law Theory
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