1 Consequentialism vs. Deontology Consequentialism: –the view that an act is right if and only if it will maximize (or is likely to maximize) good consequences.

Slides:



Advertisements
Similar presentations
Utilitarianism Maximize good.
Advertisements

What is a normative theory?
RECAP – TASK 1 What is utilitarianism? Who is Jeremy Bentham?
Introduction to Ethics Lecture 11 Utilitarianism By David Kelsey.
Before we get to this standard, we must understand that in Ethics, there are two types of Ethical Standards: §Consequential Ethical Standards §Nonconsequential.
Ethical Theory.
4/15/2017 Utilitarianism 4/15/2017 ©Lawrence M. Hinman.
PHIL 2525 Contemporary Moral Issues Lec 13 Utilitarianism Chapter 7.
Chapter Seven: Utilitarianism
Ethics A Very Brief Primer Ethics of Duty or Deontological Ethics.
Social Responsibility  Maintains that businesses should not function amorally, but should contribute to the welfare of their communities. [ Recognizes.
Standards of Conduct DoD’s Standards of Conduct
ETHICS BOWL CONSEQUENTIALism.
UTILITARIANISM: A comparison of Bentham and Mill’s versions
Ethical Theories: Deontology and Teleology
Utilitarian Approach. Utilitarianism The founder of classical utilitarianism is Jeremy Bentham. According to Bentham human beings always try to avoid.
Introduction to Ethical Theory I Last session: “our focus will be on normative medical ethics, i.e., how people should behave in medical situations” –
PHIL 2525 Contemporary Moral Issues
T HE U TILITARIAN A PPROACH Marcie Neils, Brandon Capelle, Aaron Zimbelman, & Nate Martin Monday 1:30-4:30 LP 5: Ethical Theory Presentation November 10,
The Ethical Basis of Law and Business Management.
THEORIES OF ETHICS PART 2 OF CHAPTER 12 (ETHICS).
Utilitarianism John Stuart Mill. When an objection is raised: When some objection is raised to a moral theory, if that objection is a good one, the proponent.
Consequentialism Utilitarianism. John Stuart Mill ( ) Principle of Utility: actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness,
History of Philosophy Lecture 18 John Stuart Mill: Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism. Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters; pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we.
The Morality of Consequences. Utilitarian Ethics We ought to perform actions which tend to produce the greatest overall happiness for the greatest number.
Utilitarianism How ought we to act?.
Utilitarianism or Consequentialism Good actions are those that result in good consequences. The moral value of an action is extrinsic to the action itself.
What is Utilitarianism?
PHIL 2525 Contemporary Moral Issues Lec. 13 Recapping: 3 main points of Utilitarianism:  Actions are judged right or wrong solely on the basis of their.
Utilitarianism Forensics 8.6 November 14, 2014.
PHIL 2525 Contemporary Moral Issues Lec. 14 Recapping... 3 main points of Utilitarianism:  Actions are judged right or wrong solely on the basis of.
Theories of Morality Kant Bentham Aristotle. Morality  Morality: Action for the sake of principle  Guides our beliefs about right and wrong  Sets limits.
Nicole Pongratz Allisen Jacques Shannon Griese Amber Teichmiller 4/13/2010.
Traditional Ethical Theories. Reminder Optional Tutorial Monday, February 25, 1-1:50 Room M122.
Theories of Morality Kant Bentham Aristotle. Morality  Morality: Action for the sake of principle  Guides our beliefs about right and wrong  Sets limits.
AREA 1 GUIDING PRINCIPLES SECTION 3 Consequences (Utilitarian Ethics) Duty and Reason (Kantian Ethics)
A Universal Moral Theory Dennis R. Cooley Department of History North Dakota State University 19 January 2003 Supported by a USDA/CSREES/IFAFS grant, “Consortium.
Philosophy 360: Business Ethics Chapter 3. Consequentialism: Is part of a theory about what makes certain actions right or wrong. In a nutshell: Actions.
The Jim and Pedro example and Utilitarianism By David Kelsey.
‘UTILITARIANISM FROM BENTHAM & MILL’ THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES
LO: I will know about the Hedonic Calculus Hmk: Do some biographical work on John Stuart Mill Starter: Using your homework, what did you find out about.
Business Ethics Chapter # 3 Ethical Principles, Quick Tests, and Decision-Making Guidelines  The best kind of relationship in the world is the one in.
Morality in the Modern World
PHIL 2525 Contemporary Moral Issues Lec. 13 Recapping: 3 main points of Utilitarianism:  Actions are judged right or wrong solely on the basis of their.
What is Ethics.
UTILITARIANISM A teleological ethical theory founded by Jeremy Bentham.
Moral Theory An explanation of why an action is right or wrong or why a person or a person’s character is good or bad Tells us what it is about an action.
Introduction to Ethics: Is Anything really Right or Wrong? By David Kelsey.
Utilitarianism.
Jan 29, 10 Ashley Tao. Tues 8-10pm Dundas Town Hall
Introduction to Philosophy Lecture 16 Ethics #2: Utilitarianism By David Kelsey.
PHIL 2525 Contemporary Moral Issues Lec 10 Utilitarianism.
BY ALDOUS HUXLEY Brave New World. The Author Aldous Huxley Born July 26, 1894 in Godalming, England Mother and sister both died in 1908 Educated at Balliol.
Lawrence M. Hinman, Ph.D. Director, The Values Institute University of San Diego 7/8/2016©Lawrence M. Hinman1 Utilitarianism.
 Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill  Reason not Revelation  Consequentialism – good or bad, right or wrong, are based on outcomes.
Part Four. Act and Rule Utilitarianism
Part One. Fundamental Tenets of Utilitarianism
Introduction to Philosophy Lecture 15 Ethics #1: Utilitarianism
Moral Reasoning  Ethical dilemmas in management are not simple choices between “right” and “wrong”.They are complex judgments on the balance between economic.
20th century conflict day one
Utilitarianism Phil. 321 Social Ethics Lawrence M. Hinman Summer 2010
Utilitarianism 1/2/2019 ©Lawrence M. Hinman.
Moral Reasoning  Ethical dilemmas in management are not simple choices between “right” and “wrong”.They are complex judgments on the balance between economic.
Utilitarianism Consequential, i.e. Utilitarianism – a good moral decision is that which the consequences of the action produces the greatest good for the.
The Ethics of Utility The Utilitarian Theory :
Moral Theories: Utilitarianism
Moral Reasoning  Ethical dilemmas in management are not simple choices between “right” and “wrong”.They are complex judgments on the balance between economic.
Utilitarianism Jeremy Bentham
Presentation transcript:

1 Consequentialism vs. Deontology Consequentialism: –the view that an act is right if and only if it will maximize (or is likely to maximize) good consequences. Deontological theories: –The view that there are some features of acts beyond their consequences that make them right or wrong. Ergo certain acts must be done (or not done) regardless of the consequences. (Sometimes it is called “absolutism”): Judeo-Christian Ethics Moral Theory of Immanuel Kant Rawls: Two major moral theories in US –Utilitarianism (Consequentialism) –Rights/Duties (Deontological)

2 Utilitarianism

33 Basic Arguments of Utilitarianism The purpose of morality is to make the world a better place. Morality is about producing good consequences, not having good intentions We should do whatever will bring the most benefit (i.e., intrinsic value) to all of humanity.

4 Fundamental Imperative The fundamental imperative of utilitarianism is: –Always act in the way that will produce the greatest overall amount of good in the world. –The emphasis is clearly on consequences, not intentions.

55 The Emphasis on the Overall Good We often speak of “utilitarian” solutions in a disparaging tone, but in fact utilitarianism is a demanding moral position that often asks us to put aside self-interest for the sake of the whole. Utilitarianism is a morally demanding position for two reasons: –It always asks us to do the most, to maximize utility, not to do the minimum. –It asks us to set aside personal interest.

6 The Dream of Utilitarianism: Bringing Scientific Certainty to Ethical Choices Utilitarianism offers us a powerful vision of the moral life, one that promises to reduce or eliminate moral disagreement. –If we can agree that the purpose of morality is to make the world a better place; and –If we can scientifically assess various possible courses of action to determine which will have the greatest positive effect on the world; then –We can provide a scientific answer to the question of what we ought to do.

7 Yardsticks of Utility: A Brief History of Utilitarianism Many things have instrumental value, that is, they have value as means to an end. However, there must be some things which are not merely instrumental, but have value in themselves. This is what we call intrinsic value. What has intrinsic value? Three principal candidates: –Pleasure Jeremy Bentham –Happiness John Stuart Mill –Preferences Kenneth Arrow

8 Jeremy Bentham Bentham believed that we should try to increase the overall amount of pleasure in the world.

99 Pleasure Definition: The enjoyable feeling we experience when a state of deprivation is replaced by fulfillment. Advantages –Easy to quantify –Short duration –Bodily Criticisms –Came to be known as “the pig’s philosophy” –Ignores higher values –Could justify living on a pleasure machine

10 John Stuart Mill Bentham’s godson Believed that happiness, not pleasure, should be the standard of utility.

11 Happiness Advantages –A higher standard, more specific to humans –About realization of goals Disadvantages –More difficult to measure –Competing conceptions of happiness

12 Preferences Kenneth Arrow, a Nobel Prize winning Stanford economist, argued that what has intrinsic value is preference satisfaction. The advantage of Arrow’s approach: –it lets people choose for themselves what has intrinsic value. –It simply defines intrinsic value as whatever satisfies an agent’s preferences. –It is elegant and pluralistic.

13 The Utilitarian Calculus All consequences must be measured and weighed Units of measurement may be defined in terms of –Pleasure –Happiness –Preferences For any given action, we must calculate: –How many people will be affected, negatively as well as positively –How intensely they will be affected –Similar calculations for all available alternatives –Choose the action that produces the greatest overall amount of utility (positive measures minus negative measures)

14 How Much Can We Quantify? Pleasure and preference satisfaction are easier to quantify than happiness or ideals Two distinct issues: –Can everything be quantified? –Are quantified goods necessarily commensurable?

15 Problems with Utilitarianism: Jim and the Indians Jim finds himself in the central square of a small South American town. Tied up against the wall are a row of twenty Indians, most terrified, a few defiant, in front of them several armed men in uniform. A heavy man in a sweat-stained khaki shirt turns out to be the captain in charge and, after a good deal of questioning of Jim which establishes that he got there by accident while on a botanical expedition, explains that the Indians are a random group of the inhabitants who, after recent acts of protest against the government, are just about to be killed to remind other possible protestors of the advantages of not protesting. However, since Jim is an honoured visitor from another land, the captain is happy to offer him a guest’s privilege of killing one of the Indians himself. If Jim accepts, then as a special mark of the occasion, the other Indians will be let off. Of course, if Jim refuses, then there is no special occasion, and Pedro here will do what he was about to do when Jim arrived, and kill them all. Jim, with some desperate recollection of schoolboy fiction, wonders whether if he got hold of a gun, he could hold the captain, Pedro and the rest of the soldiers to threat, but it is quite clear from the set-up that nothing of the sort is going to work: any attempt at that sort of thing will mean that all the Indians will be killed, and himself. The men against the wall, and the other villagers understand the situation, and are obviously begging him to accept. What should he do?

16 Responsibility Utilitarianism suggests that we are responsible for all the consequences of our choices. The problem is that sometimes we can foresee consequences of other people’s actions that are taken in response to our own acts. Are we responsible for those actions, even though we don’t choose them or approve of them?

17 Integrity Utilitarianism often demands that we put aside self-interest. Sometimes this means putting aside our own moral convictions. Integrity may involve certain identity- conferring commitments, such that the violation of those commitments entails a violation of who we are at our core.

18 Who is Included ? When we consider the issue of consequences, we must ask who is included within that circle. –Those in our own group (ethnocentrism) –Those in our own country (nationalism) –All human beings (humanism) –All sentient beings Classical utilitarianism has often claimed that we should acknowledge the pain and suffering of animals and not restrict the calculus just to human beings.

19 A Summing Up Alluring attempt to employ human reason for ethical choice, but problems: –Predicting consequences –Measuring good vs. bad consequences –Who is included –Lack of attention to responsibility/integrity –Need to define moral minimum

20 Utilitarianism doesn’t always have a cold and calculating face—we perform utilitarian calculations in everyday life. “…the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.”