1. What is Ethics

2. What is Ethics? 1
The sociologist Raymond Baumhart asked business people, "What does ethics mean to you?" Among their replies were the following:
"Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong."
"Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs.“
"Being ethical is doing what the law requires."
"Ethics consists of the standards of behavior our society accepts."
"I don't know what the word means."

3. dilemma a problem involving a choice one does not want to make
often an undesirable or unpleasant choice
“Here am I brought to a very pretty dilemma; I must commit murder or commit matrimony.”
— George Farquhar
or an ethical dilemma
“The dilemma of “liberty versus order”
— J. M. Burns

4. What is Ethics? 2 The nature of ethical dilemmas
Ethics is the systematic human endeavor to understand moral concepts and to justify moral principles
Purpose of ethics is to guide practice
Central role of justification

5. Comparison of Ethics, Religion, Law, & Etiquette
Subject
Norm
Defined By
Sanction
Religion
Right
Wrong (Sin)
Permissable
Religious
Authority
Revelation
Conscience;
Eternal Reward
And Punishment
Law
Legal
Illegal
Legislature
Judiciary
Punishment determined by legislative body
Etiquette
Proper
Improper
Culture
Social Approval or Disapproval
Ethics
Wrong
Good
Bad
Conscience or
Reason
Rational
Reflection
Praise and Blame;
Reputation

6. Consequentialism vs. Deontology
the view that an act is right if and only if it will maximize (or is likely to maximize) good consequences.
Deontological theories:
The view that there are some features of acts beyond their consequences that make them right or wrong. Ergo certain acts must be done (or not done) regardless of the consequences. (Sometimes it is called “absolutism”):
Judeo-Christian Ethics
Moral Theory of Immanuel Kant
Rawls: Two major moral theories in US
Utilitarianism (Consequentialism)
Rights/Duties (Deontological)

7. Consequentialism vs. Deontology
the view that an act is right if and only if it will maximize (or is likely to maximize) good consequences.
Deontological theories:
The view that there are some features of acts beyond their consequences that make them right or wrong. Ergo certain acts must be done (or not done) regardless of the consequences. (Sometimes it is called “absolutism”):
Judeo-Christian Ethics
Moral Theory of Immanuel Kant
Rawls: Two major moral theories in US
Utilitarianism (Consequentialism)
Rights/Duties (Deontological)