Ethical Theory II Flashcards
Utilitarianism
An action is morally right if it results in the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people affected by the action
Jeremy Bentham (Utilitarianism)
Believed that we should try to increase the overall amount of pleasure in the world
John Stuart Mill (Utilitarianism)
Believed that happiness, not pleasure, should be the standard of utility
George Edward Moore (Utilitarianism)
Suggested that we should strive to maximise ideal values such as freedom, knowledge, justice, and beauty
Kenneth Arrow (Utilitarianism)
Argued that what has intrinsic value is preference satisfaction
Criticism of Utilitarianism
- Subjectivity
- Quantification (How to measure pleasure/pain?)
- Distribution of utility (Who is included/excluded?)
Act utilitarianism
looks to single actions and bases the moral judgement on the amount of pleasure & pain this single action causes)
Rule utilitarianism
looks at classes of actions, and asks whether the underlying principles of an action produce more pleasure than pain for society in the long run.
Kantianism (Key philosophers)
Immanuel Kant
Kantianism
The moral life is centred on duty (“good will”)
“Categorical Imperative” framework
- Consistency (Behaviour should be followed consistently by everyone in all cases)
- Human Dignity-Respect
- Universality (Actions must be acceptable to every rational human being)
Discourse ethics
Aims to solve ethical conflicts by providing a process of norm generation through rational reflection on the real-life experiences of all relevant participants
Discourse ethics (Key philosophers)
Jurgen Habermas
Postmodern ethics
Locates morality beyond the sphere of rationality in an emotional “moral impulse” towards others. (Encourages to question everyday practices and rules also, to follow “gut feeling”)
Postmodern ethics (Key philosophers)
Michel Foucault; Joan-Francoise Lyotard, Jacques Derrida; Richard Rorty
Hedonism
“pleasure is the highest good”
Asceticism
“strict self-discipline and avoiding physical pleasures”
Contractarianism
Morality and political rules come from an agreement (or “contract”) between people — not from nature, religion, or some higher authority.
Negative Utilitarianism
Says the most important moral goal is to reduce suffering, rather than to maximize happiness.
