Consequentialism Is it OK to inflict pain on someone else? Is it OK to inflict pain on someone else? What if it is a small amount of pain to prevent a great deal of suffering? What if it is a small amount of pain to prevent a great deal of suffering?

Consequentialism Ethical theory that judges the moral rightness or wrongness of an act according to the desirability of its consequences Ethical theory that judges the moral rightness or wrongness of an act according to the desirability of its consequences

Consequentialism Two questions must be asked What has intrinsic value? Who should receive this value? Intrinsic Value: Value that is good or desirable in itself Instrumental Value: Value is judged in terms of achievement of other ends

Utilitarianism What has intrinsic value? What has intrinsic value? Pleasure (Happiness) Pleasure (Happiness) Who should receive this value? The greatest number of people  Hedonism: Moral rightness of an actions depends upon how much pleasure or pain it produces.

Utilitarianism Ethical theory that maintains that the morally right act is the one that promotes the greatest good for the greatest number of people Ethical theory that maintains that the morally right act is the one that promotes the greatest good for the greatest number of people

Utilitarianism  Jeremy Bentham ( )  John Stuart Mill ( )

Utilitarianism A traffic light should be installed at the intersection to prevent accidents The person who stole your money must be punished to deter future crime All citizens will be required to pay income tax The speed limit on highways should be 65 mph

Utilitarianism What has intrinsic value? Is pleasure or happiness the ultimate goal in life? Is pleasure or happiness the ultimate goal in life? Who should receive this value? Can we justify seemingly immoral acts on utilitarian grounds?

Deontological Ethics Ethical theory that judges the moral rightness of an act in terms of the intrinsic moral value of the act itself Ethical theory that judges the moral rightness of an act in terms of the intrinsic moral value of the act itself

Deontological Ethics Immanuel Kant is the most notable proponent of deontological ethics Immanuel Kant is the most notable proponent of deontological ethics Deontological Ethics Deontological Ethics= Kantian Ethics Kantian Ethics

Kantian Ethics Is saving someone from drowning a morally praiseworthy act? Do motives play any role in whether an act is morally praiseworthy?

Kantian Ethics “Nothing can be called good without qualification except the good will” “Nothing can be called good without qualification except the good will” Intentions matter Intentions matter -- Moral worth of an act is not dependant upon its consequences -- An act has moral worth if it is done for the sake of the moral law

Kantian Ethics  Hypothetical Imperative – A rule that tells us what means to use to achieve a desires end  Categorical Imperative - A rule that tells us without qualifications what we should do What is the moral law? The Categorical Imperative The Categorical Imperative

Kantian Ethics The Categorical Imperative (Kant’s Unconditional Moral Law) Two Versions Two Versions First Version * State the maxim (rule) on the basis of which you are planning to act * Formulate the maxim in terms of a universal law * See if you can rationally will that everyone follow this universal maxim

Kantian Ethics Second Version “Act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end and never as a means only” “Act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end and never as a means only”

Kantian Ethics What if duties conflict?

Why Be Moral?  Why does society need morality?  Human existence would be ….  “War of all against all”  “Solitary, poor nasty, brutish, and short”

Why Be Moral?  Why should I be moral? Consequences?

Why Should I Be Moral? What if there were no consequences? What if there were no consequences?

Why Should I Be Moral?

Because of who we become Because of who we become

Virtue Ethics Ethical theory that see the primary focus of ethics to be the character of the person rather than the person’s actions Ethical theory that see the primary focus of ethics to be the character of the person rather than the person’s actions

Virtue Ethics Is this hammer a good hammer? Is this lawnmower a good lawnmower? Is this lawnmower a good lawnmower?

Virtue Ethics What attributes or virtues make this a good hammer and good lawnmower? Virtue – A trait of character that is to be admired because it is a component of [human] excellence Virtue – A trait of character that is to be admired because it is a component of [human] excellence

Virtue Ethics What is the purpose or goal of our lives? Happiness Human Flourishing Living Well Living the good life Human excellence

Virtue Ethics Which flower is a better flower? Which flower is a better flower? The one that is healthy The one that is healthy The one that flourishes The one that flourishes

Virtue Ethics What makes a person a good person? What makes a person a good person?