ConsequentialismConsequentialism Is it OK to inflict Is it OK to inflict

pain on someone pain on someone else?else?

What if it is a small What if it is a small amount of pain to amount of pain to prevent a great prevent a great deal of suffering?deal of suffering?

ConsequentialismConsequentialism Ethical theory that Ethical theory that judges the moral judges the moral rightness or wrongness rightness or wrongness of an act according to of an act according to the desirability of its the desirability of its consequencesconsequences

ConsequentialismConsequentialismTwo questions Two questions must be asked must be asked

What has intrinsic What has intrinsic value?value?

Who should receive Who should receive this value?this value?

Intrinsic Value: Intrinsic Value: Value that is good Value that is good or desirable in or desirable in itselfitself

Instrumental Value: Instrumental Value: Value is judged in Value is judged in terms of terms of achievement of achievement of other endsother ends

UtilitarianismUtilitarianism What has intrinsic What has intrinsic

value?value?

Pleasure Pleasure (Happiness)(Happiness)

Who should receive Who should receive this value?this value?

The greatest The greatest number of peoplenumber of people

Hedonism: Moral Hedonism: Moral rightness of an rightness of an actions depends actions depends upon how much upon how much pleasure or pain it pleasure or pain it produces.produces.

UtilitarianismUtilitarianism Ethical theory that Ethical theory that maintains that the morally maintains that the morally right act is the one that right act is the one that promotes the greatest promotes the greatest good for the greatest good for the greatest number of peoplenumber of people

UtilitarianismUtilitarianism Jeremy Bentham Jeremy Bentham

(1748-1842)(1748-1842) John Stuart Mill John Stuart Mill

(1806-1873)(1806-1873)

UtilitarianismUtilitarianismA traffic light should be installed at the A traffic light should be installed at the intersection to prevent accidentsintersection to prevent accidents

The person who stole your money must be The person who stole your money must be punished to deter future crimepunished to deter future crime

All citizens will be required to pay income All citizens will be required to pay income taxtax

The speed limit on highways should be 65 The speed limit on highways should be 65 mphmph

UtilitarianismUtilitarianismWhat has intrinsic value?What has intrinsic value?

Is pleasure or happiness the ultimate Is pleasure or happiness the ultimate goal in life?goal in life?

Who should receive this value?Who should receive this value?

Can we justify seemingly immoral Can we justify seemingly immoral acts on utilitarian grounds?acts on utilitarian grounds?

Deontological EthicsDeontological Ethics

Ethical theory that Ethical theory that judges the moral judges the moral rightness of an act in rightness of an act in terms of the intrinsic terms of the intrinsic moral value of the act moral value of the act itselfitself

Deontological EthicsDeontological Ethics Immanuel Kant is the Immanuel Kant is the

most notable most notable proponent of proponent of deontological ethicsdeontological ethics

Deontological Deontological Ethics Ethics

==

Kantian Kantian EthicsEthics

Kantian EthicsKantian EthicsIs saving someone Is saving someone from drowning a from drowning a morally praiseworthy morally praiseworthy act? act?

Do motives play Do motives play any role in whether any role in whether an act is morally an act is morally praiseworthy?praiseworthy?

Kantian EthicsKantian Ethics “ “Nothing can be Nothing can be

called good without called good without qualification except qualification except the good will” the good will”

Intentions matterIntentions matter

-- Moral worth of an -- Moral worth of an act is not dependant act is not dependant upon its upon its consequences consequences

-- An act has moral -- An act has moral worth if it is done for worth if it is done for the sake of the the sake of the moral lawmoral law

Kantian EthicsKantian Ethics Hypothetical Hypothetical

Imperative – A rule that Imperative – A rule that tells us what means to tells us what means to use to achieve a use to achieve a desires enddesires end

Categorical Imperative Categorical Imperative - A rule that tells us - A rule that tells us without qualifications without qualifications what we should dowhat we should do

What is the What is the moral law?moral law?

The The Categorical Categorical ImperativeImperative

Kantian EthicsKantian EthicsThe Categorical The Categorical Imperative (Kant’s Imperative (Kant’s Unconditional Moral Unconditional Moral Law)Law)

Two VersionsTwo Versions

First VersionFirst Version* State the maxim (rule) * State the maxim (rule)

on the basis of which on the basis of which you are planning to you are planning to actact

* Formulate the maxim * Formulate the maxim in terms of a universal in terms of a universal lawlaw

* See if you can * See if you can rationally will that rationally will that everyone follow this everyone follow this universal maxim universal maxim

Kantian EthicsKantian EthicsSecond VersionSecond Version

“ “Act so that you treat humanity, Act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end that of another, always as an end and never as a means only”and never as a means only”

Kantian EthicsKantian Ethics

What if What if duties duties conflict?conflict?

Why Be Moral?Why Be Moral? Why does Why does

society need society need morality?morality?

Human existence Human existence would be …. would be ….

““War of all against War of all against all”all”

““Solitary, poor Solitary, poor nasty, brutish, and nasty, brutish, and short”short”

Why Be Moral?Why Be Moral?Why should Why should I I

be moral?be moral?Consequences?Consequences?

Why Should IWhy Should I Be Moral?Be Moral?

What if there What if there were no were no consequences?consequences?

Why Should IWhy Should I Be Moral?Be Moral?

Why Should IWhy Should I Be Moral?Be Moral?

Because of Because of who we who we becomebecome

Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics Ethical theory that see the Ethical theory that see the primary focus of ethics to primary focus of ethics to be the character of the be the character of the person rather than the person rather than the person’s actions person’s actions

Virtue EthicsVirtue EthicsIs this hammer a Is this hammer a good hammer?good hammer?

Is this lawnmower Is this lawnmower a good a good lawnmower?lawnmower?

Virtue EthicsVirtue EthicsWhat attributes What attributes or virtues make or virtues make this a good this a good hammer and hammer and good good lawnmower?lawnmower?

Virtue – A trait of Virtue – A trait of character that is character that is to be admired to be admired because it is a because it is a component of component of [human] [human] excellenceexcellence

Virtue EthicsVirtue EthicsWhat is the What is the purpose or goal purpose or goal of our lives?of our lives?

HappinessHappiness

Human FlourishingHuman Flourishing

Living WellLiving Well

Living the good lifeLiving the good life

Human excellenceHuman excellence

Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics Which flower is a better flower?Which flower is a better flower?

The one that is healthyThe one that is healthy

The one that flourishesThe one that flourishes

Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics What makes a person a good What makes a person a good

person?person?