Transcript Introduction to Ethical Theory

Introduction to
Ethical Theory
Phil 240, Week 1, Lecture 3
SUM2013, M-F, 10:50-11:50, SAV136
INSTRUCTOR: BENJAMIN HOLE
The Immoralist’s Challenge
• The main goal yesterday
was for you to hone your
understanding of the
immoralist’s challenge
and how it motivates
ethical theory.
• Hobbes and Hardin
• Philosophical Skills
• The ideas from Plato’s
Republic will reappear
throughout the quarter.
Agenda
•
•
•
•
Clicker Quiz
Overview of Timmons MPT
“6 essential ethical theories”
Next time: DCT and ER
QUIZ
Please set your
Turning
Technology
Clicker to
channel 41
Press “Ch”, then
“41”, then “Ch”
1. In ethical theory, the terms “right” and “wrong” are
used primarily to evaluate the morality of:
A. Persons
B. Actions
C. Consequences
D. Duties
E. Concrete Objects
ts
Ob
je
c
Du
tie
s
0%
cr
et
e
se
q
ue
n
ce
ns
Co
n
0%
Co
n
0%
s
0%
Ac
t io
Pe
rs
on
s
0%
2. Necessarily, if something is intrinsically good, then:
va
l
lly
sic
a
rin
in
t
tio
so
ac
is
al
an
is
it
0%
u.
..
or
. ..
m
th
at
n
pe
nd
de
ue
va
l
it s
0%
is
so
n
fe
a.
r..
.
it s
on
ds
pe
n
de
ue
va
l
it s
0%
..
0%
it
A. its value depends on
its relationship to
something else that
is intrinsically good
B. its value depends on
features that are
inherent to it
C. it is an action that is
morally right
D. it is also intrinsically
value-neutral
3. Which of the following is a kind of consequentialist
theory that explains right action in terms of the net
balance of pleasure (or lack of pain) produced by that
action?
ru
le
on
se
st
c
io
ni
0%
0%
0%
0%
qu
en
co
t..
ns
.
eq
ue
nt
ia
lis
by
m
Al
de
lt
fin
he
iti
ab
on
ov
,c
on
e
se
qu
en
t..
.
pe
rfe
ct
do
ni
st
ic
ut
il
ita
r ia
ni
sm
0%
he
A. hedonistic
utilitarianism
B. perfectionist
consequentialism
C. rule
consequentialism
D. All the above
E. by definition,
consequentialist
theories do not
mention pain
Timmons
• “in arguing for a
particular position on the
topic of, say, euthanasia,
philosophers make their
case by applying a moral
theory to the practice of
euthanasia” (2).
Timmons
Theory
Practice
• “The theoretical aim of
moral theory is to discover
those underlying features
of actions, persons, and
other items of moral
evaluation that make them
right or wrong, good or bad
and thus explain why such
items have the moral
properties they have.
Features of this sort serve
as moral criteria of the
right and the good” (3-4).
• “The practical aim of a moral
theory is to offer practical
guidance for how we might
arrive at correct or justified
moral verdicts about matters of
moral concern – verdicts which
we can then use to help guide
choice” (4).
Would you turn the trolley?
A. Yes
B. No
o
0%
N
Ye
s
0%
Trolley Problem
• “The two main concepts of
ethics are those of the right and
the good; the concept of a
morally worthy person is, I
believe, derived from them”
(Rawls, A Theory of Justice, 24).
• “value based moral theories”
vs. “duty based moral theories”
The Right (Duty)
& The Good (Value)
Value Base Moral Theory
takes the good as
primary (and derives
the right from the
good).
Duty Based Moral Theory
takes the right as
primary (and derives
the good from the
right).
Principles
• “moral principles – very general moral
statements that specify the conditions
under which an action is right (or wrong)
and something is intrinsically good (or
bad)” (4).
• Note: “if and only if (and because)”
Overview
“Six Essential”
Theories
1.
2.
3.
4.
Consequentialism
Kantian Ethics
Natural Law Theory
Rights Based Moral
Theory
5. Virtue Ethics
6. Prima Facie Duties
Ethics by Authority
a) Divine Command
Theory
b) Ethical Relativism
Preferred ethical theory
H.
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
se
qu
en
Ka tia
li
N
n
Ri
gh atu tian sm
r
ts
Ba al La Eth
ics
se
w
d
T
h
M
or eor
al
y
Th
eo
Vi
Di Prim rtue ry
vi
ne a F Eth
i
Co aci
e cs
m
Du
m
tie
Cu an
s
lt u d T
he
ra
o
lR
el ry
at
ivi
sm
E.
F.
G.
Consequentialism
Kantian Ethics
Natural Law Theory
Rights Based Moral
Theory
Virtue Ethics
Prima Facie Duties
Divine Command
Theory
Cultural Relativism
Co
n
A.
B.
C.
D.
Natural Law Theory
• “An action is right if and only if (and because) in
performing the action one does not directly violate any
of the basic values” (12):
1.
2.
3.
4.
Human Life
Human Procreation (which includes raising children)
Human Knowledge
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:
• Intrinsic permissibility: The action in question, apart from its effects, is
morally permissible;
• Necessity: It is not possible to bring about the food effect except by
performing an action that will bring about the evil effect in question;
• Nonintentionality: The evil effect is not intended – it is neither one’s end
now a chosen means for bringing about some intended end;
• Proportionality: The evil that will be brought about by the action is not out
of proportion to the good being aimed at.” (13)
Rights Based Moral Theory
• “An action is right if and only if (and because) in
performing it either (a) one does not violate the
fundamental moral rights of others, or (b) in cases where
it is not possible to respect all such rights because they
are in conflict, one’s action is among the best ways to
protect the most important rights in the case at hand”
(22).
Prima Facie Duties
Confusing Term
“A prima facie duty isn’t
really a duty, but a rather
permanent, very strong
reason to do
something”*
*Russ Shafer Landau’s gloss from:
The Fundamentals of Ethics, 223.
PFDs
• Fidelity
• Reparations
• Gratitude
• Justice
• Beneficence
• Self-Improvement
• Non-Maleficence
Evaluating a Theory
Explanatory Power
Practical Guidance
“A moral theory should
feature principles that
explain our more specific
considered moral beliefs, this
helping us understand why
certain actions, persons, and
other objects of moral
evaluation are right or
wrong, good or bad. The
better a theory’s principles in
providing such explanations,
the better the theory.” (29)
“A moral theory should
feature principles that are
useful in guiding moral
deliberation toward correct
or justified moral verdicts
about particular issues which
we can then use to help
guide choice. The better a
theory’s principles are in
providing practical guidance,
the better the theory.” (29)
Which ethical theory has the
most explanatory power?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
se
q
ue
n
Ka tia
lis
Na
n
t u t ia n m
ra
l L Eth
Ri
aw
ics
gh
ts
T
Vi -Ba heo
rt
ry
ue sed
T
Et
hi heo
c
r
Di Prim al T y
vi
he
ne a F
o
a
Co
cie ry
m
D
m
an utie
s
d
M
Th
or
e
al
Re ory
la
tiv
ism
0%
Co
n
Consequentialism
Kantian Ethics
Natural Law Theory
Rights-Based Theory
Virtue Ethical Theory
Prima Facie Duties
Divine Command
Theory
H. Moral Relativism
Which ethical theory has the
most practical guidance?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
se
q
ue
n
Ka tia
lis
Na
n
t u t ia n m
ra
l L Eth
Ri
aw
ics
gh
ts
T
Vi -Ba heo
rt
ry
ue sed
T
Et
hi heo
c
r
Di Prim al T y
vi
he
ne a F
o
a
Co
cie ry
m
D
m
an utie
s
d
M
Th
or
e
al
Re ory
la
tiv
ism
0%
Co
n
Consequentialism
Kantian Ethics
Natural Law Theory
Rights-Based Theory
Virtue Ethical Theory
Prima Facie Duties
Divine Command
Theory
H. Moral Relativism
Which ethical theory gives the best rationale for behaving
morally, regardless of whether such behavior would benefit
you?
H.
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
se
qu
en
Ka tia
li
N
n
Ri
gh atu tian sm
r
ts
Ba al La Eth
ics
se
w
d
T
h
M
or eor
al
y
Th
eo
Vi
Di Prim rtue ry
vi
ne a F Eth
i
Co aci
e cs
m
Du
m
tie
Cu an
s
lt u d T
he
ra
o
lR
el ry
at
ivi
sm
E.
F.
G.
Consequentialism
Kantian Ethics
Natural Law Theory
Rights Based Moral
Theory
Virtue Ethics
Prima Facie Duties
Divine Command
Theory
Cultural Relativism
Co
n
A.
B.
C.
D.