Lesson 12 - DEONTOLOGICAL / DUTY ETHICS Flashcards
___ is a normative moral theory which places special emphasis on the relationship between duty and the morality of human actions.
Deontological Ethics
Deontological Ethics implies that an action is considered morally good because of ___
some characteristics of the action itself, not because the product of the action is good.
Deontological Ethics holds that at least some acts are ___ regardless of their consequences for human welfare.
morally obligatory
Deontological Ethics focuses on the___, as opposed fo the rightness or wrongness of the consequences of those actions (Consequentialism) or to the character and habits of the actor (Virtue Ethics).
rightness or wrongness of actions themselves
Deontological Ethics focuses on the___, as opposed to ___ or to the ___
rightness or wrongness of actions themselves
the rightness or wrongness of the consequences of those actions (Consequentialism)
character and habits of the actor (Virtue Ethics).
Immanuel Kant’s ___ is the basis of his deontological ethics, or specifically ___
Categorical Imperative
his view of moral law
Immanuel Kant defined imperative as ___
any proposition that declares a certain action (or inaction) to be necessary, that is, a command addressed to agents who could follow it but might not
2 kinds of imperatives
hypothetical and categorical
___ would compel action in a given circumstance.
Hypothetical Imperative (HI)
IK called any action based on desires a ___
hypothetical imperative
i.e., it is a command of reason that applies only if one desires the goal in question
hypothetical imperative
denotes an absolute, unconditional requirement that exerts its authority in all circumstances, both required and justified as an end in itself
categorical imperative (Cl)
Thus, the command “Be honest, so that people may think well of you.” is an ___ while the command “Thou shall not steal.” is a ___
HI
Cl
IK argues that ___ must be ___. They must apply to all rational beings, regardless of their wants and feelings.
the commands of morality
categorical imperatives
IK saw ___ as a ___, an unconditional command, and believed that its content could be established by ___ alone
moral law
categorical imperative
human reason
Kantian Ethics is composed of the following concepts:
a. the idea of the good will
b. duty and the moral worth of an act
c. formulations of the categorical imperative
for IK, it is that which facilitates a human act. It is that which enables every agent to do an act
the Good Will
Good will is called ___ and not that it produces good result or is done for the greatest number of people likely to be affected
good by virtue of its intrinsic value
Good will is ___ ; it is good without any ___
good without qualification
condition
How is good will demonstrated?
For IK, the good will is demonstrated when the agent performs an act for the sake of duty
When you want to help a friend in need and expect something in return, ___
your good will is NOT good without qualification
When you offer your help because you believe that it is your duty to do so, ___
your good will is GOOD without qualification
IK argued that the will is ___
autonomous, self-legislating
The autonomy of the will implies that it is not ___. Hence, when you do an act, your will is autonomous if ___
influenced by outside factors
you are not forced to do it
According to Kant, ___ must be the motive of a moral act. Hence, ___ must not be the motive in the performance of any moral act.
Duty
inclinations or self-interest
If I conduct a class discussion, my motive should be duty, that is, I am moved to do this act because it is my ___ as a teacher and not ___ that I will get in doing so.
obligation
my interest of the salary
means duty
deon
First Formulation
Principle of Universality
Act only on that maxim through which you can, at the same time will, that it should become a universal law.
First Formulation
a short statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct
maxim
commands that every maxim someone acts on must be such that others are willing to make it the case, that is, all must do the same act as commanded by the maxim
First Formulation
If the maxim cannot be ___, then the action ___
universalized
has no moral worth
the act of stealing ___
cannot be universalized, even if someone is willing to steal, reason tells us we cannot force everyone to will the same
the act of helping a friend
is universalizable, because we can expect everyone to will the same
Second Formulation
Humanity Formula or Formula of the End
Act that you use humanity, whether in our own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end, never merely as a means
Humanity Formula or Formula of the End
IK argued that every human has an ___ and should never be treated as a means to a particular end
inherent value
For IK, once a human being is treated as a ___, then he is reduced into ___
means
things or on the level of animals
Any act that treats humans as a means is ___
not morally right
Third Automation
Autonomy Formula
Act so that through your maxims you could be a legislator of universal laws.
Third Formulation
Human beings are the ___ rather than ___
universal law givers
universal law followers
This is the very source of ___ IK speaks of in the second formulation as ___
dignity of humanity
man’s inherent value
The ___ presumably puts on display the source of ___, our status as free rational agents who are the source of the authority behind ___.
Autonomy formula
our dignity and worth
the very moral laws that bind us
Act in accordance with the maxims of a member giving universal laws for a merely possible kingdom of ends.
The Kingdom of Ends Formula
The Kingdom of Ends Formula implies that our fundamental moral obligation is to ___ each of whom have an equal share in legislating these principles for their community.
act only on principles which could earn acceptance by a community of fully rational agents
This states that an action is right if God has decreed that it is right, and that an act is obligatory if and only if (and because) if is commanded by God. Thus, moral obligations arise from ___.
Divine Command Theory
God’s commands
This holds that humans have absolute natural rights (in the sense of universal rights fhaf are inherent in the nature of ethics, and not contingent on human actions or beliefs). Thus, moral obligations arise from ___.
Natural Rights Theory
human rights
It holds that moral acts are those that we would all agree to if we were unbiased, and that moral rules themselves are a sort of a contract, and therefore only people who understand and agree to the terms of the contract are bound by it. Thus, moral obligations arise from ___.
Moral Theory of Contractarianism
contract or mutual agreement
This was advocated by ___, who argues that there are seven ___which need to be taken into consideration when deciding which duty should be acted upon.
Pluralistic Deontology
William David Ross (1877 - 1971)
prima facia duties
to help other people to increase their pleasure, improve their character, etc.
I. Duty of Beneficence
to avoid harming other people
II. Duty of Non-maleficence
to ensure people get what they deserve
III. Duty of Justice
to improve ourselves
IV. Duty of Self-improvement
to recompense someone if you have acted wrong towards them
V. Duty of Reparation
to benefit people who have benefited us
VI. Duty of Gratitude
