Key Terms – Teleological/Deontological

By the end of this lesson you will:

* Know what is meant by ETHICS.

* Understand the terms NORMATIVE ETHICS, META-

ETHICS and APPLIED ETHICS.

* Understand how normative ethics can be

TELEOLOGICAL (CONSEQUENTIALIST) and

DEONTOLOGICAL

What is Ethics• Ethics is the philosophical study of

good and bad, right and wrong.• Ethics is concerned with morality and is

often called ‘moral philosophy’.• It explores actions and consequences,

motives, moral decision-making and human nature.

• It explores what you ought to do as distinct to what you may in fact do.

What is Ethics?• Ethics needs to be applied with logic.• That ‘X’ believes that abortion is

wrong, is of no interest to a moral philosopher. Why ‘X’ believes that abortion is wrong is what is important.

• Ethics is the study of the reasoning behind our moral beliefs

Normative Ethics• Begins by asking what things are good

and what things are bad, and what kind of behaviour is right and wrong.

• It decides how people ought to act, how moral choices should be made and how the rules apply.

• Ethical theories.• E.g. ‘Is telling the truth good?’ is a

normative question.

Meta-Ethics• Looks at the meaning of the

language used in ethics. E.g. what do we mean when we use the terms ‘good’, ‘bad’, ‘right’, ‘wrong’.

• E.g. ‘What do we mean when we say that telling the truth is good?’

Applied Ethics• The application of theories of right

and wrong and theories of value to specific issues such as:

Normative Ethics

Teleological(Consequentialism)

Deontological

Teleological• Concerned with the END or

CONSEQUENCES of an action to decide if it is right or wrong. It is also called CONSEQUENTIALISM

• ‘Telos’ = end, goal, purpose in Greek. • If the consequence of my action is

pain and suffering, then the action is .....

• If the consequence of my action is happiness and love, then the action is .....

Teleological Example• A father steals food in order to feed

his starving family.• How would a teleological thinker

justify this action?

• Utilitarianism• Situation Ethics

Strengths & Weaknesses - Teleological

Deontological• Certain actions are right or wrong in

themselves (intrinsically right / wrong) regardless of the consequences.

• It looks at the intention of the person performing the act.

• Acts are intrinsically right or wrong because of some absolute law, perhaps laid down by God, or because of a duty or obligation

Deontological Example• A father steals food in order to feed

his starving family.• How would a deontological thinker

justify this action?

• Natural Law

Strengths & Weaknesses - Deontological

Tasks• Complete your worksheet on Teleological and

Deontological thinking• Use your moral dilemma worksheet. In each

example:1.Justify your answer in relation to a particular

moral principle.2.Determine whether this principle is teleological,

deontological, or a mixture of both.3.Think of another situation (if you can) in which

you would consider disobeying this principle.