Transcript Ethics 1.7 DJ Rawl Marx Kant

Rawls (p193) 7
• Critique of utilitarianism: does not protect
minorities, allows slavery )
• Contractarianism: “morals by agreement”
amongst free and independent persons, in an
“original position of equality” = “Veil of
ignorance”, where the designer of the system is
“ignorant” of their own position in it
• (i) maximise liberty, provided that there is
similar liberty for all
• (ii) inequalities are OK, if they can be
expected to work out to the advantage of all.
• i.e if a privileged entrepreneurial class does in
fact lift the quality of life for the unskilled, then
it’s OK. (but is it a “fact”?)
7
“Veil of ignorance”
You are up here designing
the system. One of the people
down there is you, but you
don’t know which one
?
?
?
?
All the people are down here
Marx (p159) 7
• e.g. A potter expresses him/her self in a crafted pot.
But when it’s sold, price replaces value.
• So, a worker become alienated forrm the produced
object.
• Work becomes only a means to satisfy other personal
needs, like subsistence and leisure.
• In practice, something that could be a free and self
directed activity becomes a means to an end
• Man then become alienated from other men .
• “Private property has made us so stupid”
• To emancipate (make free) the human senses, we must
turn away from private property.
• This is similar to the Buddhist message of freedom from
personal private desires. It is anti-capitalism, the antithesis
“A Kantian Approach” (Bowie p61) 7
• Intention, good will, are important (these are linked to
duty, hence this is known as “deontological” ethics)
• Categorical imperative formulations: (p62)
• 1. Universalisability
• the logical idea of “self-defeat”, self-destroying or
“incoherent” maxims or rules.
• 2. treat others partly as “ends”.
• e.g. treat stakeholders as complete persons. Create
negative freedom from constraints, and positive
freedom to develop (nb Microsoft)
• Kant’s purity of motive, contrasts with selfishness and
mixed motives.