Ethical Arguments

1
Ethical Arguments

• The role of purpose is more complex.
• Often arise when different systems of belief come
  into conflict.
• The problem of warrants
• lack of common assumptions or a shared basis for
  argumentation

2
Major Ethical Systems

• Naïve egoism what is best for me is best for
  everyone. Rationalizes self-promotion and
  pleasure seeking (W.A. 349)
• Problems
• limited in scope and precision
• based largely on intuition

3
Utilitarianism

• Evaluate acts according to their ethical
  CONSEQUENCES strive to achieve the greatest
  good for the greatest number
• Jeremy Bentham the most pleasure for the least
  pain (W.A., 350)
• John Stuart Mill use predicted consequences to
  determine the morality of an action (W.A., 350)

4
Kantian Ethics

• Evaluate acts according to their ethical
  PRINCIPLES an individual is required to uphold
  his/her moral tenets or beliefs, no matter what
• Immanuel Kant
• categorical imperative act as you would have
  others act

5
Compromise Positions

• Assess long-range consequences rather than
  applying evaluations on a case-by-case basis
• Distinguish between absolute obligations (must
  always follow a given principle) and prima
  facie obligations (must follow a principle,
  under normal circumstances, all else being equal)