Ethics : an overview by William Scarff, UWBS Key concepts in ethics

Teleology Stipulates that acts are morally right or acceptable if they produce some desired result such as realization of self interest or utility Key concepts in ethics

Egoism Defines right or acceptable actions as those that maximize a particular person’s self interest as defined by the individual Key concepts in ethics

Utilitarianism Defines right or acceptable actions as those that maximize total utility, or the greatest good for the greatest number of people Key concepts in ethics

Deontology Focuses on the preservation of individual rights and on the intentions associated with a particular behaviour rather than on its consequences Key concepts in ethics

Kant’s 3 categorical imperatives Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. Act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another always as an end and never as a means only. Act only so that the will through its maxims could regard itself at the same time as universally lawgiving Key concepts in ethics

Question Maxim 1 – consistency Maxim 2 – human dignity Maxim 2 - universality But in an allegedly post modern world can universality, or indeed ethics in general, provide transferable frameworks?? Key concepts in ethics

Relativist Evaluates ethics subjectively on the basis of individual and group experiences Key concepts in ethics

Virtue ethics Assumes that what is moral in a given situation is only what conventional morality requires, but also what the mature person with a ‘good‘ moral character would deem appropriate Key concepts in ethics

OR MORE SIMPLY Deontology: we follow rules, no matter what the personal costs might be Teleology: we suit ourselves, disregarding any laws/rules/regulations which might restrain our behaviour Key concepts in ethics

The vexed question of social responsibility ‘The purposes for which companies should act and the limits of their freedom to act’ or ‘social responsibility arises from social power’ Key concepts in ethics

Against ethics. Nietzsche’s challenge. Weakness is supported by ethics. Strong people do not need ethics and morality. Emphatically he felt that religion should not provide bases for morality. Key concepts in ethics