Ethics and Justice ch. 2
Describe utilitarianism. What is considered good under utilitarianism?
v Teleological systems- outcomes v Jeremy Bentham · Human nature seeks to maximize pleasure and avoid pain • Act to produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people answer to second question -------• When deciding between good for an individual and good for society, society should prevail. -religion and utilitarianism-most ethical system that people go to
Example of analyzing
All ethical systems struggle with objectivity and subjectivity along with respect fo thte individual and concern for society A critical thinking example: CO working late shift, party to an assualt an innamte to teach a leson, and do you need to inmate report the accident but if you do will be oscrtized. 1. Identify the facts a. - why do they go there in the first place? How did inmate get in prison? What happened inside the cell? Is he a bad inmate or got an attack? Male or female? 2. Identifty the relavant values a. - loyalty to the other officers, loyalty to the prisioners, self preservation 3. Idenfity all moral dilemmas a. - doesn't know the who situation- what was the issue to go into cell?, whether or not he should tell on the other officers? 4. Decide what is the immediate ethical dilemma a. Whether or not he should report it and if he should decide or should he tell or not, and doesn't have all the facts, ethical formalism- he would report it if his duty is to protect the inmates, or loyalty to other officers then he wouldn't report it. 5. Resolve the dilemma
Discuss the differences between deontological and teleological ethical systems. Give examples of each.
Deontological ethical systems • Concerned with the inherent nature of the act being judged ○ An act that is inherently good, is still a good act even f it results in bad consequences ○ Judges actions on based on one's duty Teological ethical system • Concerned solely with the consequences of the act being judged ○ A bad act that has good outcome can be defined as god Ex: Lying is bad, but say a victim is running from a thief. The thief asks a passerby "where did she go?" Deontological: would lie and point the opposite direction and teleological would tell the thief where the victim went. " The end justifies the means. Side note: Consider the case of Awater v. City of Lago Vista (2001) -under deontological ethics- officer Tuerk's actions were- Was it ethical or unethical to arrest her??? - Note: Under deontological ethics -police are not supposed to teach lesson -they have a duty to protect the children -both are right-it can be seen unethical and ethical. Now how about under teontological ethics -ended up facing a lawsuit -safety involved from kids and mother from hurting himself -it would be consider ethical, BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING TO THE CONSEQUENCES -saved the kids, psychologically experienced some tramua- consequences only at that would be unethical -The supreme court tends to take a deontological approach when deciding cases. ****- supreme court cannot agree on judgement
Discuss how to determine what is considered good under natural law ethics.
That which is natural, is good.
Define what an ethical system is.
• A structured set of principles that defines what is moral • Characteristics ○ Source of moral belief ○ What we base judgments on ○ Beyond judgment • "What makes the action right or wrong in this system?"-ultimate question of what this system is right or wrong of immoral and moral study ethical pyramid- in notes from top to bottom - Moral judgment - A women who goes out drinking leaving her children at home is bad Moral rules - people should not drink to excess children should come before self. Women should take care of their children one should do one's duty Ethical system - formalism, utilitarianism, religion, ethics of care, etc.
Discuss Aristotle's beliefs about human nature.
• Aristotle (oldest ethical systems) ○ By nature humans are neither good nor bad, but become so through learning habits ○ People choose to behave the ways that are not virtuous ○ To be good , one must do good -Note: people possess certain virtues -geneorisity,etc. -**Person based ethical system***
Describe egoism.
• Defines the pursuit of self-interest as moral good • Psychological egoism ○ Humans are naturally egoist • Enlightened egoism ○ Objective is long-term wealth • Puts the individual first, before anyone else, and before society. EPE- acyronom Issues: ○ All people acting in their own self-interest would lead to conflict ○ Strong would exploit the weak ○ Everyone would be fighting if everyone wanted to sit in the front or vice versa. It wouldn't benefit anyone!!
Describe ethical formalism.
• Deontological ethical system • Immanuel Kant ○ Individuals have an innate motivation to do what is right • Moral worth comes from using free will to do one's duty ○ Moral duty is determined by the categorical imperative - Imperative-command (stop kicking) -Categorical- applies unconditionally (what people do must do all the time) Focuses on duty, only thing through good is good to the categorical imperative (meaning applies to everyone unconditionally) -the categorical imperative: do good for everyone as you would want for everyone except humans -third: absoulutis- what is good is always good and bad always bad (e.g. murder and lying) problem: problem to answer in exterme circumstances and two limited to one's duty. Issues - Unresponsive to extreme circumstances - Morality is limited to duty (don't tell if the robber is going because it is limited to ur duty) - Places motive and intent over outcomes (outcomes are important, two people drive home drunk- one person drives home safe, other person hits a person while drunk, under ethical formalism they are both at fault for driving drunk) Consider the case of Awater v City of Lago vista -Was officer tuerk's decision ethical under ethical formalism? · His actions were immoral-under ethical formalism · Slide again after utilitarism: was it ethical- yes because it produce a greater good by saving the children and Mom and predict would have been hurt in the future. And she would have them buckle up too
Differentiate between relativism, absolutism, and universalism.
• Ethical relativism ○ What is good to bad changes depending on the individual or group ○ No moral absolutes ○ Ethics can be seen as religion, ethics of care, and utilitarianism • Absolutism ○ If something is wrong it is always wrong ○ Natural law, religion(could be argued), ethical formalism • Universalism ○ If one wants to perform an act, everyone else should be able to do it as well. ○ Basically the same thing, could be ethical formalism as well
Describe situational ethics.
• Philosophical position that although there are some universal truths, different situations call for different responses ○ Some actions can be right or wrong depending on situational factors • What are the universal truths? ○ No set list ○ Golden rule- do unto others as you would have them do unto you (don't confuse them on the exam)-study question help on names to know
Discuss the principle of the golden mean.
• Principle of the Golden mean- a virtue is the median between two extreme characteristics (being too humble or too boastful) -understand the principle of golden mean is different golden rule(do unto others and you would do unto you) -virtues are the middle point-in his golden mean know difference between this term -Golden rule- do unto others as you would have them do unto you
Discuss the principles of Kant's categorical imperative.
• Principles of Kant's categorical imperative of morality 1. Act as if what you are doing was a universal law - ( what u consider immoral, can't make exception for urself, don't want anyone else to do) - Example: if you didn't study and cheat on an exam, if u think that is ok for doctors to cheat on exam when didn't study then it would be moral, but if u said it is immoral then it wouldn't be universal law. 2. Treat humanity as an end, not a means donating to a charity for the good of humanity and not to benefit urself at all - Treat people as a means, like having someone who is a friend but cheating on it as a friend 3. Act as if you were a lawmaking member of a kingdom of ends -if you think cheating is wrong, it is always wrong • Absolutist System
summary of all systems
• Virtue ethics-that which is virtuous • Natural law- that which is natural • Religion- that which conforms to God's will • Ethical formalism-that which follows the categorical imperative ○ (people are trying to be good but what r people moral duty is, we follow the categorical imperative, for something to be moral, that everyone else would do it- under the categorical imperative to not lie) • Utilitarianism-produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people, greatest good, least pain for everyone • Ethics of care-meets the needs of others and preserves relationships • Egoism-acts that preserve self-interest are good What are the "natural" inclination of human beings? -Neither people because they choose good or bad.
