Moral Reasoning and Ethical Theories “Good engineering, good business, and good ethics work together in the long run.

What is Morality? It concerns conduct: right and wrong, good and bad, the rules that ought to be followed It is associated with consequences to ourselves, others, and the environment The “right” or “good” is linked to value judgements generally thought to promote fairness, health, and safety while minimizing injustice

Ethical Theories Utiliarianism Utilitarianism - the view that we ought to produce the most good for the most people, giving equal consideration to everyone affected –Rule-Utilitarianism is applying those rules that if generally adopted would produce the most good for the most people –Act-Utilitarianism is applying rules in order to produce the most good for the most people involved in the particular situation (rules become at most rules of thumb)

Ethical Theories Utilitarianism & Theories of Good Deeply satisfying pleasures mixed with some inevitable pains & a pattern of activities and relationships that one can affirm as valuable overall (Mill) Things that satisfy rational desires, e.g., love and creativity. Rational desires are those we would approve of if we scrutinized our desires in light of all relevant information about the world and our own psychology (Brandt)

Ethical Theories Rights Ethics Rights Ethics - the view that human rights - not good consequences - are fundamental. –Acts of respect for human rights are obligatory, regardless of whether they always maximize good –Truthfulness important in terms of its contribution to liberty, especially within relationships based on trust –Complex in that there are many types of rights that may conflict and must be balanced

Ethical Theories Rights Ethics & Liberty Rights Liberty Rights (Locke) - places duties on other people not to interfere with one’s life. –To be a person entails having human rights to life, liberty, and the property generated by one’s labor –property thought of as whatever we gain by “mixing our labor” with things –Views reflected by today’s Libertarians

Ethical Theories Rights Ethics - Liberty & Welfare Rights Liberty & Welfare Rights (Melden) - having moral rights presupposes the capacity to show concern for others and to be accountable within a moral community –extent of rights determined in terms of interrelationships among persons – recognizes right to community benefits for living minimally decent human life

Ethical Theories Duty Ethics Duty Ethics - the focus on duties which correspondence to and sustain fundamental rights List of duties based on respect for persons and belief in human capacity for moral autonomy For example, if you have a right not to be deceived, then I have a duty not to deceive you. To deceive you is to undermine your ability to carry out your plans based on available truths and within relationships based on trust

Ethical Theories Duty Ethics - List of Duties Kant –Be truthful –Be fair –Make reparation for harm done –Show gratitude for kindness extended –Seek to improve one’s own character and talents Gert –Don’t cause pain disable deprive of freedom deprive of pleasure deceive cheat –Do keep you promise obey the law do your duty

Ethical Theories Duty Ethics - A Closer Look at Duties Are duties universally applicable and exceptionless? Is duty absolute? What about when duties conflict with each other, e.g., “do not deceive” versus “protect innocent life” Prima facie duties - those that have justified exceptions or limits

Summary Morality - “good” is linked to value judgements Ethical Theories - attempt to provide perspective on moral responsibilities –Utilitarianism Rule-Utilitarianism Act-Utilitarianism –Rights Ethics –Duty Ethics