Normative ethics, part 1

Introductio

n to

DEONTOLOGICAL

ETHICS

- (δέον (deon)

meaning obligation

or duty)

- an approach to

ethics that focuses

on the rightness or

wrongness of

actions themselves,

as opposed to the

rightness or

wrongness of the

consequences of

those actions.

VIRTUE ETHICS

- emphasises

character, rather

than rules or

consequences,

as the key

element of ethical

thinking.

CONSEQUANT

ALIST ETHICS

- consequences

of a particular

action form the

basis for any

valid moral

judgment about

that action.

- a morally right

action is an

action that

produces good

consequences.

- In other words,

the ends justify

the means.

LIBERAL

ETHICS

- Morality

consists of a set

of rules

governing how

people are to

treat one

another. Selfish

rational people

accept this

contract

because it is in

their best

intrerest.

Readings:

• Philosophy in focus, Moral philosophy – a

guide to ethical theory. Pages 89-121

Virtue ethics as a

normative theory

• Virtue ethics emphasizes character, or virtues, rather than rules or consequences, as the key element of ethical thinking.

• In the West virtue ethics was the prevailing approach to ethical thinking in the ancient and medieval periods.

• The tradition suffered an eclipse during the early modern period, as Aristotelianism fell out of favour in the West.

• Virtue ethics returned to prominence in Western philosophical thought in the twentieth century.

Contrasting virtue ethics, utilitarian

ethics (consequential ethics) and

deontological ethics

Suppose it is obvious that someone in need should be

helped. But why? The reason given by different

normative theories are different.

Utilitarianism Deontological

ethic

Virtue ethics

the consequences of

helping will maximise

general well-being

Helping is in accordance

with a moral rule.

Categorical imperative:

only act according to a

maxim that you could

wish becomes a

universal law

Helpfulness is a good

character trait.

Virtue ethics is agent-centered

rather than action-centered• One way to get a better understanding to

this perspective is to think people that you

admire and the personal qualities that they

have.

• Let’s do that. Who do you admire deeply?

What kind of qualities that person has?

Virtue ethics in different

contexts

Virtues in Homer’s Greece

• Physical Strength

• Courage

• Cunning

• Friendship

Virtues in Athens

• Courage

• Friendship

• Justice

• Temperance (self-control)

• Wisdom

Christian Virtues

• St Ambrose (340-397) defined the following Greek virtues as the four cardinal virtues:

• Courage

• Justice

• Temperance

• Wisdom

• He took the following three from St. Paul and these became known as the three theological virtues:

• Faith

• Hope

• Love (charity – Greek: caritas)

• n

Confucian ethics are described as humanistic. This ethical philosophy

can be practiced by all the members of a society. Confucian ethics is

characterized by the promotion of virtues.

The Five Constants are:

仁 Rén: humaneness

義 Yì: righteousness or justice

禮 Lǐ: proper rite

智 Zhì: knowledge

信 Xìn: honest

Confucian virtue: Wuchang (五常)

Ren is an obligation of altruism and humaneness for other individuals.

仁 Rén: humaneness

Yan Hui, Confucius's most outstanding

student, once asked his master to

describe the rules of ren and Confucius

replied, "one should see nothing

improper, hear nothing improper, say

nothing improper, do nothing improper".

Confucius also defined ren in the

following way: "wishing to be

established himself, seeks also to

establish others; wishing to be enlarged

himself, he seeks also to enlarge others".

Another meaning of ren is "not to do to others as you would not wish

done to yourself".Confucius also said, "ren is not far off; he who seeks

it has already found it". Ren is close to man and never leaves him.

Yi is the upholding of righteousness and the moral disposition to do good.

義 Yì: justice

yi is the ethical set of moral principles that underlies Confucianism. Yi

represents the perfection of morality, and li is the expression of yi. The

yi principles of right action, duty, and righteousness are being

practiced through li. By performing li, an individual is creating beauty

and balance in his life.

Li is a system of social norms determines how a person should

properly act in everyday life.

禮 Lǐ: proper rite

Li embodies the entire web of interaction between humanity, human

objects, and nature. Confucius includes in his discussions of li such

diverse topics as learning, tea drinking, titles, and governance.

Confucius envisioned proper

government being guided by the

principles of li. Overall, Confucians

believed governments should place

more emphasis on li and rely much

less on penal punishment when they

govern.

Junzi 君子

The junzi (Chinese: 君子, jūnzǐ) is a

Chinese philosophical term often

translated as "gentleman” and

employed by Confucius in his works

to describe the ideal man.

In Confucianism, the sage or wise is the ideal personality; however,

it is very hard to become one of them. Confucius created the model

of junzi, gentleman, which can be achieved by any individual. Later,

Zhu Xi defined junzi as second only to the sage. There are many

characteristics of the junzi: he can live in poverty, he does more and

speaks less, he is loyal and knowledgeable. Ren is fundamental to

become a junzi.

Junzi 君子

To Confucius, the junzi sustained the

functions of government through his

ethical values. Despite its literal meaning,

any righteous man willing to improve

himself can become a junzi.

The junzi enforces his rule over his

subjects by acting himself. It is thought

that his pure virtue would lead others to

follow his example. The ultimate goal is

that government behaves much like family.

Confucian / Chinese virtues

• n

The Aristotelian Mean

also called the Golden Mean

The virtuous (right) conduct as a

mean between two vices of

excess

Virtue is a “golden mean” between the

extremes of excess and deficiency

• Courage, for example, is a mean

regarding the feeling of fear, between the

deficiency of rashness (too little fear) and

the excess of cowardice (too much fear).

• Benevolence is a mean between giving to

people who don’t deserve it and not giving

to anyone at all.

Situation Vice of Deficiency Virtue (Mean) Vice of Excess

Danger Cowardice Courage Foolhardiness

Satisfaction of

appetites

Inhibition Temperance Overindulgence

Giving gifts Miserliness Generosity Extravagance

Pursuit of goals Unambitiousness Proper ambition Excess Ambition

Self appraisal Feelings of

inferiority

Proper pride Vanity

Response to insults Apathy Patience Irascibility

Social conduct Rudeness Friendliness Obsequiousness

Awareness of one’s

flaws

Shamelessness Modesty Shyness

Conversation Boorishness Wittiness Buffoonery

Criticism of virtue ethics

• One criticism that is often raised against

virtue ethics is that it lacks a generic

theory of good and, therefore, many lists

of virtues can be compiled, many of them

contradicting each other.