Ethical Theories

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Ethical Theories

• High-level account of how questions about
  morality should be addressed.

Similar to engineering models? VIR a tool to
solve many engineering problems. VIR is not a
law of nature neither is Fma think about
scale
Ethical theories also do not describe the world
only some good answers to moral dilemmas 
Ethical problems are not clear and people and
society are unpredictable and messy Many ethical
theories to choose from
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Some traditional ethical theories

• Consequentialist
• Evaluate acts, policies and institutions
  according to consequences.
• Right action is the one that has the best
  consequences 

Utilitarianism Only happiness is good in itself.
Everything else is a means to happiness.
(pain, suffering - happiness) An act is
right if it tends to increase the sum of human
happiness wrong if reverse. (Or RULE
utilitarianism )
Most decision-making strategies and models
originate with utilitarianism cost-benefit
analysis, game theory, risk-benefit
analysis  What is the chief problem these
theories face?
Various forms ethical egotism, nationalism,
(altruism? really maximizes total happiness?
Gift of the Magi (O. Henry))
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Other traditional ethical theories

• Deontological theories
•  Certain actions are right or wrong regardless of
  consequences

Immanuel Kant Follow universal principles that
require respect for persons absolute value of
persons. Categorical Imperative (for example,
truth telling) Act only according to that maxim
that you could at the same time will to become a
universal law Kant formulated DUTY ethics
saying how persons have the DUTY to act
Another deontological theory Theory of rights
(of persons). E.g. right to life, right of
choice. John Locke natural rights life,
liberty, property. We exchange our natural state
of anarchy for the liberty and security of the
society social contract.
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Kants Perfect and Imperfect Duties

• When violating a maxim would, under the
  Categorical Imperative (first form)
• lead to a logical contradiction (if
  universalized), we have a perfect duty not to
  violate the maxim (example universalizing
  stealing ? meaninglessness of property)
• lead to an undesirable condition (if
  universalized), we have an imperfect duty not
  to violate the maxim (example universalizing
  not helping others except for ones own good ?
  wouldnt ever want to ask anyone for help one
  couldnt then repay, so we SHOULD help others
  without regard for our own repayment, when
  possible)

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A Second Form of Kants Categorical Imperative

• "Act in such a way that you treat humanity,
  whether in your own person or in the person of
  any other, always at the same time as an end and
  never simply as a means"
• -- Kant, Immanuel trans. Ellington, J.W.
  1785 (1993), p.36

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KCI Third Formulation

• "Therefore, every rational being must so act as
  if he were through his maxim always a legislating
  member in the universal kingdom of ends."
• Ibid., p. 43