Lec 15: Are There
Absolute Moral Rules?

Two-tier
Utilitarianism

Rule Utilitarianism

Act Utilitarianism
How would a rule about lying
have affected some of the
disturbing scenarios in
chapter 8?
1. arrest of the innocent man?
2. the laughing policemen?
Is Utilitarianism too demanding?
Is Utilitarianism too demanding?
Is Utilitarianism too demanding?
Is Utilitarianism too demanding?
Are There Absolute Moral Rules?

Yes, according to the Divine Command
theorists...

No, according to the Utilitarians...

What do you think?

What does Kant think?
9.1 Harry Truman and
Elizabeth Anscombe

Truman: the end justifies
the means...

Anscombe: there are
some things that may not
be done, no matter
what...
9.1 Harry Truman and
Elizabeth Anscombe

Which of them is using
Utilitarian thinking?
Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Hiroshima: 70,000 died immediately.
By the end of the year, another 30,000 to
60,000 died from burns and radiation
poisoning....

Nagasaki: immediate
40,000 to 70,000 dead
- by end of year –
another
10,000 or 20,000 dead
Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Hiroshima: 70,000 died immediately.
By the end of the year, another 30,000 to
60,000 died from burns and radiation
poisoning....

Nagasaki: immediate
40,000 to 70,000 dead
- end of year - another
10,000 or 20,000
Elizabeth Anscombe....

It does not matter if we could
accomplish some great good by boiling
a baby.....it just must not be done...
Elizabeth Anscombe....

It does not matter if we could
accomplish some great good by boiling
a baby.....it just must not be done...
Elizabeth Anscombe....

It does not matter if we could
accomplish some great good by boiling
a baby.....it just must not be done...
Immanuel Kant 1724 - 1804
9.2 The Categorical Imperative
Imperative: a command or order
 Categorical: without qualification

Duty-defined morality....
 No exceptions....

9.2 The Categorical Imperative
According to Kant, we must
ignore the consequences
because they tempt us away
from our duty.
 Our Reason tells us what is the
right thing to do. We musn’t
let our emotions (fear and
desire) fudge the line....

9.2 The Categorical Imperative

Hypothetical imperative......
if you want this result, you
should do this....

Categorical imperative......
you should do this (regardless
of your wants....)
9.2 The Categorical Imperative

Act only according to that maxim by
which you can at the same time will
that it should become a universal law.
Maxim: a sentence giving a general
truth or rule of conduct
Note the shift in terminology....
 Consequentialist
(Utilitarian):
good vs. bad (analog)
 Deontological
(Kantian):
right vs. wrong (digital)
9.3 Kant’s Arguments on Lying
 Inquiring
 If
Murderer Case
he asks you where his
intended victim is...
Kant and the Inquiring Murderer…

Where is your
friend…?
I want to kill him.

What to say?

The truth….
9.3 Kant’s Arguments on Lying
Anscombe asks: What if we write the rule
to reflect the circumstances more closely?

It’s wrong to tell a lie except when a life
hangs in the balance.

Problems?
Kant and the Golden Rule?
A maxim for writing maxims...

Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you.
9.4 Conflicts between Rules
 If two rules come into conflict, they can't
both be absolute...
 The case of the Dutch Fishermen...
9.5 Kant’s Important Insight

Moral judgments must be backed by
consistent (impartially applicable) reasons.
9.5 Kant’s Important Insight

Moral judgments must be backed by
consistent (impartially applicable) reasons.
9.5 Kant’s Insight

Moral judgments must be backed by
consistent (impartially applicable) reasons.

This has significant implications....
9.5 Kant’s Insight

Moral judgments must be backed by
consistent (impartially applicable) reasons.

This has significant implications....
9.5 Kant’s Insight

Moral judgments must be backed by
consistent (impartially applicable) reasons.

This has significant implications.

Consistency requires absolute rules.
Rachels disagrees with that last bit...

Is Kant too dismissive of the moral
importance of consequences?

There might be
a dead body...

The only absolutely good thing
is a good will…
Returning to Truman’s Decision...
School of the Americas

Demonstrations
calling for the
closing of the SOA.
22,000 protesters...
Blueberries vs. Crunchlets...

http://www.thatsfit.ca/2011/01/25/blueberries-for-high-blood-pressure/?icid=main|canada|dl2|sec2_lnk1|197229

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_HjvjB4G5s&feature=player_embedded

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src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-_HjvjB4G5s" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe>
Blueberry truth…in advertising

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HjvjB4G5s&feature=player_detailpage
Our buggy moral code...

Dan Ariely...
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_ariely_on_our_buggy_
moral_code.html
Moral Roots of liberals and conservatives

http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_t
he_moral_mind.html