 Consequentialist - an action is right or wrong based on consequences  Deontological (or nonconsequentialist) - the intrinsic nature of an action itself can be right or wrong

 UTILITARIANISM: what produces the ‘greatest good’ › What makes something a good result?  the greatest good is pleasure or ‘happiness’ = Hedonism  Greatest good is knowledge or perfecting to a certain standard

 Act utilitarianism = rightness depends on result of specific action  Rule utilitarianism = the greater good is a result of keeping rules and so one must follow rules for greater good (1000 units of happiness for 10 people is better than 900 units of happiness for the same 10) (John Stuart Mill ( )

 How has/is utilitarianism applied to bioethics? This is a frequent rationale for euthanasia › Act utilitarianism would say the person is no longer suffering › Rule utilitarianism would say that this would lead people to distrust doctors, motivations and unleash value judgments on the elderly and disabled etc… N.B. (nota bene = note well): don’t rush to a decision – you have yet to hear all theories!!!)

 De = of  Onto = nature  Logic = reason  “Reason in the nature” of or “of nature’s reason”

Immanuel Kant: Popular German philosopher - ( ) Holds that morality consists in following rules that are universally applicable out of duty. eg…you lie to someone to borrow money (can you answer that you think it is ok for everyone to lie in order to borrow money – if no, then you should not lie) “categorical imperative”: Kant’s term for what he calls this universally accepted rule. An imperative is a command and categorical means is it without exception.

 Kant would say if you believe it is morally ok to kill all Ethopians …then that is your categorical imperative.  ABELARD: 13 th century – morality is based on one’s intentions -

 Morality is based on your intention – if you mean well  Abelard and Heloise

 emphasizes the character of the moral agent, rather than rules or consequences, as the key element of ethical thinking.

 1960’s attempt to find middle ground between utilitarianism and deontologicalism -  says a proportionately greater good outweighs the bad - the lesser of the evils  (this theory has been condemned in Veritatis Splendor because an intrinsically evil act cannot change its nature because of intentions or circumstances)

(by the way – the Catholic Church promotes this theory) Maintains that right actions are those conforming to moral standards in nature through human reason For 9 minute video click mKrkxo&NR=1

 There is no objective good or evil, right or wrong.  Idolatry of tolerance

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Who said “what is truth?” in Scripture? What was the answer? Before we discuss what the Church teaches, what in all these moral sounds true to you?

 Morality of an act depends on Object + Intention + Circumstances

Morality of an act circumstancesobjectintention

 The moral conscience (CCC – … “Conscience is the aboriginal Vicar of Christ.” John Henry Cardinal Newman, "Letter to the Duke of Norfolk," V, in Certain Difficulties felt by Anglicans in Catholic Teaching II (London: Longmans Green, 1885), 248.

What are the distinctions in the following terms: Vincible ignorance vs. Invincible ignorance Erroneous, doubtful and true conscience

 How is formation of conscience related to bioethics?

 An ordinance  Of reason  For the common good  Promulgated by him who has care of the community