Normative
Theories of Ethics
How Should People Act?
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Normative Ethics Theories
Two 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 & Intuitive Feelings
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.
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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.
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The Pleasure/Pain Principle
Examples
Ancient: Epicureanism
Modern: Hedonism
The greatest good is to
achieve a state of
peace or tranquility
that is free of want,
free of pain, and free
of fear.
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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 with Social Norms and
Intuitive Fellings
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 along
Don’t rock the boat
Look, listen, and learn
Keep up with the
Jones
Swim with the current
When in Rome, do as
the Romans do
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Conformity to Social Norms
How does society teach us values and norms?
Family
Peers
Media
School
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Values we have internalized
1. __________
Can you list
5 ethical values
that most of us
have internalized
thru socialization?
2. __________
3. __________
4. __________
5. __________
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…and Responding to Intuitive
Feelings
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Some possible innate ethical norms
Care / Do not harm
Fairness / Do not cheat
Equality / Do not privledge or disadvantage
Loyalty / Do not betray
Authority / Do not subvert
Sanctity of the body / Do not desecrate
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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
So, is stealing right or wrong?
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Consequentialism
Cost-Benefit Analysis
But, positive or negative for whom? 15
Consequentialism Theories
Examples
1.
Utilitarianism (Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Peter Singer)
•
2.
‘Act in such a way as to achieve the greatest good for the greatest
number’
Egoism (Ayn Rand’s Philosophy of Objectivism or Selfishness)
•
•
3.
‘Act in such a way as to achieve the greatest good for yourself’
Ayn Rand’s thoughts on the Virtue of Selfisness
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
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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 Ethics
Examples
Confucianism on Duties within Relationships
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Ruler and Subject
Father and Son
Husband and Wife
Elder Brother and Younger Brother
Friend and Friend
Older Generation and Younger Generation
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Duty Ethics
Examples
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 Ethics
Examples
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
• 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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Duty Ethics
Example
Immanuel Kant
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Duty Ethics
Examples
• 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…
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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.
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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.
Cardinal Virtues
Temperance
Prudence
Fortitude
Justice
Faith
Hope
Charity
Buddhist Sublime States
Loving kindness
Compassion
Altruism
Equanimity
Egyptian Ma’at
Truthfulness
Harmony
Justice
Dignity
Reciprocity
Integrity
Compassion
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More Secular
Forms of Virtue Ethics
Boy Scouts
Trustworthy
Loyal
Helpful
Courteous
Obedient
Cheerful
Thrifty
Brave
Clean
Reverent
YWCA
Empowerment
Balance
Diversity
Joy
Openness
Honesty
Leadership
Accountability
Self-care
Respect
Kindness
Compassion
4-H Club
Head (thoughtful)
Heart (loyal)
Hand (serving)
Health (healthy living)
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Virtue Ethics
A 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 Norms & Intuition
How does society expect me to act?
Hoe does my heart tell me to behave?
-------------------Normative Ethical Theories---------------------------
IIIa. Consequentialist Ethics
What behavior will lead to the best results or consequences?
IIIb. Duty Ethics
What actions do the laws or teachings command me to do?
IIIc. Virtue Ethics
How would I best be a virtuous character in this situation?
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