Ethical Theory
A Crash Course Today
Clarify some relationships between terms
Morality and ethical theory
Morality and ethics
Morality and law Two (of Five) Ethical Theories
Relativism
Egoism 5 Ethical Theories
Relativism
Egoism
Utilitarianism (J.S. Mill)
Kantianism (I. Kant)
Virtue Ethics (Aristotle) 3 Approaches to Morality/Ethical Theory
Descriptive
Conceptual
Prescriptive (Normative) Clarify Relationship between Terms
Morality
Ethical Theory
Ethics
Law Problems with “Definitions”
No ultimate authority for definitions of philosophical terms like “ethics”
Philosophical definitions often differ from common usage of terms
Words like “ethics” have histories, not definitions B & B on “Morality”
“Morality is concerned with social practices defining right and wrong.” (1)
Transmitted generation to generation
Cannot be a purely personal policy B & B on Morality and Ethical Theory (“Ethics”)
“Morality…consists of what persons ought to do in order to conform to society’s norms of behavior, whereas ethical theory concerns the philosophical reasons for and against aspects of the morality stipulated by society.” (2) B & B on Ethical Theory
“[Ethical theory] centers on justification: Philosophers seek to justify a system of standards or some moral point of view on the basis of carefully analyzed and defended concepts and principles….”(2) Morality and Ethics
For most purposes, they’re interchangeable terms.
Recommend: Figure out what the writer/speaker means by these terms and whether anything turns on their definitions. Handy Definitions for Reading Kant, Mill, Aristotle
“Ethics is the pursuit of the good life.”
“Morality is that part of ethics that involves universal principles of right and wrong, good and bad.”
Morality vs. Ethics
Morality (Kant) Ethics (Aristotle)
Universal statements of Closer to prudence/ right/wrong, good/bad pragmatism
Rule-oriented, i.e., what What works
not to do Consequences of actions
Motives of actions Character
Treatment of others Authority
Authority Excellent people
Religion Experienced judges
Reason B & B on Morality and Law
“If something is legal, it is not necessarily moral; if something is illegal, it is not necessarily immoral. To discharge one’s legal responsibilities is not necessarily to discharge one’s moral responsibilities.”(5) Business Ethics and Compliance
Due to legal and PR pressures, “ethics” in the business world has come to mean compliance to legal and professional standards.
“Ethics” = CYA
Who do businesses call with “ethics” questions?
“Ethics” scandals in the media
NY Times article, etc. Today: 2 Ethical Theories
Relativism
Egoism Relativism
Cultural Relativism
Ethical Relativism (aka Normative Ethical Relativism) Relativism
“Each culture should have the right to determine its own moral standards.” Relativism
Fear of Cultural Imperialism vs. Denying the possibility of universal ethical principles/standards Relativism
Relativism of judgments vs. Relativism of standards Relativism
Tolerance vs. Universal Human Rights Relativism and Subjectivism
“I have my own morality.” Relativism and Subjectivism
Entitlement to hold an opinion vs. Entitlement to be right Relativism and Subjectivism
“I believe capital punishment is wrong.”
“Capital punishment is wrong.” Relativism and Subjectivism
“I have my own morality.”
vs.
“I often find myself in moral disagreement with others.” Egoism
Plato’s “Ring of Gyges” (aka “My Precious”) Egoism
“Let’s suppose…that there were two such rings, one worn by a just and the other by an unjust person….[The just person’s] actions would be in no way different from those of an unjust person….” Egoism
Psychological
Ethical Psychological Egoism
“Psychological egoism is the view that everyone is always motivated to act in his or her perceived self-interest.”(12) Psychological Egoism
If true, i.e., if altruism is impossible, then normative ethical theory is futile.
Is there such a thing as altruism?
What, if anything, is wrong with psychological egoism? Psychological Egoism (James Rachels)
The object wanted determines whether it’s self-interested, not the wanting of it.
E.g., helping an old lady cross the street Psychological Egoism (James Rachels)
Makes unwarranted assumption: Every action is either motivated by self- interest or other-regarding motives. (And there is no such thing as a purely other- regarding motive.)
False dichotomy
E.g., smoking Psychological Egoism (James Rachels)
Another unwarranted assumption:
Concern for one’s own welfare is incompatible with a genuine concern for the welfare of others. Ethical Egoism
“[T]he only valid standard of conduct is the obligation to promote one’s well- being above everyone else’s.”(14)
“[O]ne should consider the interests of others only when it suits one’s own interests.”(14) Ethical Egoism
“solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”
Powerful government Ethical Egoism
Adam Smith
Leads to largest number of benefits for the largest number of persons
Free market
Invisible hand
Minimal government—rules of the game Ethical Egoism
What, if anything, is wrong with “enlightened self-interest”?