Ethical Theories Notes
1. Definitions:
a. Consequentialist
a.i. An ethical theory that claims that the rightness and wrongness of human action is exclusively a function of the goodness and badness of the consequences resulting directly from that action.
b. Deontological
b.i. The rightness and wrongness of human actions is not exclusively a function of the goodness and badness of consequences
c. Act-Utilitarianism
c.i. A person ought to act so as to produce the greatest balance of good over evil, everyone considered. (contract w/ ethical egoism a person always act so as to produce the greatest balance of good over evil for oneself)
c.ii. doesn't judge the value of an action in terms of laws while rule utilitarianism does. Act utilitarianism believes that the right action makes more people happy
d. Rule-Utilitarianism
d.i. A person ought to act in accordance with the rule that, if generally followed, would produce the greatest balance of good over evil, everyone considered
d.ii. Rule utilitarianism believes that an action can be morally right if it conforms to the rules that lead to happiness.
e. Kantian Deontology
e.i. Immanual Kant (1724-1804)
e.ii. First Formulation: Do unto others as you would have done unto you
e.iii. “Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end.”
e.iv. Respect for a person All persons as rational creatures, are entitled to respect, not only from others but from themselves as well.
e.v. ***Personal: “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” –Buddah. Kant’s beliefs were based on a strong sense of personal identity and self worth, therein it is difficult to follow Kantian Deontology without first being able to treat oneself as well as others. (From now on I need to treat others as I would like to have Haleigh and/or Julia treated, including myself.)
f. W.D. Ross’s
a. Consequentialist
a.i. An ethical theory that claims that the rightness and wrongness of human action is exclusively a function of the goodness and badness of the consequences resulting directly from that action.
b. Deontological
b.i. The rightness and wrongness of human actions is not exclusively a function of the goodness and badness of consequences
c. Act-Utilitarianism
c.i. A person ought to act so as to produce the greatest balance of good over evil, everyone considered. (contract w/ ethical egoism a person always act so as to produce the greatest balance of good over evil for oneself)
c.ii. doesn't judge the value of an action in terms of laws while rule utilitarianism does. Act utilitarianism believes that the right action makes more people happy
d. Rule-Utilitarianism
d.i. A person ought to act in accordance with the rule that, if generally followed, would produce the greatest balance of good over evil, everyone considered
d.ii. Rule utilitarianism believes that an action can be morally right if it conforms to the rules that lead to happiness.
e. Kantian Deontology
e.i. Immanual Kant (1724-1804)
e.ii. First Formulation: Do unto others as you would have done unto you
e.iii. “Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end.”
e.iv. Respect for a person All persons as rational creatures, are entitled to respect, not only from others but from themselves as well.
e.v. ***Personal: “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” –Buddah. Kant’s beliefs were based on a strong sense of personal identity and self worth, therein it is difficult to follow Kantian Deontology without first being able to treat oneself as well as others. (From now on I need to treat others as I would like to have Haleigh and/or Julia treated, including myself.)
f. W.D. Ross’s