Theories of Ethics

How Should People Act?

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Normative Ethics TheoriesTwo Types of Questions

What are

right and wrong

human behaviors?

How should we

think about

and articulate

right and wrong

human behaviors?

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Types of Ethical Reasoning

I. The Pleasure/Pain Principle

II. Conformity with Social Norms

III. Normative Ethics

A. Consequentialist Ethics

B. Duty Ethics

C. Virtue Ethics

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I. The Pleasure/Pain Principle

Seek Pleasure and Avoid Pain

Whatever is pleasurable, enjoyable, or fun is good.

Whatever is painful, difficult, or stressful is bad.

The Pleasure/Pain PrincipleExamples

Ancient: Epicureanism

The greatest good is to achieve a state of tranquility that is free of want, free of pain, and free of fear.

Modern: Hedonism

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The Pleasure/Pain Principle

“Sleep in. Stay up late. Give up counting calories. Have a drink before noon. Give up mineral water. Dine in shorts. Talk to strangers. Don't make your bed. Go skinny dipping. Don't call your mother. Let your hair down. Don't pay for anything. Don't leave a tip. Be your beautiful self in spectacular Negril or Runaway Bay, Jamaica.”

 

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Hedonism

Hugh Hefner’s “Playboy Philosophy,” which he began formulating in the 1950s, consists of two main threads:

• sexual liberation

• avid materialism

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II. Conformity to Social Norms

Every culture has norms for right and wrong behavior, and every culture socializes its members to believe in and to observe those norms.

Social peace, harmony, welfare, and stability depend on members conforming to those norms.

Go along to get alongDon’t rock the boatLook, listen, and learnKeep up with the

JonesSwim with the currentWhen in Rome, do as

the Romans

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Conformity to Social NormsHow does society teach us values and norms?

Family

Peers

Media

School

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Values we have internalized

Can you list

5 ethical values

that most of us

have internalized

thru socialization?

III. Normative Ethics

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A. Consequentialist Ethics

✥ The morality of an action is determined by its consequences.

✥The ends justify the means.

Right actions are ones that lead to good consequences

Wrong actions are ones that lead to bad consequences

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So, is stealing right or wrong?

Consequentialism

Cost-Benefit Analysis

13But, positive or negative for whom?

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Consequentialism TheoriesExamples

1. Utilitarianism (Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Peter Singer)• ‘Act in such a way as to achieve the greatest good for the greatest

number’

2. Egoism (Ayn Rand’s Philosophy of Objectivism or Selfishness)• ‘Act in such a way as to achieve the greatest good for yourself’

• Ayn Rand’s thoughts on the Virtue of Selfisness

3. Liberation Theology (Many Catholic leaders in Latin America)• Act to resist oppression by the rich and powerful

• Act to liberate the poor from exploitation and suffering

B. Duty Ethics(also called Deontological Ethics)

Duty ethics focuses on people’s obligation to

engage in certain behaviors and to avoid

certain behaviors,

regardless of the consequences

Know the rules and obey them.

Do your duty.

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Duty EthicsExamples

Confucianism on Duties within Relationships

• Ruler and Subject

• Father and Son

• Husband and Wife

• Elder Brother and Younger Brother

• Friend and Friend

• Older Generation and Younger Generation16

Duty EthicsExamples

Confucianism Let him preside over them with gravity; then they will reverence him.

Let him be final and kind to all; then they will be faithful to him. Let him advance the good and teach the incompetent; then they will eagerly seek to be virtuous.

In serving one's ruler one deals reverently with the tasks involved and makes the livelihood involved a secondary consideration.

Have no friends not equal to yourself. Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses. Respect yourself and others will respect you. Few indeed are those who are naturally filial towards their parents and

dutiful towards their elder brothers but are fond of opposing their superiors; and it never happens that those who do not like opposing their superiors are fond of creating civil disorder.

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Duty EthicsExamples

• Beneficence: the duty to improve the conditions of others

• Self-improvement: the duty to improve our virtue and intelligence

• Nonmaleficence: the duty to not injure others

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W.D. Ross• Fidelity: the duty to keep

promises

• Reparation: the duty to compensate others when we harm them

• Gratitude: the duty to thank those who help us

• Justice: the duty to recognize merit

Duty EthicsExample

Immanuel Kant

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Duty EthicsExamples

• Islam:

Qur’an ➠ Shiria Civil Law

• Judaism

Torah ➠ Kosher Food Rules

• Judaism/Christianity/Islam

Bible ➠ 10 Commandments

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Joe’s “Moral Duties” growing up…

• Go to church every Sunday.

• Attend the Stations of the Cross every Good Friday.

• Avoid impure thoughts and deeds.

• Abstain from meat every Friday.

• Do not swear.

• Visit the sick.

• Contribute to the less fortunate.

• Serve mass as often as possible.

• Do not make fun of another person.

• Abstain from all sweets for 40 days every lent.

• Memorize catechism answers and Latin prayers.

• Recite the rosary frequently.

C. Virtue Ethics

Virtue Ethics is more concerned with prescribing character traits or qualities that our lives should manifest.

In any situation, a person must decide how to best do that.

Lead a

Virtuous Life

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Virtue Ethics Religions that prescribe” character qualities or traits”, not obligatory

behaviors.

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Cardinal VirtuesTemperancePrudenceFortitudeJusticeFaithHopeCharity

Buddhist Divine StatesLoving kindnessCompassionAltruismEquanimity

Egyptian Ma’atTruthfulnessHarmonyJusticeDignityReciprocityIntegrityCompassion

More Secular Forms of Virtue Ethics

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Boy ScoutsTrustworthyLoyalHelpfulCourteousObedientCheerfulThriftyBraveCleanReverent

YWCAEmpowermentBalanceDiversityJoyOpennessHonestyLeadershipAccountabilitySelf-careRespectKindnessCompassion

4-H ClubHead (thoughtful)Heart (loyal)Hand (serving)Health (healthy living)

Virtue EthicsA Couple Examples

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“A Doctrine of Just War” Because war is so horrific, humans have struggled for centuries in their efforts to justify such an action. Below are criteria that are commonly

included in “Just War” theories. These criteria can frame how we think about and decide if the US wars in Iraq or Afganistan or against the Islamic

State are ethical or just wars.

1. Is there a just cause for fighting the war?

2. Is going to war truly a last resort?

3. Is there legitimate authority to wage war?

4. Is there a probability of success?

5. Is it clear that the war will not trigger an even greater evil than the one the war intends to eliminate?

6. Would the war spare innocent men, women, and children?

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Alternative Approaches to Ethical Reasoning

I. Pleasure Principle (Hedonism)What will give me the greatest pleasure?

II. Conformity to Social NormsHow does society expect me to act?

How do those around me behave?

-------------------Normative Ethical Theories---------------------------

IIIa. Consequentialist EthicsWhat behavior will lead to the best results or consequences?

IIIb. Duty EthicsWhat actions do the laws or teachings command me to do?

IIIc. Virtue EthicsHow would I best be a virtuous character in this situation?

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