ETHICAL THEORIES: OVERVIEW
Universal Moral Theories
 Utilitarianism
 Egoism
 Deontology
 Rules-based
 Rights-based
 Virtue ethics
Utilitarianism
 If the end doesn’t justify the means, what does?
 Consequence-based
 Weights suffering against happiness (produces greatest
balance of good over harm)
 Can we actually measure something called “the greatest
good”?
Utilitarian Method
 Identify all courses of action
 Identify parties affected
 Identify contribution of each course of action to that person’s
net happiness
 Ignoring all other considerations, compare courses of action,
taking account of the NUMBER of people affected
 Choose the course of action that maximizes overall happiness
Utilitarian Method
 When might this be a good approach?
 When might this be a poor approach?
EGOISM
 Opposite to utilitarianism
 Do the most good for yourself
 Is this selfish? And if so, how can it be morally justifiable?
Deontology: Rights-based
 What is my moral duty?
 We should do our duty because of a sense of good will, not
because of reward or punishment
 Everyone has rights
 Everyone needs to respect each other’s rights
 Does this address the utilitarian weakness (can we ever be
sure of the consequences?)?
Deontology: Rules-based
 Legalistic or rule-bound theory
 Can following the rules result in greater harm than breaking
them?
Deontology Method
 What rule are you following?
 Would it be a universal rule?
Deontology
 What are its strengths?
 What are its weaknesses?
Virtue Ethics
 Being a virtuous person is most important
 What behaviors are equal to being virtuous?
Review
 Utilitarianism:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWABlhuvRDA
 Deontology: Three Minute Philosophy – Immanuel Kant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwOCmJevigw
 Virtue Theory: Three Minute Philosophy – Aristotle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm0Uq08xXhY&featu
re=channel