1. PHIL242: MEDICAL ETHICS SUM2014, M-F, 9:40-10:40, SAV 156
INSTRUCTOR: BENJAMIN HOLE
OFFICE HOURS: M-F, 10:40-11 

2. Agenda 1. Clicker Quiz 3. Ethical Theory Consequentialism Deontology
Natural Law Theory
Tomorrow: Ethical Theory, Culture & Religion
- Divine Command Theory
- Cultural Relativism

3. QUIZ Please set your Turning Technology Clicker to channel 41
Press “Ch”, then “41”, then “Ch”

4. According to the textbook’s definition of the principle of autonomy, autonomous persons should be allowed to exercise their capacity for
Self-determination
Paternalism
Obtaining informed consent
Infallibility
Utility
Natural Law
None of the above

5. Consequentialist theories insist that the rightness of actions depends solely on
Their intrinsic nature
Their consequences or results
Whether they are in accordance with Natural Law
The agent’s motives
The agent’s desires
B & D
B & F

6. Act-utilitarianism is the view that
The rightness of actions depends solely on the character of the agent
The rightness of actions depends solely on the relative good produced by individual actions
The rightness of actions depends on both the relative good produced by individual actions and the conformity to rules
The rightness of actions depends on a good will

7. Introduction to Ethical Theory

8. The Right (Duty) & The Good (Value)
Value Base Moral Theory
Duty Based Moral Theory
takes the good as primary (and derives the right from the good).
takes the right as primary (and derives the good from the right).
“The two main concepts of ethics are those of the right and the good” (Rawls, A Theory of Justice, 24).
The Right (Duty) & The Good (Value)

9. Moral/Ethical Theory
An explanation of why an action is right or wrong or why a person or a person’s character is good or bad
Explain the necessary and sufficient conditions which make an action that makes it right
“if and only if”
Moral theories alone are not the ultimate authority in moral deliberations.
Moral deliberations involve both the general and the particular—theory, principles, and considered judgments.

10. Moral/Ethical Theory Ethical Theories Desiderata for Ethical Theories
1. Consequentialism
Act Utilitarianism
Rule Utilitarianism
2. Deontology
Kant’s CI, Universal Law Formulation
Kant’s CI, Humanity Formulation
3. Natural Law Theory
Consistency with our considered moral judgments
Consistency with the facts of the moral life
Resourcefulness in moral problem- solving

11. Preferred ethical theory
Consequentialism (utilitarianism)
Deontology (Kantian Ethics)
Natural Law Theory

12. Act and Rule Utilitarianism
Consequentialism
Act and Rule Utilitarianism

13. Consequentialism
Asserts that the rightness of actions depends solely on their consequences
“An action is right if and only if (and because) its consequences would be at least as good as the consequences of any alternative action that the agent might instead perform.” (Timmons, MTP)

14. Consequentialism
Utilitarianism—An act is right IFF it results in the most beneficial balance of good over bad consequences for everyone involved
Act-utilitarianism—The rightness of actions depends solely on the relative good produced by individual actions
Rule-utilitarianism—A right action is one that conforms to a rule that, if followed consistently, would create for everyone involved the most beneficial balance of good over bad

15. Consequentialism Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral
Somewhat Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

16. Construct Arguments MoPo 1. If A, then B. 2. A 3. Therefore, B MoTo
2. Not-B
3. Therefore, Not-A
Syllogism
1. All As are Bs
2. C is an A
3. Therefore, C is a B

17. Criticize Arguments Argument 1. 2. 3. Therefore, Counterargument 1. 2.
3. Therefore, X premise is false

18. Deontology Kant’s Categorical Imperative Universal Law Formulation
Humanity Formulation

19. Deontology
Deontologists believe that morality is a matter of duty. Whether something is right or wrong doesn’t depend on its consequences. Rather, it is something about any particular action that makes it right or wrong in itself.
Kantian Ethics

20. Kant’s Categorical Imperative: Universal Law Formulation
“An action is right if and only if one can both (a) consistently conceive of everyone adopting and action on the general policy (that is, a maxim) of one’s action, and also (b) consistently will that everyone act on that maxim.” (Timmons, MTP)
Kant: "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law without contradiction."

21. Kant’s Categorical Imperative: Humanity Formulation
“An action is right if and only if (and because) the action treats persons (including oneself) as an ends in themselves and not as mere means.” (Timmons, MTP)
Kant: “Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end.”

22. Kant’s Categorical Imperative
Strongly Agree
Agree
Somewhat Agree
Neutral
Somewhat Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

23. Construct Arguments MoPo 1. If A, then B. 2. A 3. Therefore, B MoTo
2. Not-B
3. Therefore, Not-A
Syllogism
1. All As are Bs
2. C is an A
3. Therefore, C is a B

24. Criticize Arguments Argument 1. 2. 3. Therefore, Counterargument 1. 2.
3. Therefore, X premise is false

25. Aquinas’s version & the Doctrine of Double Effect
Natural Law Theory
Aquinas’s version & the Doctrine of Double Effect

26. Natural Law Theory
The view that right actions are those that conform to moral standards discerned in nature through human reason.
“An action is right if and only if (and because) in performing the action one does not directly violate any of the basic values” (Timmons, MTP)
Human Life
Human Procreation
Human Knowledge
Human Sociability

27. Doctrine of Double Effect
“An action that would bring about at least one evil effect and at least one good effect is morally permissible if (and only if) the following conditions are satisfied:
Intrinsic permissibility
Necessity
Nonintentionality
Proportionality”

28. Natural Law Theory Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral
Somewhat Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

29. Construct Arguments MoPo 1. If A, then B. 2. A 3. Therefore, B MoTo
2. Not-B
3. Therefore, Not-A
Syllogism
1. All As are Bs
2. C is an A
3. Therefore, C is a B

30. Criticize Arguments Argument 1. 2. 3. Therefore, Counterargument 1. 2.
3. Therefore, X premise is false

31. Conclusion

32. Moral/Ethical Theory Ethical Theories Desiderata for Ethical Theories
1. Consequentialism
Act Utilitarianism
Rule Utilitarianism
2. Deontology
Kant’s CI, Universal Law Formulation
Kant’s CI, Humanity Formulation
3. Natural Law Theory
Consistency with our considered moral judgments
Consistency with the facts of the moral life
Resourcefulness in moral problem- solving

33. Preferred ethical theory
Consequentialism (utilitarianism)
Deontology (Kantian Ethics)
Natural Law Theory