Quiz #3

Consequentialism

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

Forms of consequentialism

Egoism

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Utilitarianism

Egoism

Relates to the results for the person

Forms of Egoism

Psychological Egoism

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Ethical Egoism

Psychological Egoism

Humans always act in their perceived self-interest

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

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Descriptive - makes the statement that people do this

Ethical Egoism

Everyone ought to act in their own self-interest

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We need to think through long-term self-interest

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Prescriptive - people ought to do this

Arguments for Ethical Egoism

We all act that way

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It is easy to determine

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

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The belief that other-centeredness is self-destructive

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It is tied to evolutionary natural selection

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It is tied to capitalism

Altruism

Care for other people

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Acting in the interests of others

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Egoism is the opposite of Altruism

Critiques of Ethical Egoism

The problem of conflicting self-interests

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The paradox of egoism

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

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You cannot make it a public moral code

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There is no concern for posterity or the environment

Utilitarianism

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

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Maximizes the benefits for the maximum number of people

Mantra of Utilitarianism

The greatest good for the greatest number

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

Forms of Utilitarianism

Act Utilitarianism

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Rule Utilitarianism

Act Utilitarianism

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

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Prescriptive

Critique of Act Utilitarianism

Some ethical responsibilities are in smaller numbers

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Neglects long-term considerations

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No rest or relaxation

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Counterintuitive and against common sense

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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

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Prescriptive

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(Solves the decision-making issue)

Critique of Rule Utilitarianism

Problem of disordered pleasures

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The model can overlook the rights of minorities

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Difficulty in determining all the consequences

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The good of others is not necessarily clearly measurable

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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

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Deontological Ethics

Intuitionism

The immediate grasping of self-evident ethical truth

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The immediate sense of what is right and wrong

Arguments for Intuitionism

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

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Humans had moral ideas long before philosophers and ethicists

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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?

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

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

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What about mixed intuitions?

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Moral discussion and education is not worthwhile and perhaps not possible

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Does not take into consideration the Fall - The Noetic Effect

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Negates thinking of consequences

Deontological Ethics

Duty Ethics

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You need to do your duty regardless of the consequences

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Dei - Greek = Ought

Immanuel Kant

German

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Came up with the Deontological Ethical system

Reason and Good Will

Duty is based upon reason

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

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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

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Every human interaction should be voluntary

Hedonism

Orientation toward pleasure

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Meant to be in negative context

“Christian Hedonism”

Serving and desiring God is in our own self-interest

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There is no duty, but desire

Hedonic Calculus

Pleasure math

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What makes the most amount of people the happiest