ETHICS

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ETHICS

• DEFINED The study and philosophy of human
  conduct with emphasis on the determination of
  right and wrong.

Normative Ethics
Descriptive Ethics
Metaethics
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• Normative Ethics often called philosophical
  ethics search for norms, not in the sense of
  what is average, but in the sense of
  authoritative standards of what it ought to be.
• Descriptive Ethics empirically based, aims to
  discover and describe the moral beliefs of a
  specific culture.
• Metaethics the study of the discipline of
  ethics. It attempts to determine meanings of
  normative terms, e.g. right, wrong, good, bad,
  ought, etc.

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Normative Ethics Major Theories

• Consequentialist (Teleological)
• Maintains the morality of an action is
  determined by its consequences.
• Teleological theories interpret moral
  judgements as dependent on values and evaluation,
  hinging on value theory. Hedonism as a value
  theory says ONLY PLEASURE IS GOOD AS AN END.

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• Utilitarianism is hedonistic because it
  interprets happiness as a balance of pleasure
  over pain. John S. Mill
• Ideal (Social) Utilitarianism is nonhedonistic,
  maintaining that one ought to do that act of all
  acts available (under the circumstances) that
  would produce the most good. G.E. Moore

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• Self-Realization (Perfectionism) is also
  nonhedonistic, holding that the ultimate end is
  the full development or perfection of the self.
• Egoism is based on the idea that everyone always
  acts out of self-interest, i.e. an action is only
  right if its in the best interest of the person.
• Situationism claims that morality of an action
  depends on the situation, not on application of
  law to the case.

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Nonconsequentialist (Deontological)

• Deontological theories claim that the morality of
  an action depends on its intrinsic nature, on its
  motives, or on its being in accord with some rule
  or principle.
• Theological (divine command) theory maintains
  that its the will of god that determines
  rightness/wrongness an action. Is it in accord
  with the will of God? St. Augustine

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• Categorical Imperative For morally right action,
  one must be willing to have everyone act in the
  same way, i.e. qualify as a universal law.
  Immanuel Kant Additionally, ones actions can
  only have moral worth if ones motive for acting
  was to do what is right. (no accidental moral
  worth allowed)

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Metaethics

• Principle approaches in metaethics are
  Naturalism, Cognitivism, Intuitionism, and
  Subjectivism