Dr. Michael Bennetts Ethics slides package And online information Philosophy consists of 4 branches:
1. Ethics 2. Logic 3. Epistemology 4. Metaphysics Religious Logical (philosophical) Professional Legal
UOIT Ethics, Law and 2-
Professionalism Unit 2 Version 10 3 There are four fundamental ethical principles and five major ethical theories:
The four fundamental ethical principles are:
1. respect for autonomy (freedom), 2. beneficence (good), 3. justice (fair) and 4. Non-malfeasance (do no harm).
The five major ethical theories are
virtue, deontology, utilitarianism, rights , etc. Aristotles Virtue Ethics Goodness of act depends on function/goal Golden Mean and Golden Rule Mills Utilitarianism Greatest good for greatest number Kants Formalism and Duty/Deontology Categorical imperative to behave well Lockes Rights Rights because you are alive and human
UOIT Ethics, Law and 2-
Professionalism Unit 2 Version 10 5 Mills A statement is correct if it produces the Conflicts arise amongst utilitarianism- greatest benefit for the greatest number benefits. Your benefit has based of people. Must consider duration, to be balanced against intensity, equal distribution someones loss Kants Duty- Duty is to do what would be acceptable Conflicts arise if principle based for everyone to follow may cause harm. Telling a white lie because it might hurt Lockes Everyone is free-and-equal. All have Can be hard to tell if ones Right-based rights to life, health, liberty, and person rights infringe on possessions of her labour anothers
Aristotle Happiness comes from developing Definition of virtue is hard
Virtue-based virtues and qualities of character, thru and may be culturally deduction and reason. An act is good if dependent. Golden mean it comes from reason can be good
UOIT Ethics, Law and 2-
Professionalism Unit 2 Version 10 6 The goodness of an act, object or person depends on the function or goal concerned Humans need to achieve true happiness by developing the virtues of thought, reason, deduction and logic Virtues need to achieve the Golden Middle between excess and deficiency Example: Modesty is the golden middle between the excess of vanity and the excess of humility
UOIT Ethics, Law and 2-
Professionalism Unit 2 Version 10 7 Hard to define virtue What actually IS the middle? Virtues vs. Vices
UOIT Ethics, Law and 2-
Professionalism Unit 2 Version 10 8 Main Points of Aristotle's Ethical Philosophy 1. The highest good and the end toward which all human activity is directed is happiness, which can be defined as continuous contemplation of eternal and universal truth. 2. One attains happiness by a virtuous life and the development of reason and the faculty of theoretical wisdom. For this one requires sufficient external goods to ensure health, leisure, and the opportunity for virtuous action. 3. Moral virtue is a relative mean between extremes of excess and deficiency, and in general the moral life is one of moderation in all things except virtue. No human appetite or desire is bad if it is controlled by reason according to a moral principle. Moral virtue is acquired by a combination of knowledge, habituation, and self- discipline. 4. Virtuous acts require conscious choice and moral purpose or motivation. Man has personal moral responsibility for his actions. 5. Moral virtue cannot be achieved abstractly it requires moral action in a social environment. Ethics and politics are closely related, for politics is the science of creating a society in which men can live the good life and develop their full potential. The term deontology comes from the Greek word deon, meaning duty. The theory of deontology states we are morally obligated to act in accordance with a certain set of principles and rules regardless of outcome. In religious deontology, the principles derive from divine commandment so that under religious laws, we are morally obligated not to steal, lie, or cheat. In Kants deontological theory the rules (or maxims) derive from human reason. Every human has a duty to act in a correct and ethical manner Categorical Imperative The intention is more important than result No white lies! If you do your duty, all will be well
UOIT Ethics, Law and 2-
Professionalism Unit 2 Version 10 11 There are three formulations: The First Formulation of the Imperative Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law without contradiction. The first formulation of the categorical imperative appears similar to the Golden Rule: Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself. The Second Formulation of the Imperative Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never merely as a means to an end but always at the same time as an end. The Third Formulation of the Imperative Therefore, every rational being must so act as if he were through his maxim always a legislating member in the universal kingdom of ends. The formula of humanity: Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means. For example, if I steal a book from a friend, I am treating him as a means only (to obtain a book). If I ask to have his book, I am respecting his right to say no and am thereby treating him as an end in himself, not as a means to an end. If I only ask for the book in order to appear nice and hope that my friend is likely to do more things for me in the future, then I am still treating him as a means only Be honest Be fair Do not hurt others Do no harm Do not lie Never steal Keep your promises Obey the law
UOIT Ethics, Law and 2-
Professionalism Unit 2 Version 10 15 Life is never black and white but gray Does not consider the outcome of the action
UOIT Ethics, Law and 2-
Professionalism Unit 2 Version 10 16 Hume, Bentham, Mills = utilitarianism. The axioms of the moral theory that seeks to maximize happiness :
1. Pleasure or Happiness Is the Only Thing That Truly
Has Intrinsic Value 2. Actions Are Right Insofar as They Promote Happiness, Wrong Insofar as They Produce Unhappiness 3. Everyone's Happiness Counts Equally Always do what produces the most good for the most people Similar to Cost-Benefit analysis (or Pros vs. Cons also called Benjamin Franklin balance sheet) ( add up the goodies and subtract the baddies) Not so easy to do
UOIT Ethics, Law and 2-
Professionalism Unit 2 Version 10 18 Used by democracies all the time Problem is quantifying maximum benefit Mills suggested 3 factors should be considered 1 Number of people affected 2 Intensity of pleasure (pain) 3 Duration of pleasure (pain) Often please one group at the expense of another (smoking vs. non-smoking)
UOIT Ethics, Law and 2-
Professionalism Unit 2 Version 10 19 For years, the best-selling compact in North America Test showed that the windshield would pop out in collisions. So engineers moved the drive train back so that the differential was close to the gas tank Many exploded on rear-end collisions
UOIT Ethics, Law and 2-
Professionalism Unit 2 Version 10 20 $11 part would greatly reduce the likelihood of injuries ands death BUT Would drive the cost over $2,000 (perceived price- point) Would have to recall 12,5 million cars for a total cost of $137 million But a death was worth $200,000 and an injury $67,000 Assumed 180 burn deaths (not a nice way to go!) and 180 serious injuries for a total cost of $49.5M CBA says dont put the part in! This is NOT Mills theory
UOIT Ethics, Law and 2-
Professionalism Unit 2 Version 10 21 Every individual has rights because they exist The right to life and the right to the maximum possible individual liberty is key American Declaration of Independence Canadian Bill of Rights
UOIT Ethics, Law and 2-
Professionalism Unit 2 Version 10 22 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - -That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
UOIT Ethics, Law and 2-
Professionalism Unit 2 Version 10 23 Fundamental freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief, opinion, expression, peaceful assembly and association Democratic rights to vote Legal rights to life, liberty and the security of the person and the rights not to be deprived of these rights (unless you are deemed a terrorist!) Equality rights before and under the law and the right to equal benefit and protection of the law Mobility rights to enter, remain in and leave Canada