1. PHILOSOPHY 102 (STOLZE)
Notes on Dale Jamieson, Ethics and the Environment, chapter 4

2. Three Normative Ethical Theories
Consequentialism
Virtue Ethics
Kantianism

3. Consequentialism
Consequentialism is “the family of theories that holds that acts are morally right, wrong, or indifferent in virtue of their consequences right acts are those that produce good consequences” (p. 77).

4. Four Variants of Consequentialism
Hedonistic Act Utilitarianism
Perfectionist Act Utilitarianism
Hedonistic Act Minimalism
Hedonistic Lifetime Utilitarianism

5. Three Objections to Consequentialism
Demandingness Objection
Special Relations Objection
Rights and Justice Objection

6. Indirect Consequentialism
Distinction between consequentialism as a theory of justification and as a theory of motivation
Three Types of indirect consequentialism::
--Two-level
--Rule
--Motive

7. Virtue Ethics
Virtues are at the center of morality; a virtue “is more than a device for producing action. Having a virtue involves not just the disposition to act in a particular way but also the ability to identify cases to which the virtue is applicable, having the appropriate emotions and attitudes, acting for the rights reasons and so on” (p. 86). A virtue ethicist always asks the question, “What would a virtuous agent (e.g., Socrates, Confucius, the Buddha, Jesus…) do in these circumstances?”

8. Some Objections to Virtue Ethics
Having a virtue is not sufficient for an act to be right
In some circumstances a virtuous agent may do what is wrong precisely because she or he is virtuous
Different cultures and theorists have endorsed different catalogues of the virtues
Not much help in actual decision making, especially in difficult cases
Can’t easily resolve conflicts of virtues

9. Kantianism
For Kant, ethics is about “how rational agents ought to relate to themselves and to each other. Rational agency , both in ourselves and in others, makes categorical demands on us that are felt in the form of imperatives. A categorical imperative applies to us unconditionally, without reference to any ends or purposes that we may have. Such imperatives apply to all rational agents whatever their desires, interests, projects, roles, or relationships” (p. 92).

10. Hypothetical Imperatives
(1) If you intend to pass this course, then study hard.
(2) If you want good beer, then buy a micro brew.

11. Two Formulations of the Categorical Imperative
The Formula of Universal Law
The Formula of Humanity

12. Objections to Kantianism
Animals can be treated as mere means because they are mere things
Only directly concerned with rational agents

13. Christine Korsgaard’s Defense of Kantian Ethics
Rational agency is the source of value.
But we are also rationally required to legislate protection for animals and nature for two reasons: (1) we are not only rational agents but also animals and so have an animal nature; (2) since we value the goods that flow from our animal nature, we are committed to valuing these goods when they are found in other creatures, too (p. 99).