1. What is the right thing to do?
Ethics
What is the right thing to do?

2. Important ethical theories
Consequence Based
Utilitarianism
Religion Based
Divine Command Theory
Duty Based
Deontology
Agent Centered
Virtue Ethics

3. Religion as a source of morality
Mostly unequivocal moral rules—a problem? (consequences for family honor crimes)
Or, often vague:
What does it mean to “love your neighbor as yourself ”?
Often critical of secular ethics”
How are major religions similar?
How are religions different?
Ethical subjectivism or objectivism?

4. On what basis do we make moral decisions?
Divine Command Theories:
“Do what the Bible tells you”
Utilitarianism:
“Make the world a better place”
Duty-Based Ethics:
“Do the right thing”
Virtue Ethics:
“Be a good person”

5. Virtue Ethics Aristotle’s Golden Mean
Proper balance between excess & deficiency of virtue
Acquired through habit & example
Inquires whether the person is expressing good character
Asks not…
What should I do?
But rather…
What sort of person should I be?
How do I build good character?

6. Key Principles of Virtue Ethics
Human excellence is the ultimate moral good
When contemplating what to do, ask yourself…
What would a morally virtuous person do?
Try to shape your own character by doing good acts habitually
Try to imitate the behavior of virtuous role models
Perform actions that are an expression of the 5 Cardinal Virtues
Don’t perform actions that are an expression of vice

7. Duty-Based Ethics Aka… Deontology Associated with Immanuel Kant
Rejects the idea that morally good actions always lead to good consequences
We must focus on the motives behind our actions
How do you know if your actions are good?
Kant says:
Act only according to that maxim where by you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
Aka… the Categorical Imperative
Example: Amelia is a 21 year old college student short on money. She thinks: if I go home next weekend & surprise my Mom, she will give me some money. So she takes off , drives for 3 hours to her Mom’s. To her surprise, it turns out that it is her mother’s birthday & her Mom is SO moved by her surprise visit that she calls her the most thoughtful daughter in the whole wide world. Amelia’s Mom is happy & Amelia gets the money.
Kant would say that the fact that Amelia’s Mom ends up ahppy does not make her decision to drive to her Mom’s house praiseworthy.

8. Key Principles of Deontology
Freedom (autonomy) is the ultimate moral good
Each & every rational being has infinite moral worth
We must respect the dignity & autonomy of all human beings in all situations
All human beings have inalienable rights
It is never permissible to treat a human being as a means to an end only
All human beings have to fulfill certain absolute duties
The duty not to lie
The duty not to commit suicide
The duty to develop one’s talents

9. Utilitarianism Two key ideas: Associated with John Stuart Mill
Human happiness is the ultimate moral good
Actions should be evaluated in light of their consequences
Focus on pleasure & pain
Associated with John Stuart Mill
“The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals “utility” or the “greatest happiness principle” holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.”

10. Key principles of Utilitarianism
Human well being (happiness) is the ultimate moral good
Actions should be evaluated in light of their consequences
The happiness of each person is equally important to that of another
We must consider the consequences of our actions on all sentient beings (including animals) who are affected by them
Actions are right to the degree that they promote the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of sentient beings