5.1 A Comparison of the work of Immanuel Kant and Aristotle with regard to Deontology and Virtue Ethics respectively Flashcards
core principle of kant’s deontological ethics
morality based on duty, not consequences, actions are right if they follow moral laws regardless of their outcomes
what is the categorical imperative?
a universal law that applies to to all rational beings and is based on reason alone
deontology
judges morality based on whether actions follow moral rules (duty-based)
consequentialism
judges morality based on the outcomes (eg utilitarianism)
kant first formulation of the categorical imperative: the principle of universality
- a moral command that applies to all rational beings, regardless of desires
eg) stealing cannot be universalised, because if everybody did society would collapse
kant second formulation: humanity
- treat humanity in yourself and others always as an end never merely as a means
eg) slavery is wrong as it uses people as a means to an end
strengths of kants argument of deontology
- takes account of justice
- makes a sharp distinction between duty and inclination
- uses objective reason for the basis of his argument
weaknesses of kants arguments of deontology
- bases theory on the rationality of humans, which may not all have the same temperaments/desires
- creates absolute rules
- good will is only motivation
virtue ethics
ethical theory that locates moral value in the agent performing the action, emphasises need to develop a virtuous disposition and judge actions in a broader context using practical wisdom
contingent
dependent on circumstances
kant the good will
the only good thing is a good will that acts out of duty, not personal gain
w.d ross deontology
- argued that morality should be grounded in our moral intuitions
- explains why we regard certain courses of action with reference to ‘prima facie’ duties/obligations
w.d ross deontology - prima facie duty
- a duty that is all binding, all other things being equal, that is unless it is overridden or trumped by another duty or duties
eg) duty to keep promises; unless stronger moral considerations override we ought to keep a promise made
examples of prima facie duties
- fidelity
- self-improvement
- justice and fairness
- gratitude
criticisms of ross’s ethical argument
- does not explain why we have moral intuitions in the first place
- how do we know which duties apply in which cases?
- conflict of duties
thomas nagel deontology
for nagel, the central question in ethics is reasoning behind our moral choices, he makes a distinction between agent-relative and agent-neutral reasons
thomas nagel deontology - agent-relative reasons
stem from personal desires, commitments and projects
thomas nagel deontology - agent-neutral reasons
consider everyone, not just the moral agent making the choice, they are impersonal and objective
thomas nagel - critique of kant
- morality is more than reason: involves emotions not just rational duty
- subjectivity in morality: diff people experience morality
- moral luck: some people may face harder moral choices than others
aristotle - the function argument
- everybody has a purpose (telos), the good is achieved by ultimately fulfilling that purpose
- the unique function of humans is the use of reason
- to live a good line (eudaimonia), humans must fulfill their function by acting in accordance with reason
- virtue is excellence in performing our function well, leading to flourishing
aristotle eudaimonia
- saw ‘happiness’ or eudaimonia as the goal in life, but argued that pleasure doesn’t lead to happiness
- the value of pleasure is determined by the value of the activity being performed
- complete and self-sufficient life
- requires development of virtues; like courage and wisdom
- achieved by acting in harmony with reason
virtue theory
- the development of a good character traits or virtues
- roots back to aristotle and plato, which believed that culverting good character traits are the key to living a good life
strengths of virtue theory
- offers flexible moral guidelines
- takes account a whole person when judging their moral worth
- enables us to develop a moral education
weaknesses of virtue theory
- doesn’t give us definite rules so cannot help with decision making
- issue with moral realism: lacks universal application as definitions of virtue will differ from community to community
- problem of finding the mean: not all actions have a mean such as adultery, theft or murder
is virtue theory compatible with religious approaches to ethics?
- virtue theory is compatible with a religious way of life, with a focus on flourishing and happiness achieved through the development of a moral character
- however, philosophers such as phillipa foot argue that virtue ethics are not really compatible because religious doctrines on morality are fundamentally legalistic and inflexible
