ETHICS AND ETHICAL SYSTEMS

12 JANUARY

COMP 381

What is ethics? philosophical study of morality

Investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods.

What is ethics? philosophical study of morality

rules of conduct describing what people in a society should and should not do

SocietyAssociation of people organized under a system of rules designed to advance the good of its members over time

Rawls, A Theory of Justice

What is the common good? James Moor’s core values

Life, happiness, ability to accomplish goals Declaration of Independence

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness John Finnis’s intrinsic goods

Life, knowledge, play, aesthetic experience, sociability, religion, practical reasonableness

Ethics What choices that people make are part

of ethics? Must be voluntary Must relate to morality What is the fundamental purpose of any

moral system?To advance the common good

What rules of conduct did you learn growing up?

Ethical Dilemma Apparent conflict between moral

imperatives New technologies can open up new

social problems and new ethical dilemmasExamples?

Can new technologies change morality?

Studying Ethics Three Approaches

Descriptive ethics: what people believe to be right and wrong

Normative ethics: what people should believe is right and wrong

Philosophical ethics (meta-ethics): looks at the logic behind the decisions

Relationship between normative and philosophical ethics?

Examples where descriptive and normative ethics differ?

Theories that we will look at Ethical relativism – very briefly

Individual (or subjective)Cultural

Normative ethical theoriesDeontological (duty-based)

○ Kantianism○ Contractualism

Teleological (result-based)○ Utilitarianism

Hybrid theoriesSocial justiceJust consequentialism

Criteria for Ethical Systems balance of justice and mercy protect individual freedoms and rights

no individual can/should impede or hurt another individual

recognizes unethical laws flexibility dealing with

relativismsocietal balance

Ethical Relativism Is there anything universally right or

wrong? How is right or wrong decided?

Individual Relativism Is this the same as tolerance? For

Well-meaning, intelligent people can disagree

AgainstDoes not provide moral distinction.

○ What does morality mean?Not based on reasonPeople are good at rationalization

Cultural Relativism Consider Hampden-Turner & Trompenaars work For

Different social contextsArrogance to judge

Are there examples when we should impose views on a society?What if people have the right to leave?

AgainstEvolution of practicesSocieties do share core values

Normative Ethical Theories Deontological: based on the sense of

dutyRight because of the act

Teleological: based on the resultRight because of the result

Deontological Theory What is it?

Based on our duties and responsibilitiesActions are fundamentally right or wrong

Classic ExamplesKantianism (Kant)Contractualism (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau)

1588-1679

1724-1804

1712-17881632-1704

Kantianism: Ethics of Duty Duty as freely imposing obligation on

one’s own selfDuty is internalWe impose duty on ourselves

What we SHOULD do, not what we WANT to do

Kant’s Categorical Imperatives Universality: “Always act in such a way

that the maxim of your action can be willed as a universal law of humanity.”

Respect: “Always treat humanity, whether in yourself or in other people, as an end in itself and never as a mere means.”

Are these the same? Which do you prefer?

Strengths of Kantianism Rational Produces universal moral guidelines Treats all people as moral equals

Criticisms Practical

Actions may need to be characterized by multiple rules and there is no way to resolve a conflict between rules

Allows no exceptions Philosophical

Moral minimalism: requirements are not heartfelt

Moral alienation: alienated from feelings

Contractualism Social Contract Theory Morality consists in the set of rules,

governing how people are to treat one another, that rational people will agree to accept, for their mutual benefit, on the condition that others follow those rules as well.

James Rachel, The Elements of Moral Philosophy

Rights and Duties Duty not to interfere with others rights Negative and positive rights

Negative right: duty is to not interferePositive right: duty is to provide

Absolute and limited rightsTypically, negative rights are absolute and

positive are limited

Strengths of Contractualism Framed in terms of rights Explains acting out of self-interest when

there is no common agreement Provides framework for moral issues

dealing with government (civil disobedience)

Criticism Doesn’t address actions that can be

characterized multiple ways Doesn’t address conflicting rights

Comparing the Two Theories Both believe that there are universal

moral rules Basis of those moral rules

Kant○ can be universalized○ based on duties

Contract○ would benefit the community○ based on rights

Teleological Theory What is it?

Something is good based on its consequences

Primary example: UtilitarianismJeremy Bentham

John Stuart Mill

1748-1832

1806-1873

Utilitarianism Greatest Happiness Principle Compute the costs and benefits

Simple calculation: do positives outweigh the negatives?

Two formsAct – judge the consequence of a specific

actRule – judge the consequence of the

generalized rule

Strengths Focus on happiness Down to earth Appeals to many people Comprehensive

Problems of Act that Rule Addresses Too much work to make a decision on

each act Susceptible to happenstance

Criticisms Ignores our sense of duty Range of effects that one must consider Calculus requires that we balance very

different aspects Unjust distribution of good results