102/05/12 Lawrence M. Hinman

Ethical Theories:A Very Brief Overview

Phil. 334-04:Ethics @ the Frontiers of Science

& TechnologySpring, 2012

Lawrence M. HinmanProfessor of PhilosophyUniversity of San Diego

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Table of Contents

The Basic Question of EthicsThree Approaches

Act-oriented Theories• Consequentialist Approaches• Rule-based Approaches

Character-based TheoriesReligionConclusion

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Three Approaches

There are three main approaches to ethics:• Consequence-based approaches• Rule-based approaches• Character-based approaches

The first two approaches address the question of how we ought to act, the third approach responds to the question of what kind of person we should be.

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The Basic Question of Ethics

Historically, philosophers have disagreed about what the basic question of ethics is. They fall into two camps:

What kind of person ought I to try to be?

FundamentalQuestion

How ought I to act?

...on the basis of consequences.

...by following rules and thus doing our duty.

...develop character and virtues.

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Act-oriented Approaches

There are two basic ways of answer the question, “How should I act?”

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Consequentialism: •Look at the consequences and choose the action that has the best consequencesDeontology: Look at the rules and follow the rules (ten commandments, duty, human rights, justice).

Act-orientedapproaches

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Consequentialist Approaches

Issues for consequentialist approaches:• Consequences for whom?• Yardstick for measuring consequences• Act or rule consequentialism

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Consequences for whom?

Just for me Egoism

My group Group Conse

For whom? Name of Position

Just for me Egoism

Just for my group•Family•Country•Religion

Group consequentialism

For everyone•All human beings•All sentient beings

Utilitarianism

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Do we try to measure the consequences of each individual decision?

By definition, consequentialism –not surprisingly--considers consequences, but do we look at the consequences of?

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Consequences

Each individual act Everyone following a general rule

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Rule-oriented Approaches

Numerous approaches have one thing in common: rules trump consequences.

No matter how much good might be accomplished, you cannot break the rules

• Ticking bomb exampleExamples of rule-oriented approaches:• The Golden Rule• Human Rights• Justice• Kant & Deontology• Ten Commandments

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Character-oriented Approaches

Fundamental Question: What kind of person do I want to be?

Emphasizes strengths of character necessary to human flourishing

• Example: courage

Emphasizes flexibility of rules for new situations

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Religion and Ethical Theories

Religious Rule-oriented Approaches

Religious Consequentialism

Character-based traditions• Central to most religious traditions: the formation of character

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Pluralism

How do these approaches relate to one another? Possible answers:

1. One is right, others are wrong2. Each tells part of the story, none tells the whole

story3. It is helpful to have a diversity of opinion,

including those who hold alternative positions.

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