Ethics
The Theories
Divine Command Theory: God’s Law
• A Virtue Ethic (character matters)
• Good and bad are based on level of obedience to God
• Christianity, Islam, and Judaism
• You cannot disobey God’s commandments.
• Problems exist within interpretation of these commandments.
• “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Does pre-marital sex count or is it
just cheating while married? Does an emotional affair count or is it just
sex-based?)
• Not all religions have a Divine Command Theory, even if they have
moral codes
Eudaimonism: Virtues & Leading a Good
Life
• A Virtue Ethic (character matters)
• Being “good” means that you are a good person, though you
do good because you are good in the first place.
• Doing “good” makes you a virtuous person and will create a
happy, well-adjusted, and fulfilled person.
• Think of most modern self-help books.
Deontology: Rights and Duties
• A Contract Theory (universal right and wrong)
• Obligations are based on your duty.
• Right an Wrong are defined based on spoken or unspoken
contract regardless of consequence.
• You have a duty to complete your homework regardless of it
being checked.
Consequentialism: Values & Consequences
• Consequentialist Ethic (The End Result)
• Ethics are based on the end results. If the end is bad, the
ethics are bad.
• If a student fails, the teacher is bad.
Hedonism: Pleasure and Pain
• A Utilitarian Ethic (should increase happiness)
• Good and bad are determined on overall pleasure or pain.
• Something that is good causes pleasure.
• Something that is bad causes pain.
• You must take into account the whole picture, not just
pleasure for pleasure’s sake
• You may break a traditional moral code to increase
happiness
Altruism
• A Kantianism Ethic (based on universal principles not end
result)
• When you act for someone else’s benefit.
• Selfless acts are good despite any consequence tied to them
• Selfish acts are bad despite any benefit.
Egoism
• A Kantianism Ethic
• When you act solely for your own benefit
• You must, though, act rationally.
• If you study for the upcoming test in History, it will raise the class
average so that you get a class incentive.
Care Ethics
• A move away from the collective or universal system to the
appropriate response for an individual.
• We are all dependent on each other
• Some are caring
• Some are cared-for
• We must use context in order to interpret good or bad
• If a woman gets caught stealing bread to feed her family
because she is destitute, her action is morally good.
Your Task
• Go to the link that says “Moral Dilemmas” under the Ethics
heading on the Tok website
• For each moral dilemma, tell what a person ascribing to
each ethical theory would do. Circle the one that you would
most likely adhere to.
• Turn it into the big drawer on the left side of the classroom.
Example
1. Holocaust Scenario
1. Divine Command: No. Thou shalt not murder.
2. Eudaimonism: No. Participation means bad character.
3. Deontology: Yes. Rules of Camp Itself means following orders.
4. Consequentialism: No way. To do so would mean I’m bad.
5. Hedonism: Yes. One-for-two.
6. Altruism: Yes. Selfless act because you are killing son.
7. Egoism: Yes. Selfish act to kill, but overall benefit there.
8. Care Ethics: Yes. Responsibility to other campmates.