Everything you wanted to know about ethics in 45 minutes or less

Three Branches of Ethics

• Metaethics
• Where do ethical principles come from?
• Moral Realism - values have an objective foundation
• Moral Relativism - values are relative to . . .
• Moral Skepticism - we can't know what the values are
• Normative Ethics
• What are the moral standards for right conduct?
• Applied Ethics
• What are the right choices in real-world moral problems?

Normative Ethics

• Virtue theory - What kind of person should we be?

Virtue

Any characteristic or disposition we desire in ourselves or others; rightness is determined by an individual's character.

• Eudaimonistic Virtue Ethics (Aristotelianism)

Ethical considerations rest upon the question, "What is the purpose of human life?" or "What is it to be an excellent person?" For Aristotle this ultimately means habituating ourselves to act according to a rational mean between extreme possibilities. (The Doctrine of the Golden Mean)

• Paradigmatic Virtue Ethics

An alternative version of Virtue Ethics argues that we should seek to become good by imitating the behavior of paradigmatic moral characters (i.e., the moral saint). This theory proposes we address moral questions by asking, "What would the moral saint do in this situation?"

• Deontological (Duty) Theories - How do we know and fulfill our duties?

Deontic

An action is morally right if it acted out of duty to moral law.

• Natural Rights (Locke)

Entitlement to act without interference (liberties) or to obligate others to act on one's behalf (claim-rights). Sometimes described as allowing an individual to act within a sphere of freedom; once outside that sphere, requires voluntary interaction with others to resolve conflicts. Treats peoples as ends and increases overall happiness. Emphasizes the process. 

• Kantian ethics

Create a good society by having people "do good." Categorial Imperative: Treat people as ends, not means. Emphasizes the internal character of the act itself.  Some actions are wrong, no matter what the consequences. (Monistic Deontology) 

• Prima Facie Duties (W. D. Ross)

A prima facie duty is a moral obligation that is initially binding until a stronger and overriding obligation emerges. (Pluralistic Deontology)

• Consequentialist (Teleological) Theories - How do we create the best consequences?

Consequentialism

An action is morally right if the consequences of that action are more favorable than unfavorable.

• Ethical Egoism

  An action is morally right if the consequences of that action are more favorable than unfavorable only to the agent performing the action.

• Ethical Altruism

  An action is morally right if the consequences of that action are more favorable than unfavorable to everyone except the agent .

• Utilitarianism
  • Act Utilitarianism

    An action is morally right in so far as it maximizes the greatest amount of happiness (or pleasure) for the greatest number of people.

  • Rule Utilitarianism

    Rules are morally right in so far as they maximize the greatest amount of happiness (or pleasure) for the greatest number of people.

• Contractarian Rawls' Justice as Fairness

Liberty Principle: Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with similar liberty for others.

Difference Principle: Social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both: a) reasonably expected to be to everyone's advantage and b) attached to positions and offices open to all.