Deontological Theories (Duty-based Theories) Flashcards
What do Deontological Theories promote, being the opposite of Consequentialism?
They claim that each person has duties = acting morally means you should act according to duty.
There is a LIMIT to maximizing good consequences.
Has absolutes!
You MUST NOT do harm while maximizing good consequences. (Even killing 1 person to save the world)
What do Duty-based Theories say about actions?
They are absolutely RIGHT or WRONG!
What is important about the Christian Ethics?
They are based on the TEN COMMANDMENTS
1) Ten Commandments = You shall not kill, you shall not steal, etc.
2) The authority of God is absolute.
But what if God does not exist?
“If God does not exist, everything is permitted” (Dostoevsky)
What is the problem with the Christian Ethics?
1) What is God’s will? How do we know what God wants? Everyone can interpret that differently (However, the Bible tells us what to do and advocates for moral behaviour)
The Euthyphro Dilemma
1) Does God approve of moral actions?
2) Are actions morally good because God approves of them?
Does God approve of moral actions? (The Euthyphro Dilemma)
OBJECTIVISM and RATIONALISM imply that God is not the source of morality.
Instead, morally good actions are independent of God’s commands since they could exist without God.
Which Theories support the authority of God regarding morally good actions?
(The Euthyphro Dilemma)
Divine Command Theory, Voluntarism
DIVINE COMMAND THEORY and VOLUNTARISM imply that there are NO moral standards other than God’s.
1) People are obliged to act according to these rules.
2) Morality is arbitrary in this theory, not based on reasons. Thus, people act morally out of fear (of God)
“People act morally out of fear (of God)!”. How can we object to that?
God would not command bad, he is good by definition.
What is important about the Kantian Ethics? (except for being introduced by Immanuel Kant)
It argues on which actions are considered moral.
Kant says: “Those that are performed out of a sense of DUTY!!!”
There should be NO
1) Self-interest and emotion in performing an act
2) No self-interest in consequences
Even telling a lie out of good intentions is IMMORAL in Kantian Ethics.
The Categorical Imperative (by Immanuel Kant). What is that?
1) Rational human beings have categorical duties, which are absolute and unconditional
2) Morality is a set of categorical imperatives
3) A moral action must be universal.
Example: You can’t ride for free when everyone pays for a ticket, that’s immoral.
4) It is crucial to treat people as people, not instruments.
Why is The Categorical Imperative problematic?
1) It’s difficult to avoid doing harm (breaking a promise).
2) No place for moral emotions: compassion, guilt, remorse.
3) Presupposes rational decision-making that conflicts with psychology.
4) Disregard for consequences that can actually matter.
5) There are no guidelines in cases of duty conflicts.
Example: “Madman” tries to kill you, should you let him do that?
What do Deontological Theories discuss as well?
1) doing/allowing harm (“Transplant” dilemma, “Switch”)
2) intending/foreseeing harm (“Switch”, “Fatman”)
3) treating somebody as a means or as end (“Switch”, “Fatman”)
