Principles of Ethics Flashcards
What do you need to act as a moral agent
knowledge of the principles of ethics and justice
What is a moral agent?
Someone who can see right from wrong
Ethics looks at
right/wrong, good/evil, justice, social and political ideals
Logic is:
study of the rules of reasoning
Epistemology
A study of the origin of knowledge and belief.
Descartes: imagine if the world we live in is just a toy for a super being that is just messing with us
Metaphysics
Explaining the fundamentals of reality, appearance, existence and knowledge beyond this world
What is an ethical dilemma?
When possible solutions are all bad, but a decision must be made
Do ethical theories give you the right answer?
Not always, they simply guide you and make you think before acting
Consequentialism = utilitarianism, basic theory?
Theory that focuses attention on the result of an action, or a consequence
- Ethical desicion produces the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people and or the least harm
- John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)
Problems with consequentialism = utilitarianism
- quanifiying utility for all stakeholders is difficult and subjective
> everyone must be treated equally and equally considered
> minority rights may be compromised for the benefit of a larger group
What is deontology and two branches / philosophers?
Consequence dont matter, what matters are principles
Duty Ethics - Kant (1724-1804)
Rights Ethics - John Locke (1632-1704)
Duty Ethics
everyone has a duty to act in a correct ethical manner (be honest, be fair, dont cause suffering)
Rights ethics
Everyone has rights by virtue of extistence. There rights must be respected. Right to life, liberty and prosperity
Categorical imperative test
universal principle which is binding regardless of the consequence
Veil of ignorance
Test to determine if an action is fair or just
- everyone is considered to be equal partners who must agree on the principles of concern (no names, iedntity, status, sex, color etc)
- john Rawls
Canadian fundamental freedoms
- freedom of conscience and religion
- freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including - freedom of the press and other media of comms
- ## freedom of peaceful assembly
mobility of citizens
every citizen has the right to enter, remain in and leave Canada
Rights to move and gain livelihood
- move to and take up residence in any province
- pursue the gaining of a livelihood in any province
Virtue ethics
aristotle,
- a good object, person is virtuous and it serves a good purpose
- an act is good if it is in accordance with reason and virtues
- integrity of the actor is more important than the act itself
Golden mean
a moderate compromise between two extremes of excess and deficiency
IE: between:
- humility and vanity is modesty
How does our legal system ackowledge that intention matter
accidents are less harshly punished than premeditated harm
Where does virtue ethics work well?
where established community norms are present
- It does not work so well when norms are not accepted, or when it applies beyond the community
