Normative Ethical Theory

Jim OkapalAsst. Professor of Philosophy

Missouri Western State University

Moral Theories

Morality is concerned with social practices defining right and wrong; it consists of what persons ought to do in order to conform to society’s norms

Ethical Theory concerns the philosophical reasons for and against aspects of the morality

Normative Ethical Theories

Substantive proposals concerning how to act, how to live, or what kind of person to be that are usually expressed in principles or rules that are meant to guide our action, life, or character development

Consequentialism

The moral worth of an action is determined by its consequences

(consequences could be objective states of affairs such as gross national product; they could be internal states of affairs like feelings of pleasure or happiness)

Consequentialism

General Principle of Action

Perform that act which will promote the good for X

(Each underlined term must be defined)

Consequentialism

Perform that act which will promote the good for X

Maximizing View: you maximize the amount of the type of good identified by the theory

Perform that act which will maximize the good for X

Consequentialism

Perform that act which will promote the good for X

Hedonism: good = pleasure Eudaimonism: good = happiness Preference Satisfaction: good= utility Ideal Goods: good equals a list of things like

pleasure, health, beauty, justice, truth, etc

Perform that act which will maximize pleasure for x

Consequentialism

Perform that act which will promote the good for X Egoism: x = only me

Utilitarianism: x = the greatest number of people (including me)

Altruism: x = the greatest number of people excluding me

Perform that act which will maximize pleasure for the greatest number of people

This is the principle of action for hedonistic utilitarianism

Consequentialism

What is the principle of action for..– A Eudimonistic egoist?

– An ideal goods altruist who believes justice and integrity are the only intrinsically valuable things?

Deontology

The moral worth of an action is dependent upon whether the action is derived from an

intrinsically right characteristic

Different theories have different tests to determine intrinsically right characteristics

Deontology

KantianismMoral worth of an action depends on the will of the person performing the action, i.e., what is the reason

that one is performing the action?

Universal: Act only on that maxim that you can will to be a universal law

Respect: Act such that you treat others as an end and not merely as a means

Maxim: a subjective principle of volition (a principle upon which you act).

Deontology

Rights-Based Ethicsthe moral worth of an action is dependent upon its

relationship to a set of natural rights based in the facts of humanity and the world in which it inhabits

Perform that act which will protect the rights of those individuals affected by the action

Sample rights: life, liberty, property, happiness, speech, etc.

Deontology

Contractarianismthe moral worth of an action is dependent upon the construction of a hypothetical bargaining situation and

the resulting decision of worth

Perform that action that hypothetical agents would mutually agree to for the benefit of the worst off

Perform that action that hypothetical agents would mutually agree to for mutual benefit

Deontology

Common Morality Theoriesmoral worth of an action is determined by the set of

norms that make communal life not only possible, but helps it flourish

Perform that action that prescribed by the moral rules

(No unified theoretical basis for the norms)

Virtue Ethics

moral worth is fundamentally about the development of a character that has virtuous

characteristics

Perform that action which will develop virtuous characteristics

Perform that action which the virtuous person would perform

Virtue Ethics

Virtue: a disposition to act (where having a mental state can possibly be considered an action) from an innate capacity properly trained and exercised

Substantive virtues: those necessarily connected with the good; e.g. justice, compassion, truthfulness

Executive virtues: those character traits not necessarily connected with the good; e.g., diligence, perseverance competitiveness, toughness

Feminist Ethics

Ethics of Caremoral worth is fundamentally about the features

of personal relationships

perform that action which will strengthen the bonds of personal relationships

sympathy, compassion, fidelity, love, friendship, etc., should be developed in the character of individuals.