1. HSS /.02/.03 /.04
SLIDES 4 1

2. Teleological Theories the ends/ the consequences Utilitarianism
Deontological Theories
the means / the tools / the intentions
Duty Ethics
Rights Ethics
Virtue Ethics 2

3. The purpose of morality is to make the world a better place.
09/24/15
The utilitarian has a very simple answer to the question of why morality exists at all:
The purpose of morality is to guide people’s actions in such a way as to produce a better world.
So:
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 to all of humanity.
Consequently, the emphasis in utilitarianism is on consequences, not on the process of decision
©Lawrence M. Hinman
09/24/15 3 3

4. The fundamental imperative of utilitarianism is:
09/24/15
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.
©Lawrence M. Hinman
09/24/15 4 4

5. Utilitarianism is a morally demanding position for two reasons:
09/24/15
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.
©Lawrence M. Hinman
09/24/15 5 5

6. So our obligation or duty or responsibility in any situation is to perform the action that will result in the greatest possible overall utility, in other words greatest possible balance of good over evil.
What is good and evil? 6

7. Units of measure may be defined in terms of
Pleasure
Happiness
Ideals
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 7

8. Commonly used to determine about a project
Related to risk-benefit analysis also
1. What are alternatives?
2. Identify costs and benefits of each
3. Quantify
4. Calculate net gain of each
5. Choose one with greatest net gain 8

9. Pat is the plant manager in one of ABC Company’s five plants
Pat is the plant manager in one of ABC Company’s five plants. She’s worked for the company for 15 years, working her way up from the factory floor after the company sent her to collage. Her boss just told her in complete confidence that the company will have to lay off 200 workers. Luckily her job won’t be affected. But a rumor is now circulating in the plant, and one of her workers ( an old friend who now works for her) asks the question. “Well Pat, what’s the word? Is the plant closing? Am I going to lose my job? The closing offer on our new house is planned for next week. I need to know!”
What should she say?
What would you say?

10. 1 2 3 4 Etc. Stakeholder Tell-Harms Tell-Benefits Don’t Tell-Harms
Don’t Tell-Benefits 1 2 3 4
Etc.

11. Utilitarians would have to calculate: Benefits
Increased nutrition for x number of children
Increased performance, greater long-range chances of success
Incidental benefits to contractors, etc.
Costs
Cost to each taxpayer
Contrast with other programs that could have been funded and with lower taxes (no program)
Multiply each factor by
Number of individuals affected
Intensity of effects 11

12. The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP planned near Carlsbad, New Mexico. WIPP is designed to be a permanent (everlasting) repository (storage area) for nuclear waste generated in the United States.

13. It consists of a system of tunnels bored into underground salt formation, which are considered by geologists to be extremely stable, especially to incursion (attack) of water, which could lead to seepage (leakage) of the nuclear wastes into ground water.

14. However, there are many who oppose the opening of this facility, principally on the grounds that transportation of the wastes across highways has the potential for the accidents that might cause health problems for people living near those routes

15. 15

16. Teleological (Consequensialist) Theories the ends/ the consequences
Utilitarianism
Produce the most overall utility
(by applying cost benefit analysis)
Deontological Theories
the means / the tools / the intentions
Duty Ethics
Rights Ethics
Virtue Ethics 16

17. A number of physicians are recruited (görev aldı) to participate in a large-scale, multi-center study to investigate the survival rates of breast cancer victims who are being treated with a new drug. Strict rules are developed regarding inclusion of patients in the study. Only those who have had surgery within the last three months can be included. Dr. Smith has a patient who hears about the study and wants very much to participate. Because Dr. Smith thinks the drug could really help this patient, he agrees to include her even though her surgery took place six months ago. He changes the dates on her charts to confirm with the study requirements and reasons that this one little change shouldn’t affect the study results

18. Doing good means rationally determining and then following duty.
there are duties that should be performed regardless of whether these acts lead to the most good.
Good consequences for society as a whole are not the only moral consideration.
Doing good means rationally determining and then following duty. 18

19. a motive for acting in a certain way which indicates moral quality.19

20. Most of us live by rules much of the time
Most of us live by rules much of the time. Some of these are what Immanuel KANT called Categorical Imperatives— unconditional commands that are binding on everyone at all times. 20

21. Hypothetical (varsayıma dayanan) Imperative:
If I want to ensure my after death life then I have to help poor people then
Structure: if…then…
If you want to go to medical school, you must take biology.”
Structure: if…then… and………but
Categorical (kategorik/kesin) Imperative
“Always tell the truth”
Unconditional, applicable at all times 21

22. “Always act in such a way that the maxim (kural /ilke) of your action can be willed as a universal law of humanity.”
--Immanuel Kant
(“Aynı zamanda genel bir yasa olmasını isteyebileceğin bir maxime göre hareket et.”) 22

23. Maxim
A moral rule which according to Kant was the subjective rule that an individual uses in making a decision.
Universalizability
A moral law which can be obeyed every time everywhere.
Kant maintained that the only maxims which are morally good are those which can be universalized.

24. Ethical actions are those actions that could be written down on a list of duties: be honest, don’t cause suffering to other people, be fair to others etc.
These actions are our duties because they express respect for persons, express an unqualified regard for autonomous (independent, self-governing) moral agents and are universal principles.
Once one’s duties are recognized, the ethically correct moral actions are obvious. In this formulation, ethical acts are a result of proper performance of one’s duties.

25. Is it possible to universalize a maxim that permits lying?
What is the maxim?
It’s okey to cheat when you want/need to.
Can this consistently be willed as a universal law?
No, it undermines itself, destroying the rational expectation of trust upon which it depends. 25

26. Cheating involves not playing by the rules.
Is it possible for the cheater to will his/her maxim as a universal law?
No, because then others (including the teacher) could refuse to follow the rules as well, failing the cheater even with a good grade. 26

27. complexity :Which duty comes first?
May sacrifice community good for the sake of individual duty