Deontalogical Approach Flashcards
Kant –> (1724-1804)
Utilitarianism vs Kant
“Greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people” must consider the outcome. Kant would disagree with that because you should act without looking at the consequences. In a case such as bullying, utilitarianism would favour the bullies.
Why is deontology A Priori?
A priori is knowledge without experience. 1+1=2 is an a priori statement because it is definitely true and we know it without experience. This means we know what is right and wrong before experience and those truths are proved by experience e.g. human reason.
What are the key terms?
Hypothetical - how you ‘could’ act
Categorical - a way you always should act
A priori - logical way of thinking about things
A posteriori - based on past experiences
Deontalogical approach - concerned with how a person should act based on rules (action not consequences)
Duty - how we must act according to our rules
Good will - good for goodness sake
Summon Bonum - highest good
Maxim - our moral rules
What is divine command?
One of the most common forms of deontological moral theories are those which derive their set of moral obligations from a deity. An action is morally correct whenever it is in agreement with the rules and duties established by God.
What are duty theories?
An action is morally right if it is in accord with some list of duties and obligations.
What are rights theories?
An action is morally right if it adequately respects the rights which all humans (or at least all members of society) have. This is also sometimes referred to as Libertarianism, the political philosophy that people should be legally free to do whatever they wish so long as their actions do not impinge upon the rights of others.
What is contractarianism?
An action is morally right if it is in accordance with the rules that rational moral agents would agree to observe upon entering into a social relationship (contract) for mutual benefit. This is also sometimes referred to as Contractualism.
What is the categorical imperative?
It helps us to decide which actions we should carry out all the time. The hypothetical imperative is conditional and aren’t classed as moral actions. They are actions we could carry out if they end up being beneficial to us. The only moral actions, for Kant, are categorical imperatives. There are three categorical imperatives; the universal law - which should be general laws and apply to everyone, treat humans as ends in themselves - which Kant argues you should never treat people as Ames s to some end, act as if you live in a kingdom of ends - and Kant assumed all rational agents were able to deduce whether an argument was moral or not through reason alone and so, all rational humans should be able to conclude the same moral laws. Kant then sight to create a framework by which one could discovers vice were true moral statements.
Alastair MacIntyre (2002)
“It follows that in practice the test if the categorical imperative imposes restrictions only on those insufficiently equipped with ingenuity. And this is scarcely what Kant intended.”
Deontology Example:
The Good Samaritan Story
• help everyone - even your natural enemy.
What is Contemporary Deontology?
Ross (20th Century) argued that a deontological approach to ethics should be revived because it was the best way to deal with society duties at that time (addressed issues).
He maintained the our decisions should be based on PRIMA FACIE duties which means our first priority.
These duties could be things like helping others in need (The Good Samaritan Story) which are duties to repay someone helping us.
When there is an apparent conflict of duties, Ross suggested we don’t disregard both of one over other. We apply the situation to the other and owe the other gratification.
His approach is arguably a middle way between consequentialism and absolutism because it’s considerate of moral duty and a key strength of Ross’ ideas us we need motivation more than consequences.
What are the strengths of deontology?
It is common sense that moral behaviour must involve at least some attempt to do our duty. (doing the right thing)
Motivation is valued over consequences (which are unforeseen) motivation is now.
Deontological ethics fit in well with religious views about morality as duty to God. (The Good Samaritan)
Sometimes a morality based on the idea that ‘the end justifies the means’ is used to justify acts of evil (e.g. Genocide)
Humanitarian principle - all humans have worth/equality (God’s image)
Objective guidelines for moral decisions, without lengthy calculations (Hedonic calculus is pointless)
United Nations declarations of human rights (1946) - ABSOLUTE.
What are the weaknesses of deontology?
Moral duties seem arbitrary but in reality moral decisions are influenced by many factors (random)
Can good will of motivation really mitigate any outcome? (Does it produce good e.g. man-slaughter)
Universalisability can be absurd (contradictory - just silliness)
It commits the naturalistic fallacy (doesn’t mean they can - Doctors can’t always save)
Can supporters of deontological ethics show why duty is important or even what our duty is? (No. Kant = summon Bonum)
Deontological ethics runs the risk of lacking humanity suggesting one should care more about doing ones duty than about other people. (Cupitt - suffocates humans creativity)
Thinking about the consequences of ones actions seems to be an essential part of morality (think about the consequences)
Use Bentham, Mill and Kagan critiques
Introduction
A deontological approach to ethics is the opposite to a teleological approach as it is ‘absolute’ rather than ‘relative’. It is based on people’s duties in life and is an objective belief that people should follow rules to rely on the action rather than the outcome. The approach is a priori over a posteriori because it is about logic rather than experiences. Humans are capable of making their own ‘logical’ thinking and reason to make decisions and so use reason as autonomous agents, therefore don’t have to turn to God. This ‘man come of age’ idea also comes from Bonhoffer which John Robinson used in ‘Honest to God’. A deontological approach to ethics is based on the fact that ‘ought’ implies ‘can’. People ‘should’ think and act a certain way. Don’t have a maxim you can’t achieve fully.
