Introduction to Ethical Reasoning Chapter 19 Introduction to Ethical Reasoning

Normative Ethics and the Varieties of Value Ethics is an important branch of philosophy because it directs our attention: Not only to human morality but to values in general While one thing may be good for the sake of some particular end: That end may be a means to a further end © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Normative Ethics and the Varieties of Value Does the means/end chain go on forever, or does it come to rest, and if so where? The kind of approach to ethics which emphasizes the purposeful sense of good: Usually leads to the conclusion that good is: Ultimately or finally human happiness or well-being © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Normative Ethics and the Varieties of Value There have been two primary accounts of the nature of this happiness: Eudaemonism and hedonism Eudaemonism, happiness is equated with human flourishing: The general fulfillment of a human being’s significant capacities © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Normative Ethics and the Varieties of Value According to hedonism, ultimate human good is pleasure and happiness is thus: Equated with the maximization of pleasure Anything is good, according to this theory, if it contributes to human pleasure © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Human and Functional Goodness Assuming that we can justify this treatment of the natural world simply as an: Object of human use, what can we say about: The goodness and badness of people based on this analogy? Human purpose on this view would be to fulfill human nature or potential © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Human and Functional Goodness Applying the functional analysis of manufactured goods to the analysis of: Human goodness does lead to the ethical position of eudaemonism mentioned earlier A good life, according to this view: Is one which taps to the fullest the inherent capacities of each person © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Deontological Views Many philosophers believe that there is something unsatisfactory about looking at: Human goodness in the same way we look at toothpick goodness This point can be brought out most forcefully by considering the ambiguity in: The word good when applied to human beings © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Deontological Views Would it be wrong to deceive another person even if that person never found out While at the same time, it helped you in some way? Ethics of duty Immanuel Kant © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Deontological Views What will I get out of it? Something is good if it is good for me The most important difference between the ethics of duty and utilitarianism: Concerns our treatment of people © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.