Theories of Ethics

Divine Command Theory

• Here resolution of dilemma is
• Concept of Natural Law
based on religious beliefs
parallel to Divine Command
• Decisions are based on guidance
theory e.g. the Declaration
from a divine being
of Independence in U.S.
• This theory has influenced the
based on natural law
law e.g. in some countries,
namely, that we have rights
adultery is not just unethical but
because they are given to
also illegal and punishable by
us by our Creator.
death as per religious tenets
 Ethical Egoism Theory
• Based on tenet that we all act in our
• Adam Smith said that humans
self interest
realize that fraud is in no
• Ms Ayan Rand said that we should
not feel guilty about our choices in one’s self interest
ethical dilemmas as it is all self • According to him, in business
interest
community word spreads
• Based on Thomas Hobbes’ theory
about people who lie, and are
that ethical egoism was central
factor in human decisions shunned from doing business
• Hobbes however cautioned that • So force of long term self
govt. should control the drive of self interest keeps businesses
interest
running ethically,
 Utilitarian Theory

• Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart

• E.g. providing health care
Mill spoke opposite of ethical
egoism
even as costs escalate,

• Said we should minimize the and outsource

harms that result from a decision
manufacturing of clothing
and maximize the benefits
to developing countries
• Mills’ “greatest happiness
principle” –resolve dilemmas by
bringing greatest good to
greatest number of people
Categorical Imperative of Immanuel Kant
• Kant a respecter of persons • E.g. unethical to have
• Does not allow use of human
worker in developing
beings for obtaining benefits
nations work in garment
for others
sweatshops for pennies
• “One ought only to act such
that the principle of one’s act per hour.
could become a universal law • But in that country, fair
of human action in a world in
wages might be just that
which one would hope to live”.
much
 Social Contract Theory
• John Locke & John Rawls said • They argued that to resolve a
rules should be put in place via dilemma choose the most
a contract
equitable and fairest
• E.g. rules like “don’t take my
resolution of the dilemma
property without my
• Also called the Justice Theory
permission”
• It implies that we have no
• Theory is grounded in natural
duties to beings who are not
law and utilitarianism
able to participate in the

contract. Examples: animals

 Rights Theory
• Also called entitlement • Nozick thus takes on
theory different issues but not
• Robert Nozick said that always resulting in
everyone has a set of
resolution because govts.
rights & that the govt.
are put in place by
must protect those rights
egoists, Kantians, and
• The rights include slavery,
divine commandment
abortion, animal rights, etc
followers
 Moral Relativism
• Moral relativists believe in time • Theory does not believe
and place ethics
in absolute rules, virtue
• Arson not always wrong especially
if you live in a locality where drug
ethics, or even social
dealers operate or if you as a contract.
parent steal a loaf of bread for
• Centres on the pressure
your starving child
of the moment and
• Resolution of dilemma is based
upon weighing competing factors whether the pressure
of that moment & then taking the justifies the action taken
lesser of the evil as a resolution