Quiz #3

Consequentialism

Consequentialism

The morality of a choice or action is dependent upon its results

Forms of consequentialism

Egoism

Utilitarianism

Egoism

Relates to the results for the person

Forms of Egoism

Psychological Egoism

Ethical Egoism

Psychological Egoism

Humans always act in their perceived self-interest

They cannot help it; it is simply the way they do things

Descriptive - makes the statement that people do this

Ethical Egoism

Everyone ought to act in their own self-interest

We need to think through long-term self-interest

Prescriptive - people ought to do this

Arguments for Ethical Egoism

We all act that way

It is easy to determine

It can be a response to “low self-esteem”

The belief that other-centeredness is self-destructive

It is tied to evolutionary natural selection

It is tied to capitalism

Altruism

Care for other people

Acting in the interests of others

Egoism is the opposite of Altruism

Critiques of Ethical Egoism

The problem of conflicting self-interests

The paradox of egoism

It can become counter-intuitive - it seemly goes against “common sense”

You cannot make it a public moral code

There is no concern for posterity or the environment

Utilitarianism

Considers/Tests the results for the greatest number of people involved in the scenario

Maximizes the benefits for the maximum number of people

Mantra of Utilitarianism

The greatest good for the greatest number

(The greatest good = the greatest happiness/pleasure for the greatest number of people)

Forms of Utilitarianism

Act Utilitarianism

Rule Utilitarianism

Act Utilitarianism

Everyone should perform that deed/act which brings about the greatest good for the greatest number of people

Prescriptive

Critique of Act Utilitarianism

Some ethical responsibilities are in smaller numbers

Neglects long-term considerations

No rest or relaxation

Counterintuitive and against common sense

Difficulty of quick decision-making

Rule Utilitarianism

Everyone should follow the principles that brings about the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people

Prescriptive

(Solves the decision-making issue)

Critique of Rule Utilitarianism

Problem of disordered pleasures

The model can overlook the rights of minorities

Difficulty in determining all the consequences

The good of others is not necessarily clearly measurable

It begs the question of what is a good consequence?

Non-Consequentialist Ethics

The ethics of a choice or action are not based upon the results

Forms of Non-Consequentialism

Intuitionism

Deontological Ethics

Intuitionism

The immediate grasping of self-evident ethical truth

The immediate sense of what is right and wrong

Arguments for Intuitionism

Any well-meaning person has a sense of right and wrong

Humans had moral ideas long before philosophers and ethicists

It is quick and simple

Critique of Intuitionism

What about when a sense of right and wrong differs from culture to culture or person to person?

Law and justice need an objective standard - this view is overwhelmingly subjective

What about those who do not seem to have a moral intuition?

What about mixed intuitions?

Moral discussion and education is not worthwhile and perhaps not possible

Does not take into consideration the Fall - The Noetic Effect

Negates thinking of consequences

Deontological Ethics

Duty Ethics

You need to do your duty regardless of the consequences

Dei - Greek = Ought

Immanuel Kant

German

Came up with the Deontological Ethical system

Reason and Good Will

Duty is based upon reason

The only good ethical motivation is good will in accord with duty

Good will determines to act in accordance with moral rules regardless of consequences

Motivation of Duty

To be completely ethical, the action must be done for duty’s sake (it is not about the consequences)

Categorical Imperative

Only act on a rule you can will to be a universal law - What if everybody did this action?

Practical Imperative

Never use a human as a means to an end

Every human interaction should be voluntary

Hedonism

Orientation toward pleasure

Meant to be in negative context

“Christian Hedonism”

Serving and desiring God is in our own self-interest

There is no duty, but desire

Hedonic Calculus

Pleasure math

What makes the most amount of people the happiest