Ethical Theories

Chris Jezrel B. Barleta

Part-time Instructor, LSPU-SPCC
Three Philosophical Approaches
Or Three Ethical Theories:

01 02 03

Deontological
Utilitarianism Virtue Ethics
Ethics
Intended Learning Outcomes
1. differentiate the difference between Deontological and
Utilitarianism as a basis of morality;

2. explain how morality is determined using the utilitarian and

deontological theory;

3. identify the limitations and grounding problems of the

utilitarian and deontological theory; and

4. explain Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics

Targets/ Objectives
1. differentiate hypothetical imperative and categorical imperative;
2. explain how morality is determined using the deontological
theory;
3. explain the utilitarian approach to moral reasoning;
4. differentiate act utilitarianism from rule utilitarianism;
5. explain the limitations of utilitarianism;
6. explain Aristotle’s virtue ethics;
7. explain how virtue ethics is different from the other approaches to
ethics; and
8. explain Aristotle’s Theory of the Golden Mean.
Utilitarianism
‘the greatest good for
the greatest number’
ethical decisions are made on
the basis of the consequences
of the action.
• Consequentialism
• advocates actions that foster
happiness or pleasure and
opposes actions that cause
unhappiness or harm.

• aim for the betterment of society as

a whole.

• action is right if it results in the

happiness of the greatest number
of people in a society or a group.
 Generally
1. Pleasure or happiness, is the Accepted
only thing that has intrinsic
value. Axioms of
2. Actions are right if they promote
Utilitarianism
happiness, and wrong if they
promote unhappiness.

3. Everyone's happiness counts

equally.
Greatest Happiness Principle
• Nature has placed mankind
under the governance of two
sovereign masters, pain and
pleasure. It is for them alone to
point out what we ought to do,
as well as to determine what we
shall do.
Utilitarianism
• "The creed which accepts as the
foundation of morals utility, or the
greatest happiness principle, holds that
actions are right in proportion as they
tend to promote happiness, wrong as
they tend to produce the reverse of
happiness. By happiness is intended
pleasure, and the absence of pain; by
unhappiness, pain, and the privation of
pleasure."
 KEYPOINTS

• Utilitarianism is a theory of
morality, which advocates
actions that foster happiness
and opposes actions that cause
unhappiness.

• Utilitarianism promotes "the

greatest amount of good for
the greatest number of
people."
 KEYPOINTS

• When used in a sociopolitical

construct, utilitarian ethics aims
for the betterment of society as
a whole.

• Utilitarianism is a reason-based
approach to determining right
and wrong, but it has
limitations.
Types of Utilitarianism

Act Utilitarianism (classical utilitarianism)

• in any given situation, you should choose the
action that produces the greatest good for the
greatest number.
Types of Utilitarianism

Rule utilitarianism
• allows us to refrain from acts that might maximize
utility in the short run, and instead follow rules that
will maximize utility for the majority of the
time.
The Limitations of Utilitarianism
• tends to create a black-and-white construct of
morality. In utilitarian ethics, there are no shades
of gray—either something is wrong or it is right.

• cannot predict with certainty whether the

consequences of our actions will be good or bad—
the results of our actions happen in the future.
The Limitations of Utilitarianism
• has trouble accounting for values like justice and individual
rights.

Example
• a hospital has four people whose lives depend upon
receiving organ transplants: a heart, lungs, a kidney, and a
liver. If a healthy person wanders into the hospital, his organs
could be harvested to save four lives at the expense of his
one life. This would arguably produce the greatest good for
the greatest number. But few would consider it an acceptable
course of action, let alone an ethical one.
Deontological
Ethics
Immanuel Kant
• believed that certain
types of actions were
absolutely prohibited
Deontological Ethics

1. Can I rationally will that everyone acts as I

propose to act?

2. Does my action respect the goals of human

beings rather than merely using them for my own
purposes?
Deontological Moral
Theory
• the rightness or
wrongness of actions
does not depend on
their consequences
but on whether they
fulfill our duty.
Deontological Ethics
There was a supreme principle of morality
• The Categorical Imperative

Hypothetical Imperatives
• command conditionally on your having a relevant desire.

Categorical Imperatives
• command unconditionally

Morality must be based on the categorical imperative

Deontological Ethics
Hypothetical Imperatives
• “If you need money, work for it.”
• obey only if we desire the outcomes specified.

Categorical Imperatives
• “Do not commit suicide.”
• universal and unconditional, containing no stipulations
contingent on human desires or preferences.
Deontological Ethics

How does the categorical imperative work?

First formulation (The Formula of Universal Law):

• "Act only on that maxim through which you can at
the same time will that it should become a
universal law [of nature]."
Deontological Ethics
Maxim
• the rule or principle on which you act

Basic idea
• you are not allowed to do anything yourself that you would
not be willing to allow everyone else to do as well.

More detail
• every maxim you act on must be such that you are willing to
make it the case that everyone always act on that maxim
when in a similar situation.
Deontological Ethics

How does the categorical imperative work?

Second Formulation (The Formula of Humanity)

• “Act so that you treat humanity, whether in your
own person or in that of another, always as an
end, and never as a mere means”.
Deontological Ethics
Mere Means
• to use things only on your own benefit

Basic idea
• never use anyone to get something else

More detail
• dignity principle:
• treat others with respect and as holding value in themselves.

You will act ethically as long as you never accept the temptation
to treat others as a way to get something else.
Deontological Ethics
• human beings should be treated with dignity and
respect because they have rights.

• people have a duty to respect other people’s rights

and treat them accordingly.

• there are objective obligations, or duties, that are

required of all people.
Virtue Ethics
Virtue Ethics
• emphasize the role of character and virtue in
moral philosophy rather than either doing one’s
duty or acting in order to bring about good
consequences.

• “Act as a virtuous person would act in your

situation.”
Virtue Ethics
• there are certain ideals (excellence or dedication to the
common good) toward which we should strive
• allow the full development of our humanity.

• "Virtues" are attitudes, dispositions, or character traits

that enable us to be and to act in ways that develop
this potential.
• Honesty, courage, compassion, generosity, fidelity,
integrity, fairness, self-control, and prudence.
How does a person develop virtues?
• through learning and through
practice

• a person can improve his or her

character by practicing self-
discipline, while a good character
can be corrupted by repeated
self-indulgence (Aristotle).
Virtue Ethics
Virtues are habits.
• once they are acquired, they become characteristic of a
person.

For example:
• generosity (a generous person tends to be generous in all
circumstances)
• a person who has developed virtues will be naturally
disposed to act in ways that are consistent with moral
principles.

The virtuous person is the ethical person.

Virtue Ethics
a virtuous person has ideal character traits (Aristotle)
• derived from natural internal tendencies, but need to be
nurtured

Example:
• a virtuous person is someone who is kind across many
situations over a lifetime because that is her character

Do not aim primarily to identify universal principles that can

be applied in any moral situation.
• deal with wider questions—“How should I live?” and “What
is the good life?” and “What are proper family and social
values?”
Virtue Ethics

Virtue is a set of robust character traits that, once

developed, will lead to predictably good behavior.
• the midpoint between two extremes (vices)
• the just the right amount, the sweet spot between the
extreme of excess and the extreme of deficiency.
• known as the Golden Mean
Virtue Ethics
Virtue Ethics
Eudaimonia
• an Aristotelian term loosely (and inadequately) translated as
happiness
• actions are not pointless because they have an aim. Every action
aims at some good.

• some things are done for their own sake (ends in themselves)
• some things are done for the sake of other things (means to other
ends).
• all the things that are ends in themselves also contribute to a wider
end, an end that is the greatest good of all (eudaimonia)
• Eudaimonia is happiness, contentment, and fulfillment;
• the best kind of life (an end in itself).
Virtue Ethics

where a thing has a function the good of the thing is when it

performs its function well.
• the good man is the man who performs his function well
• the function of man is reason and the life that is
distinctive of humans is the life in accordance with
reason.
• the good man is the man who reasons well
• life of excellence or of eudaimonia

Eudaimonia is the life of virtue—activity in accordance with

reason, man’s highest function.
Virtue Ethics

The importance of this point of eudaimonistic virtue ethics

is that it reverses the relationship between virtue and
rightness.

In eudaimonist virtue ethics the virtues are justified

because they are constitutive elements of eudaimonia
(human flourishing and wellbeing), which is good in
itself.
Thank You for Listening!

Chris Jezrel B. Barleta

Part-time Instructor, LSPU-SPCC
chris.barleta@lspu.edu.ph