Chapter 5
Some Traditional Ethical Theories
Three Traditional Ethical Theories
Utilitarianism-Goods
Theories of Right Action
Theories of Virtues
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Utilitarianism-Goods
Utilitarianism-Goods, claims the ultimate goal of human action is
happiness. Opposite is disvalue.
Other words:
Pleasure
Satisfaction
Welfare
Well-being
Tenet: Maximize happiness and minimize pain
Economist-Rational person
“No gain without pain” Short and long run perspectives.
Savings
Dentist
College
Exercise
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Utilitarianism-Goods
Is this rational selfishness? No
Philosophers: happiness is a morally good thing for self with others.
Beyond ourselves: Social contact to enjoy with others
Spouse, Children, Parents, Friends, Lovers, Others
Whose happiness? Happiness of all
“Greatest good of the greatest number”-Unitarianism
Theorists-Founders
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)
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Utilitarianism-Goods
Jeremy Bentham
First principle of utilitarianism: Seek the greatest good of the greatest
number. Principle of Utility or “maximize utility” Measure?
John Stuart Mill
Pleasure and avoidance of pain are ends
“Carrot and stick”
Practice
Do what has the best effects
Example: Assisted suicide
Benefits: Dying people relief of great physical pain and family.
Costs: Pressured into action results in devaluing life.
Does the benefits exceed costs for society?
Moral decision: requires an examination of facts.
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Theories of Right Action
What makes acts right (wrong)?
Why be fair?
Why treat others justly?
Careful not to use utilitarianism.
Ends and Means
People are not just “means” but “ends” in themselves.
Means is a way of getting something. Process
Using something “I feel used!”
Ex. Car, Money, Waiter
What is it about us that compels this kind of respect?
A person is not a thing, and must not be treated as such.
Objectification-making a person “a thing or an object” Salesperson?
Slavery-property, Nazism-thing, pornography-object
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Theories of Right Action
What is right is to always treat people at least in part as ends in
themselves: not as mere things, but each as centers of experience
and choice as real as we know ourselves to be.
Equality follows when treating people as “ends”.
Kant’s (1734-1804)Theory of Right Action
Categorical imperative is the basic principle of moral action.
“Always act so as to treat humanity, whether in yourself or in
another, as an end and never merely as a means.”
“Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same
time will that it become a universal law.” Golden rule
Will other people follow it?
Making an exception for myself? Example: lying
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Theories of Right Action
Our lives have value in themselves,
not just as a means to something
else, even our own pleasure.
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Theories of Virtue
Many theories of value, all have a common logic.
Aristotle’s (384-322 BCE) virtues
Rational animals or balanced self-actualization
Rational is the ability-the habits and the wisdom and the judgmentthat enable us to bring a complex self into order as it unfolds.
“Golden Mean” is the appropriate middle or the between extremes
of emotion and action.
Example: Danger—Choice: Fear or Confidence Virtue: Courage
Moral virtues include temperance, justice, humor, and generosity.
Moral vice: excess in either way
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Theories of Virtue
The “Cardinal Virtues”
Saint Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274): Life is not an end in itself but
instead a means to better knowing ourselves and God.
Theological virtues: faith, hope and charity; Also justice and
temperance.
Theological vices: pride, lust, avarice and all of the rest.
Alasdair MacIntyre discussed virtues from “practices”
Lawyers: truth; Teachers: liveliness and imagination
Virtue lives in the details or practice.
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Theories of Virtue
The Ethics of Care
Carol Gilligan--Love, care, connection, solidarity, perceptiveness,
imagination, sensitivity, skills in responding and nurturing; patience
and creativity; and acceptance.
Feminist Ethics, virtues above have often been overlooked and
devalued in ethics.
Virtue Thinking in Practice
Example: assisted suicide
Most virtue thinkers oppose assisted suicide.
Good judgment in specific situations. Not a single rule or law.
Situational…Wisdom
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Exercises and Notes:
Applying the Theories
Page 99
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