Classical Ethical Theories

Question 1

Can you define Ethics

Answer 1

moral values, prinicples encompassed under ideological perspectives; provides a system of rules or principles to guide decision making, what is right or wrong

Question 2

can you define morality

Answer 2

norms and values which individuals or communities define right and wrong or good or bad

Question 3

What is the concept of Ethical Egoism

Answer 3

humans ought to promote their own interests, the action is morally right if the decision maker freely decided to persue it, even if that means ignoring short term desires for long term benefits

Question 4

Can you Provide some Arguments for Ethical Egosim

Answer 4

+ we only really know our own wants or needs so would do a poor job trying to satisfy others
+ only by doing this can we respect human integrity
+ all ethics are egoist to some extent

Question 5

Explain Utilitarianism

Answer 5

consequentialist, option is the morally right if it results in the greatest good for the most people - aiming to maxmisie pleasure for society

Question 6

agruments for utilitarianism

Answer 6

+ there are common needs that we all understand
+ social good tends to be put above the indiviudal
+ no complexity in trying to understand motivations

Question 7

Explain Deontology

Answer 7

concerned primarilty with motivations, using a framework of principles and act accoridng to these maxim to be considered ethical

Question 8

Some of the Strenghts of Deontology

Answer 8

+ Doesn’t require us to evaluate actions as they occur, codes regardless of actions
+ protects people from making exceptions of themselves
+ is not prone to subjectivity - aims for complete universatility

Question 9

Explain Virtue Ethics

Answer 9

focused on changing the ethics of characters, forming a virtuos character for morally correct behvaiour

Question 10

Strenghts of Virtue Ethics

Answer 10

+ accepts people are not moral innatley, but must to work to become a moral being over time
+ more focused on longer term relationships
+ acceots emotions are crucial to morals and how we act

Question 11

Talk about Ethical Egoism in markets

Answer 11

• supports neoliberal economic models ( invisible hand )
• markets are rarley perfect though
• always need to aim to treat people as we do ourselves ( if theres no differences )