Theories of Normative Ethics
Utilitarianism
ENGR 4760U
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Four major Theories
Utilitarianism
Formalism
Rights Ethics
Virtue Ethics
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Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mil(1800s)
Always do what produces the most good for the most people
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Utilitarianism
Robin Hood
stole from the rich to give to the poor
Spock (Star Trek)
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few,"
Florence Nightingale,
Known as the founder of modern nursing
Often used by democracies
Elected government gets control to benefit the majority
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Utilitarianism
Greatest good for greatest number
max (𝐵𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑡)
𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑎𝑐𝑡
max
𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑎𝑐𝑡
෍
𝑀𝑎𝑥(𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑖 − 𝑃𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑖 )
𝑖:𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑡
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Utilitarianism
Factors should be considered in quantifying maximum benefit
Number of people affected
Intensity of pleasure/pain
Duration of pleasure/pain
Certainty or uncertainty
Equality
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The Trolly Problem
https://thewayout101.wordpress.co
http://nayrb.org/
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Problems with Utilitarianism
Sometimes gives wrong answers to moral questions.
Too demanding
Undermining Trust
Does not consider minority rights
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Utilitarianism Types
Act Utilitarianism
Best consequences on a
particular occasion
Rule Utilitarianism
Rules that would lead to
optimal consequences if they
were accepted by the society
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Ethics, Law and Professionalism
for Engineers
Deontology or Formalism
ENGR 4760U
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Deontology
Deontology , Formalism, Duty Ethics
Immanuel Kant
Every human has a duty to act in a correct and
ethical manner. If you do your duty, all will be
well.
An act is morally right if it is performed with
good intention from a sense of duty.
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Good Intention (Good Will)
1. The ultimate good is good will. Therefore, the will behind the
action is important. Example:
Making a promise with the intention to keep it. Ethical
Making a promise without any intention to keep it. Unethical
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Good Intention (Good Will)
2. The intension is important, not the result.
If you have a wrong intention but end up doing the right thing in accordance
with your duty, your action has no moral value.
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Good Intention (Good Will)
3. Act that are performed with “good will” are right under all
circumstances.
Example:
Exaggerating about a product (Lying to clients) with the intention to
overcharge them.
Exaggerating about a product (Lying to clients) with the intention to
protect the public safety.
Both cases are unethical. If everyone lies under all circumstances, then
there is no trust, and it results in a contradiction.
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Duty Ethics
Batman in
The No-Kill Rule
Mahatma Gandhi
duty to act morally
Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation
ordered the liberation of all slaves
The Canada's House of Commons passed Bill C-84 in 1976
abolishing capital punishment from criminal code
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Sense of Duty
Everyone has an innate sense of duty.
“Categorical Imperative” should be
applied by one’s conscience.
Be honest
Be fair
Do not hurt others
Do no harm
Do not lie
Never steal
Keep your promises
Obey the law
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Categorical Imperative
A principle that commands an action is called an “imperative.”
hypothetical imperatives
Conditioned on desires and the intended consequences of actions.
If you want x, do y.
Categorical Imperative
It is unconditional. It is a form of a universally binding law.
Do y.
The question is:
How to use the Categorical imperative to test if an action is ethical?
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Test 1, Universalizability
We should consider the implications of our actions as if they were
universal.
universalized without contradiction
Perfect duty
Must do it
If you could rationally will that the act becomes universal law.
Imperfect duty
You have freedom to do or not to do.
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Test 2, Respect Humanity
A person should never be treated as a means to an end (mere mean).
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The Trolley Problem
https://thewayout101.wordpress.co
http://nayrb.org/
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Problem with Duty Ethics
Inflexibility
Does not consider the outcome of the action. Actions with good
intentions sometimes result in harm.
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Ethics, Law and Professionalism
for Engineers
Rights Ethics
ENGR 4760U
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Rights Ethics
John Locke (1632 - 1704)
Every individual has rights (moral rights)
Right to life
Right to the maximum possible
individual liberty
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Rights Ethics
Sources of moral rights:
Social Construction
Intrinsic
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Rights Ethics
Inspired by Right’s Ethics:
French Revolution
American Revolution
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, within the
Constitution Act, 1982
Declaration of Rights within the American Declaration of
Independence, 1776
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Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms
Fundamental freedom of conscience,
religion, thought, belief, opinion,
expression, peaceful assembly and
association
Democratic rights to vote
Mobility rights to enter, remain in and
leave Canada
Legal rights to life, liberty and security
of person and right not to be deprived
of these
Equality rights under the law and the
right to equal benefit and protection of
the law
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The Trolley Problem
https://thewayout101.wordpress.co
http://nayrb.org/
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Problems with Rights Ethics
Rights can conflict
Emphasizes on the individuals and not on what best for the society.
Not sufficient to deal with every situation
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Ethics, Law and Professionalism
for Engineers
Virtue Ethics
ENGR 4760U
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Virtue Ethics
Aristotle (384 – 322 BC)
The goodness of an act, object or person
depends on the function or goal concerned
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Eudaimonia
Happiness or human flourishing
results by developing qualities of characters (virtues).
Every virtue is a golden mean between two extremes.
Modesty is the golden mean between
the excess of vanity and
the excess of humility
Generosity
Wastefulness
Stinginess
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Virtues
Two categories of character traits to reach eudemonia
(happiness or human flourishing),
Moral Virtue
Intellectual Virtue
Prudence
Wisdom
Temperance
Reason
Courage
Practical
Knowledge
Justise
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Solving Ethical Problem using Virtue Ethics
The focus is on developing a good moral character through habits
and continuous practice.
Virtuous people make ethical decisions.
Virtue ethics is applied to various moral dilemmas, not by asking
"What should I do?" but "What would a virtuous person do?"
By seeking the Golden Mean as the middle between the extremes
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The Trolley Problem
https://thewayout101.wordpress.co
http://nayrb.org/
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Problems with Virtue Ethics
Subjectivity
Cultural Relativism
Lack of Clear Guidance
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References
Andrews, G. C., McPhee, J., & Shaw, P. (2019). Canadian professional engineering and
geoscience : practice and ethics (Sixth edition.). Nelson.
Fleddermann, C. B. (Charles B. (2012). Engineering ethics (4th ed.). Prentice Hall.
Peterson, M. (2020). Ethics for engineers. Oxford University Press.
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