Module 6 - Deontology and Social Contract Theory

Utilitarianism

A moral theory stating that the best action is the one that maximizes happiness or utility.

Kant

Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher known for his work in deontology and the formulation of the categorical imperative.

Maxim

The principle or rule that one acts upon, used in Kant's ethical reasoning.

Perfect Duty

Duties linked to the universalizability of maxim (first question); violated if the purpose of a maxim cannot be fulfilled once everyone is required to act on it - must be followed strictly.

Imperfect Duty

Duties linked to the desirability of a maxim (second question); violated if I don’t want to live in a world in which everyone was required to act on my maxim - should be followed, but not as strictly as perfect duties.

Kingdom of Ends

Kant's concept that all rational beings should act in accordance with maxims that can be universalized, treating others as ends in themselves.

Veil of Ignorance

A thought experiment by John Rawls where principles of justice are determined without knowledge of one's personal circumstances.

State of Nature

A theory by Thomas Hobbes describing a hypothetical condition where there is no established authority or governance.

Social Contract Theory

The theory that moral and political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement among individuals in a society.

Prisoner's Dilemma

A standard framework in game theory illustrates that two rational individuals (acting in their own self-interest) might not cooperate, even if it appears in their best interest.

Deontology

A category of normative theories that assert moral duties must be followed regardless of outcomes.

Hypothetical imperative

A conditional moral rule that applies if one has a specific desire, e.g., "If I want A, then I should do X."

Categorical imperative

An unconditional moral rule that must be followed regardless of personal desires; it often takes the form "Do X."

Autonomy

The capacity to make one's own choices and govern oneself; a key concept in Kant's moral theory.

Consequentialism

A normative ethical theory that judges actions based on their outcomes or consequences.

Kantian ethics

An ethical framework that emphasizes the role of duty and the categorical imperative.

Absolutism

The belief that certain actions are intrinsically right or wrong, regardless of the context.

Objective morality

Moral principles that are universally valid and not dependent on individual perspectives or desires.

Free-rider problem

A situation in which people are able to obtain a share of some common good without contributing to its cost - where it appears to be rational to refrain from contributing.

Key issue with the free-rider problem

If too many people act as free-riders, the resources for producing the good will diminish, harming everyone.

Amoralist

A person who believes in right and wrong but doesn’t care about morality at all.

Golden rule

The normative ethical principle that says that your treatment of others is morally acceptable if and only if you would be willing to be treated in exactly the same way (do to others as you would like to be done to you).

Principle of universalizability

Kant’s thesis that an act is morally acceptable if, and only if, its maxim is universalizable.

Self-regarding actions

Actions that affect only oneself.

Universalizable

The feature of a maxim that indicates that every rational person can consistently act on it - Kant suggested a three-part test to determine if a maxim has this quality.

Free will

To have a will that is free is to be capable of making decisions that are genuinely your own and you are responsible for.

Good will

The ability to reliably determine what your duty is, and a steady commitment to do your duty for its own sake.

Lex talionis

The law of retaliation, the principle that says that a wrongdoer deserves to be treated just as he treated his victim (“an eye for an eye”).

Moral luck

A case in which the morality of an action or a decision depends on factors outside of our control.

Moral worth

The praiseworthy feature of an action that fulfills one’s moral duty.

Principle of humanity

Kant’s thesis that one must always treat a human being (oneself included) as an end, and never as a mere means.

Contractarianism

Alternate name for social contract theory.

Proceduralism

The view that says that we must follow a certain procedure in order to determine which actions are morally right, or which moral claims are true.

Tactic consent

Agreement that is expressed through silence or inaction. Somewhat problematic - as silence may be a practical decision made in fear, not necessarily consent.