Application Of Ethical Theories: Theft Flashcards
What does Natural Moral Law say against Theft?
> Theft breaches the primary precepts to live in an ordered society.
It contradicts the secondary precept not to steal, which is also reinforced by divine law in the eighth or seventh Commandment.
What would Natural moral Law say in support of Theft?
> Aquinas made an exception in the case of desperate need.
- A starving man might steal food from someone who had plenty.
- Someone might steal on behalf of a starving person.
- In this case, the primary precept of preserve life would take priority over that relating to an ordered society.
It could also be seen as practising the cardinal virtue of justice and the theological virtue of love.
What does Proportionalism say about Theft?
> Proportionalism would agree with Aquinas’ exception since:
- the intention behind it would be good (ie to save a life).
- the value of saving life would be proportionately greater than the dis value of injustice to the victim of the theft and the possible ill effects on society if others did the same thing for less urgent reasons.
What does Situation ethics say about Theft?
> Fletcher would consider the teaching of the Church and biblical laws on theft but would not feel bound to them.
The interests of the people involved take priority over rules.
One key consideration is the application of agape
The motive and foreseeable consequences of an action, for the individual and for others, would be considered.
The agapeic calculus would be applied, to ensure justice.
What does Virtue ethics say in support of Theft?
> Usually, virtue ethics allows for flexibility, taking into account the individual and the situation.
What does Virtue ethics say against Theft?
> In virtue ethics the focus is on acting from habit, which has developed from a lifetime of continual practice of virtue and emulating a phronimos.
Aristotle denounced all theft as a base action.
- He included it in a list of actions that has no mean , since it can never be the act of a virtuous person.
- There is no extreme excess or deficiency.
- It is always the action of an injustice person.
If applied to the situation of a starving child. Aristotles denunciation of all theft seems harsh but two things might be considered:
- his teaching was addressed to his own social class (starvation rarely occurred)
- he might therefore have seen taking what was needed to prevent starvation as an act of justice and not theft.
