PHIL 103 review

Act U

an action is morally right when that procedures the best possible outcome. causes the greatest amount of happiness and least amount og unhappiness. 

Act U

a consequentialist normative ethical theory. if it is right depends if has the best possible outcomes. intentions are irrelevant

step 1 of U calc 

list all possible actions that could be performed 

step 2 of U calc 

for each action, identify which procedures the greatest amount of good for everyone affected. 

step 3 of U calc

that’s the right action to perform

advantage 1 of Act U

morality is context-dependent

advantage 2 of Act U

aims to maximize good

advantage 3 of Act U

We can discover moral truths

advantage 4 of Act U

promotes critical thinking

advantage 5 of Act U

promotes impartiality

advantage 6 of Act U

intentions are irrelevant; evaluates actions based on the outcomes

objection 1 of Act U

Act U is impractical

objection 2 of Act U

can command actions that are obviously morally wrong 

objection 3 of Act U

can lead to an erosion of trust and general societal breakdown

objection 4 of Act U

emphasis on impartiality and full and equal consideration is mistaken 

Rule Utilitarianism 

an action is morally right when that action conforms  to or falls under a rule (if followed) would procedure the greatest amount of happiness and least amount of unhappiness.

Rule U

morally right when that action conforms to or falls under a moral rule that procedures the best possible consequences

advantage 1 of rule U

does not command actions that are obviously morally wrong

advantage 2 of rule U

is not impractical

advantage 3 of rule U

does not lead to societal breakdown

advantage 4 of rule U

does not imply that you must treat/give everyone full and equal consideration 

Kantian Ethics

An Act C is right when A is done out of a good will, i.e., when A is done out a sense of duty in accordance with the Categorial Imperative 

Determining one’s duties 

you should act only on those moral principles that can serve as a universal moral law that’s followed by everyone 

step 1 kantian ethics 

before you act, formulate the principle on which you are acting 

step 2 kantian ehtics

generalize that principle

step 3 kantian ethics

is it even possible for the generalized principle to be a universal moral law, followed by everyone? if no, the don’t act, if yes, then step 4

step 4 kantian ethics

would you want the generalized principle to serve as a universal moral law? no then don’t act, yes then the principle may be followed and the act is morally permissible

objection 1 to kantian ethics

The Vicki the Volunteer Case: According to Kant, an act is right when it’s done out of a sense of duty. But Vicky does something that is right even though she’s not acting out of a sense of duty. Hence, Kant is wrong; an act doesn’t have to be done out of a sense of duty in order to be right.

objection 2 to kantian ethics

according to Kant, you must always tell the truth. But, it’s obvious that there are situations in which you shouldn’t tell them the truth. Hence, Kant is wrong again; lying is sometimes right.

objection 3 to kantian ethics

Kantianism leads to the problem of gerrymandered maxims. This happens when you create a moral principle with such narrow and specific details that, when generalized, it can pass Kant’s four-step Categorial Imperative procedure, even though the action is obviously wrong.

Categorial Imperative

an unconditional moral law that applies to all rational beings