1. COMP 381

2. Agenda  TA: Caitlyn Losee  Books and movies nominations  Team presentation signup Beginning of class End of class  Rawls and Moors

3. Ethics  Decision making based on logical reasoning  Addresses how people on society should act  Should advance the good of society over time

4. 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  deal with relativism  societal balance

5. Ethical Systems  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

6. Deontological Theory  What is it? Based on our duties and responsibilities Actions are fundamentally right or wrong  Classic Examples Kantianism (Kant) Contractualism (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau) 1588-1679 1724-1804 1712-17881632-1704

7. 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.”

8. Kantianism  Treats all people as moral equals  Allows no exceptions  Duty can preclude acting on feelings

9. 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

10. 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)  Doesn’t address conflicting rights

11. Deontological Summary  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

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

13. Utilitarianism  Greatest Happiness Principle  Compute the costs and benefits Simple calculation: do positives outweigh the negatives?  Two forms Act – consequence of a specific act ○ Too costly ○ Susceptible to happenstance Rule – judge the consequence of the generalized rule

14. Strengths  Focus on happiness  Down to earth  Appeals to many people  Comprehensive

15. Problems  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

16. Evaluating Ethical Systems CriterionKantContractUtil Balance justice and mercy Protect individual freedoms and rights Recognize unethical laws Flexibility Deal with relativism Societal balance

17. Rawls’s Social Justice  Social contract made under “veil of ignorance” Independent of self Everyone same claims to basic rights and liberties  Inequalities must be equal opportunity (based on skill or societal benefit) or of greatest benefit to least-advantaged 1921-2002

18. Rawl’s Principles of Justice  Principle of Equal Liberty Each person has an equal right to the most extensive liberties compatible with similar liberties for all.  Difference Principle : Social and economic inequalities should be arranged so that they are both to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged persons and attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of equality of opportunity.

19. Just Consequentialism  James Moor (Dartmouth)  Consider consequences of action… but combine with deontological ideals Consider duties, rights, and justice  Protect against unnecessary harm (suffering), where harm = loss of core values life, happiness, abilities, security, knowledge, freedom, opportunities, resources

20. Applying Just Consequentialism  A decision or action is ethical if It does not cause any unnecessary harm to individuals and groups Supports individual rights Fulfills duties

21. Evaluating Ethical Systems CriterionRawlsMoor Balance justice and mercy Protect individual freedoms and rights Recognize unethical laws Flexibility Deal with relativism Societal balance

22. Using Ethical Reasoning  How can (do) you use it?  Limitations?  How can we use it to form cyberspace?