Ethics and ethical systems 12 January COMP 381 Ethics and ethical systems 12 January

What is ethics? philosophical study of morality Investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods.

What is ethics? philosophical study of morality rules of conduct describing what people in a society should and should not do

Society Association of people organized under a system of rules designed to advance the good of its members over time Rawls, A Theory of Justice

What is the common good? James Moor’s core values Life, happiness, ability to accomplish goals Declaration of Independence Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness John Finnis’s intrinsic goods Life, knowledge, play, aesthetic experience, sociability, religion, practical reasonableness

Ethics What choices that people make are part of ethics? Must be voluntary Must relate to morality What is the fundamental purpose of any moral system? To advance the common good What rules of conduct did you learn growing up?

Ethical Dilemma Apparent conflict between moral imperatives New technologies can open up new social problems and new ethical dilemmas Examples? Can new technologies change morality?

Studying Ethics Three Approaches Descriptive ethics: what people believe to be right and wrong Normative ethics: what people should believe is right and wrong Philosophical ethics (meta-ethics): looks at the logic behind the decisions Relationship between normative and philosophical ethics? Examples where descriptive and normative ethics differ?

Theories that we will look at Ethical relativism – very briefly Individual (or subjective) Cultural Normative ethical theories Deontological (duty-based) Kantianism Contractualism Teleological (result-based) Utilitarianism Hybrid theories Social justice Just consequentialism

Criteria for Ethical Systems balance of justice and mercy protect individual freedoms and rights no individual can/should impede or hurt another individual recognizes unethical laws flexibility dealing with relativism societal balance

Ethical Relativism Is there anything universally right or wrong? How is right or wrong decided?

Individual Relativism Is this the same as tolerance? For Well-meaning, intelligent people can disagree Against Does not provide moral distinction. What does morality mean? Not based on reason People are good at rationalization

Cultural Relativism Consider Hampden-Turner & Trompenaars work For Different social contexts Arrogance to judge Are there examples when we should impose views on a society? What if people have the right to leave? Against Evolution of practices Societies do share core values

Normative Ethical Theories Deontological: based on the sense of duty Right because of the act Teleological: based on the result Right because of the result

Deontological Theory What is it? Classic Examples Based on our duties and responsibilities Actions are fundamentally right or wrong Classic Examples Kantianism (Kant) Contractualism (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau) 1724-1804 1588-1679 1632-1704 1712-1788

Kantianism: Ethics of Duty Duty as freely imposing obligation on one’s own self Duty is internal We impose duty on ourselves What we SHOULD do, not what we WANT to do

Kant’s Categorical Imperatives Universality: “Always act in such a way that the maxim of your action can be willed as a universal law of humanity.” Respect: “Always treat humanity, whether in yourself or in other people, as an end in itself and never as a mere means.” Are these the same? Which do you prefer?

Strengths of Kantianism Rational Produces universal moral guidelines Treats all people as moral equals

Criticisms Practical Philosophical Actions may need to be characterized by multiple rules and there is no way to resolve a conflict between rules Allows no exceptions Philosophical Moral minimalism: requirements are not heartfelt Moral alienation: alienated from feelings

Contractualism Social Contract Theory Morality consists in the set of rules, governing how people are to treat one another, that rational people will agree to accept, for their mutual benefit, on the condition that others follow those rules as well. James Rachel, The Elements of Moral Philosophy

Rights and Duties Duty not to interfere with others rights Negative and positive rights Negative right: duty is to not interfere Positive right: duty is to provide Absolute and limited rights Typically, negative rights are absolute and positive are limited

Strengths of Contractualism Framed in terms of rights Explains acting out of self-interest when there is no common agreement Provides framework for moral issues dealing with government (civil disobedience)

Criticism Doesn’t address actions that can be characterized multiple ways Doesn’t address conflicting rights

Comparing the Two Theories Both believe that there are universal moral rules Basis of those moral rules Kant can be universalized based on duties Contract would benefit the community based on rights

Teleological Theory What is it? Primary example: Utilitarianism Something is good based on its consequences Primary example: Utilitarianism Jeremy Bentham John Stuart Mill 1748-1832 1806-1873

Utilitarianism Greatest Happiness Principle Compute the costs and benefits Simple calculation: do positives outweigh the negatives? Two forms Act – judge the consequence of a specific act Rule – judge the consequence of the generalized rule

Strengths Focus on happiness Down to earth Appeals to many people Comprehensive

Problems of Act that Rule Addresses Too much work to make a decision on each act Susceptible to happenstance

Criticisms Ignores our sense of duty Range of effects that one must consider Calculus requires that we balance very different aspects Unjust distribution of good results