Normative Theories

Contents Normative theories Consequencialist theory Egoism Utilitarianism Non- consequentialist theory Rights principle Distributive Justice Ethics of Care Virtue Ethics

Normative Theories

literally “Normative” means process of setting standards or rules of behavior”.

Normative theories propose some actions or principles for distinguishing right actions from wrong actions.

These theories can be divided into 01: Consequentialist 02: Non- consequentialist approaches.

01:Consequentialists Theory

Many philosophers(jeremy bentham) have argued that the moral rightness of an action is determined solely by its results or consequence.

If the results are good , then the act is right. If the results are bad , then that act is wrong. It can be further divided into two more approaches : A: Egoism B: Utilitarianism

Egoism(Consequentialist)

The view that associates morality with self interest is referred to egoism.

Egoists contends that an act is morally right if and only if it best promotes an agents self interest (agent refers to particular group or organization).

Egoists use their self interest as the standard for measuring the actions rightness.

According to egoism we care for others because it is in our best self interest.

“ I am not required to act in the interest of others, but I should if that is the only way to promote my own self interest”.

Example… Providing more and more facilities to your employees

does not mean that you are caring for your employees, but you want them to be more productive(profit).

Egoism(Consequentialist)

Problems with Egoism1:Egoism is not a sound theory: It is a wrong notion that we care for others only because it is in our

own best self interest.

Example… A man while driving a company truck, spotted smoke coming from inside a

car. The man quickly take a U turn, drove up to the burning vehicle and found a one year old girl trapped in the back seat. Disregarding his own safety , the man entered the car and removed the infant.

Problems with Egoism 2: Egoism ignores blatant Wrongs: The most common objection to egoism is that by reducing everything to the

standards of self-interest.

Egoism takes no stand against seemingly outrageous acts like

Stealing Murder… Deliberately false advertising… Earnings through illegal ways

Utilitarian( consequentialist )

Utilitarianism Proposes that an action is right if it produces

the most utilities(benefits) for all persons affected by the action (including the person performing the act).

Example: Is it right to let one patient die in order to harvest his organs and perhaps save five lives?

Utilitarian (cont’s)

Utilitarianism :Holds that actions and policies should be evaluated on the basis of the “benefits” and “costs” they will impose on society. In any situation the right action or policy is the one that will produce the greatest net benefits and less cost.

Note: Benefits here means happiness and satisfaction or monetary benefits.

Example: The government may appropriate private

property for public use, usually with compensation to the owner. Thus the government may legally purchase your house from you to widen the highway- even if you don’t want to sell the house or want more money than the government is willing to pay. The public interest is served at your private expense. Is this just?

Utilitarian (cont’s)

Problems with utilitarianism

1:Sacrificing sufferings of some people for the general benefits of others:

Example: Medical researchers initiated a long range study of viral hepatitis

at New York institution of mentally retarded children. They deliberately infect some of the children with a strain of

hepatitis virus epidemic (disease). According to utilitarian’s the suffering of some individuals was

justified because it maximize the total happiness produced.

Problems with utilitarianism 2:Some actions are wrong even if they produce more good: Like utilitarianism focuses on the result of an action.

Example: If a dying woman has asked you to promise to send 25,000$ to her

nephew and she dies without anyone else knowing about the money. You also know the nephew is spendthrift and a drunkard and were the money delivered to him it would be wasted in a week.

On the other hand very fine orphanage needs such a sum, something that would provide happiness to many children for years to come. Being a utilitarian you should give the amount to the orphanage.

Utilitarianism and Organization

Utilitarianism make it appealing as a standard for decision making in business and non-business organizations.

Utilitarianism provides a clear and straightforward basis for formulating policies.

By utilitarian standards, an organizational policy, decision or action is good if it promotes the general welfare.

02:Non consequentialist Theory

These philosophers contend that right and wrong are determined by more than the likely consequences of an action.

Example: Tom to break his promise to Fred is

wrong not simply because it has bad results ( Fred hurts feelings).

but because of the inherent character of the act itself.

Rights Principle• Rights Principle: The morally correct

action is the one that you have a moral right to do.

• According to this view, all people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and everyone is morally permitted to do anything they wish, provided that their actions do not violate the rights of other people.

Rights principle

Rights are entitlements–Example: Right to free speech–Example: Right to freedom of

religion–Example: Right to an education

Distributive Justice

Distributive Justice Principle: The morally correct action is the one that

produces a fair distribution of resources(benefits and burdens).

Each person receives resources according to how much they deserve (in terms of contribution, effort or merit.)

Distributive Justice (Fairness) General Fairness Principles: People who are similar in relevant respects

should be treated similarly People who differ in relevant respects should

be treated differently. If Jack and Jill both do the same work, and there is no

relevant difference, then in justice they should be paid the same wages.

And if Jack is paid more than Jill simply because he is a man, or because he is white, then we have an injustice

Ethics of Care

Care Principle: The morally correct action is the one that appropriately cares for the people with whom you have relationships.

– Example: love toward son or daughter versus love toward a stranger

Ethics of Care

• Care for the needs of people with whom you have relationships.

Examples:

( Care for your own needs)I. FamilyII. FriendsIII. EmployeesIV. CustomersV. Stockholders