PHILOSOPHY 102 (STOLZE) Notes on Dale Jamieson, Ethics and the Environment, chapter 4

Three Normative Ethical Theories Consequentialism Virtue Ethics Kantianism

Consequentialism Consequentialism is “the family of theories that holds that acts are morally right, wrong, or indifferent in virtue of their consequences . . . right acts are those that produce good consequences” (p. 77).

Four Variants of Consequentialism Hedonistic Act Utilitarianism Perfectionist Act Utilitarianism Hedonistic Act Minimalism Hedonistic Lifetime Utilitarianism

Three Objections to Consequentialism Demandingness Objection Special Relations Objection Rights and Justice Objection

Indirect Consequentialism Distinction between consequentialism as a theory of justification and as a theory of motivation Three Types of indirect consequentialism:: --Two-level --Rule --Motive

Virtue Ethics Virtues are at the center of morality; a virtue “is more than a device for producing action. Having a virtue involves not just the disposition to act in a particular way but also the ability to identify cases to which the virtue is applicable, having the appropriate emotions and attitudes, acting for the rights reasons and so on” (p. 86). A virtue ethicist always asks the question, “What would a virtuous agent (e.g., Socrates, Confucius, the Buddha, Jesus…) do in these circumstances?”

Some Objections to Virtue Ethics Having a virtue is not sufficient for an act to be right In some circumstances a virtuous agent may do what is wrong precisely because she or he is virtuous Different cultures and theorists have endorsed different catalogues of the virtues Not much help in actual decision making, especially in difficult cases Can’t easily resolve conflicts of virtues

Kantianism For Kant, ethics is about “how rational agents ought to relate to themselves and to each other. Rational agency , both in ourselves and in others, makes categorical demands on us that are felt in the form of imperatives. A categorical imperative applies to us unconditionally, without reference to any ends or purposes that we may have. Such imperatives apply to all rational agents whatever their desires, interests, projects, roles, or relationships” (p. 92).

Hypothetical Imperatives (1) If you intend to pass this course, then study hard. (2) If you want good beer, then buy a micro brew.

Two Formulations of the Categorical Imperative The Formula of Universal Law The Formula of Humanity

Objections to Kantianism Animals can be treated as mere means because they are mere things Only directly concerned with rational agents

Christine Korsgaard’s Defense of Kantian Ethics Rational agency is the source of value. But we are also rationally required to legislate protection for animals and nature for two reasons: (1) we are not only rational agents but also animals and so have an animal nature; (2) since we value the goods that flow from our animal nature, we are committed to valuing these goods when they are found in other creatures, too (p. 99).