Ethics
A look at the reasons behind
decisions about what is right
and wrong.
What is the right thing to do?
2 Types of Moral Theories
Teleological Theories: Moral
judgments based on the effects of
an act. You decide whether an act
is good or bad by looking at its
consequences. Also called
Utilitarianism and Consequentialist
Moral Reasoning.
Deontological Theories:
Disagrees that consequences are
important. Instead there are
certain acts that are right or wrong
no matter what the consequences
are. Also called Categorical Moral
Reasoning.
Decide whether these statements
are teleological or deontological or
could be both.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Drinking and driving is wrong. You only have to look
at the deaths it causes to see that.
“I knew studying was the right thing to do—I’ve
passed all my exams!”
I could never go to war because I think it is wrong to
kill.
Always tell the truth
“Always obey your superiors.”
When I am older I must not take sweets from
strangers.
Moral Dilemmas
In groups of 3-4 people, decide:
1. What the teleological decision would be
2. What the deontological decision would be
3. What your decision would be
Quick Check- On a separate piece
of paper…
In your own words, differentiate between teleological
moral/ethical reasoning and deontological
moral/ethical reasoning.
2. State which type of reasoning you lean towards.
1.
Utilitarianism
 Utilitarianism states that an action is right if it
produces the greatest good for the greatest number
of people.
What does this mean?
What is the ‘greatest good’?
2 Main Philosophers
 Jeremy Bentham
 John Stuart Mill
Bentham
 The idea that we ought to produce the greatest
happiness for the greatest number is called ‘ The
Principle of Utility or The Greatest Happiness
Principle’.
 For Utilitarianism an action is right if it produces the
greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.
 Happiness for utilitarianism is pleasure and the
absence of pain.
 There are 3 bigger ideas which underlie The Greatest
Happiness Principle/Utility Principle:
 1. Consequentialism:
Consequentialism involves deciding whether an action is
good or bad by looking at the consequences of that
action. If the consequences of the action are good then
the action is a good one. If the consequences of the
action are bad then the action is a bad one.
2. Hedonism
 Hedonism is the idea that pleasure is the only
inherently good thing and that pain is the only
inherently bad thing. Acts which bring about pleasure
are good acts. Acts which bring pain are bad acts.




How intense the experience is
How long it lasts
Whether it will lead to similar types of experiences
How many people will be affected
3. Equality
 For Utilitarians, the pleasure and pain of everyone is
equally important. Every person counts for one and
only one. If your happiness is increased by 10 by doing
something but the happiness of others is increased by
100 if you do something else then you should do the
‘something else’.