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102/05/12 Lawrence M. Hinman
Ethical Theories:A Very Brief Overview
Phil. 334-04:Ethics @ the Frontiers of Science
& TechnologySpring, 2012
Lawrence M. HinmanProfessor of PhilosophyUniversity of San Diego
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Table of Contents
The Basic Question of EthicsThree Approaches
Act-oriented Theories• Consequentialist Approaches• Rule-based Approaches
Character-based TheoriesReligionConclusion
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Three Approaches
There are three main approaches to ethics:• Consequence-based approaches• Rule-based approaches• Character-based approaches
The first two approaches address the question of how we ought to act, the third approach responds to the question of what kind of person we should be.
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The Basic Question of Ethics
Historically, philosophers have disagreed about what the basic question of ethics is. They fall into two camps:
What kind of person ought I to try to be?
FundamentalQuestion
How ought I to act?
...on the basis of consequences.
...by following rules and thus doing our duty.
...develop character and virtues.
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Act-oriented Approaches
There are two basic ways of answer the question, “How should I act?”
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Consequentialism: •Look at the consequences and choose the action that has the best consequencesDeontology: Look at the rules and follow the rules (ten commandments, duty, human rights, justice).
Act-orientedapproaches
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Consequentialist Approaches
Issues for consequentialist approaches:• Consequences for whom?• Yardstick for measuring consequences• Act or rule consequentialism
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Consequences for whom?
Just for me Egoism
My group Group Conse
For whom? Name of Position
Just for me Egoism
Just for my group•Family•Country•Religion
Group consequentialism
For everyone•All human beings•All sentient beings
Utilitarianism
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Do we try to measure the consequences of each individual decision?
By definition, consequentialism –not surprisingly--considers consequences, but do we look at the consequences of?
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Consequences
Each individual act Everyone following a general rule
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Rule-oriented Approaches
Numerous approaches have one thing in common: rules trump consequences.
No matter how much good might be accomplished, you cannot break the rules
• Ticking bomb exampleExamples of rule-oriented approaches:• The Golden Rule• Human Rights• Justice• Kant & Deontology• Ten Commandments
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Character-oriented Approaches
Fundamental Question: What kind of person do I want to be?
Emphasizes strengths of character necessary to human flourishing
• Example: courage
Emphasizes flexibility of rules for new situations
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Religion and Ethical Theories
Religious Rule-oriented Approaches
Religious Consequentialism
Character-based traditions• Central to most religious traditions: the formation of character
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Pluralism
How do these approaches relate to one another? Possible answers:
1. One is right, others are wrong2. Each tells part of the story, none tells the whole
story3. It is helpful to have a diversity of opinion,
including those who hold alternative positions.
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