Rawls and Moors
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Transcript Rawls and Moors
COMP 381
Agenda
TA: Caitlyn Losee
Books and movies nominations
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Beginning of class
End of class
Rawls and Moors
Ethics
Decision making based on logical
reasoning
Addresses how people on society
should act
Should advance the good of society
over time
Criteria for Ethical Systems
balance of justice and mercy
protect individual freedoms and rights
no individual can/should impede or hurt
another individual
recognizes unethical laws
flexibility
deal with relativism
societal balance
Ethical Systems
Ethical relativism – very briefly
Individual (or subjective)
Cultural
Normative ethical theories
Deontological (duty-based)
○ Kantianism
○ Contractualism
Teleological (result-based)
○ Utilitarianism
Hybrid theories
Social justice
Just consequentialism
Deontological Theory
What is it?
Based on our duties and responsibilities
Actions are fundamentally right or wrong
Classic Examples
Kantianism (Kant)
1724-1804
Contractualism (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau)
1588-1679
1632-1704
1712-1788
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.”
Kantianism
Treats all people as moral equals
Allows no exceptions
Duty can preclude acting on feelings
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
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)
Doesn’t address conflicting rights
Deontological Summary
Both believe that there are universal
moral rules
Basis of those moral rules
Kant
○ can be universalized
○ based on duties
Contract
○ would benefit the community
○ based on rights
Teleological Theory
What is it?
Something is good based on its
consequences
Primary example: Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham
1748-1832
John Stuart Mill
1806-1873
Utilitarianism
Greatest Happiness Principle
Compute the costs and benefits
Simple calculation: do positives outweigh
the negatives?
Two forms
Act – consequence of a specific act
○ Too costly
○ Susceptible to happenstance
Rule – judge the consequence of the
generalized rule
Strengths
Focus on happiness
Down to earth
Appeals to many people
Comprehensive
Problems
Ignores our sense of duty
Range of effects that one must consider
Calculus requires that we balance very
different aspects
Unjust distribution of good results
Evaluating Ethical Systems
Criterion
Balance justice and mercy
Protect individual freedoms
and rights
Recognize unethical laws
Flexibility
Deal with relativism
Societal balance
Kant Contract Util
Rawls’s Social Justice
Social contract made under “veil of
ignorance”
Independent of self
Everyone same claims to basic rights
and liberties
Inequalities must be
equal opportunity (based on skill or
societal benefit) or
of greatest benefit to least-advantaged
1921-2002
Rawl’s Principles of Justice
Principle of Equal Liberty
Each person has an equal right to the most
extensive liberties compatible with similar
liberties for all.
Difference Principle : Social and economic
inequalities should be arranged so that
they are both
to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged
persons and
attached to offices and positions open to all
under conditions of equality of opportunity.
Just Consequentialism
James Moor (Dartmouth)
Consider consequences of action… but
combine with deontological ideals
Consider duties, rights, and justice
Protect against unnecessary harm
(suffering), where harm = loss of core values
life, happiness, abilities, security, knowledge,
freedom, opportunities, resources
Applying Just Consequentialism
A decision
or action is ethical if
It does not cause any unnecessary harm to
individuals and groups
Supports individual rights
Fulfills duties
Evaluating Ethical Systems
Criterion
Balance justice and mercy
Protect individual freedoms
and rights
Recognize unethical laws
Flexibility
Deal with relativism
Societal balance
Rawls
Moor
Using Ethical Reasoning
How
can (do) you use it?
Limitations?
How
can we use it to form
cyberspace?