1. Introduction to Ethical Theory
Phil 240, Week 1, Lecture 3
SUM2013, M-F, 10:50-11:50, SAV136
Instructor: Benjamin Hole

2. The Immoralist’s Challenge
The main goal yesterday was for you to hone your understanding of the immoralist’s challenge and how it motivates ethical theory.
Hobbes and Hardin
Philosophical Skills
The ideas from Plato’s Republic will reappear throughout the quarter.

3. Agenda Clicker Quiz Overview of Timmons MPT
“6 essential ethical theories”
Next time: DCT and ER

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

5. Persons Actions Consequences Duties Concrete Objects
1. In ethical theory, the terms “right” and “wrong” are used primarily to evaluate the morality of:
Persons
Actions
Consequences
Duties
Concrete Objects

6. 2. Necessarily, if something is intrinsically good, then:
its value depends on its relationship to something else that is intrinsically good
its value depends on features that are inherent to it
it is an action that is morally right
it is also intrinsically value-neutral

7. hedonistic utilitarianism perfectionist consequentialism
3. Which of the following is a kind of consequentialist theory that explains right action in terms of the net balance of pleasure (or lack of pain) produced by that action?
hedonistic utilitarianism
perfectionist consequentialism
rule consequentialism
All the above
by definition, consequentialist theories do not mention pain

8. Timmons
“in arguing for a particular position on the topic of, say, euthanasia, philosophers make their case by applying a moral theory to the practice of euthanasia” (2).

9. Timmons
Theory
Practice
“The theoretical aim of moral theory is to discover those underlying features of actions, persons, and other items of moral evaluation that make them right or wrong, good or bad and thus explain why such items have the moral properties they have. Features of this sort serve as moral criteria of the right and the good” (3-4).
“The practical aim of a moral theory is to offer practical guidance for how we might arrive at correct or justified moral verdicts about matters of moral concern – verdicts which we can then use to help guide choice” (4).

10. Would you turn the trolley?
Yes No

11. Trolley Problem

12. The Right (Duty) & The Good (Value)
“The two main concepts of ethics are those of the right and the good; the concept of a morally worthy person is, I believe, derived from them”
(Rawls, A Theory of Justice, 24).
“value based moral theories” vs. “duty based moral theories”
The Right (Duty) & The Good (Value)

13. 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).

14. Principles
“moral principles – very general moral statements that specify the conditions under which an action is right (or wrong) and something is intrinsically good (or bad)” (4).
Note: “if and only if (and because)”

15. Overview Consequentialism Kantian Ethics Natural Law Theory
“Six Essential”
Theories
Ethics by Authority
Consequentialism
Kantian Ethics
Natural Law Theory
Rights Based Moral Theory
Virtue Ethics
Prima Facie Duties
Divine Command Theory
Ethical Relativism

16. Preferred ethical theory
Consequentialism
Kantian Ethics
Natural Law Theory
Rights Based Moral Theory
Virtue Ethics
Prima Facie Duties
Divine Command Theory
Cultural Relativism

17. Natural Law Theory
“An action is right if and only if (and because) in performing the action one does not directly violate any of the basic values” (12):
Human Life
Human Procreation (which includes raising children)
Human Knowledge
Human Sociability

18. 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: The action in question, apart from its effects, is morally permissible;
Necessity: It is not possible to bring about the food effect except by performing an action that will bring about the evil effect in question;
Nonintentionality: The evil effect is not intended – it is neither one’s end now a chosen means for bringing about some intended end;
Proportionality: The evil that will be brought about by the action is not out of proportion to the good being aimed at.” (13)

19. Rights Based Moral Theory
“An action is right if and only if (and because) in performing it either (a) one does not violate the fundamental moral rights of others, or (b) in cases where it is not possible to respect all such rights because they are in conflict, one’s action is among the best ways to protect the most important rights in the case at hand” (22).

20. Prima Facie Duties PFDs Fidelity Reparations Gratitude Justice
Confusing Term
“A prima facie duty isn’t really a duty, but a rather permanent, very strong reason to do something”*
*Russ Shafer Landau’s gloss from:
 The Fundamentals of Ethics, 223.
PFDs
Fidelity
Reparations
Gratitude
Justice
Beneficence
Self-Improvement
Non-Maleficence

21. Evaluating a Theory
Explanatory Power
Practical Guidance
“A moral theory should feature principles that explain our more specific considered moral beliefs, this helping us understand why certain actions, persons, and other objects of moral evaluation are right or wrong, good or bad. The better a theory’s principles in providing such explanations, the better the theory.” (29)
“A moral theory should feature principles that are useful in guiding moral deliberation toward correct or justified moral verdicts about particular issues which we can then use to help guide choice. The better a theory’s principles are in providing practical guidance, the better the theory.” (29)

22. Which ethical theory has the most explanatory power?
Consequentialism
Kantian Ethics
Natural Law Theory
Rights-Based Theory
Virtue Ethical Theory
Prima Facie Duties
Divine Command Theory
Moral Relativism

23. Which ethical theory has the most practical guidance?
Consequentialism
Kantian Ethics
Natural Law Theory
Rights-Based Theory
Virtue Ethical Theory
Prima Facie Duties
Divine Command Theory
Moral Relativism

24. Rights Based Moral Theory Virtue Ethics Prima Facie Duties
Which ethical theory gives the best rationale for behaving morally, regardless of whether such behavior would benefit you?
Consequentialism
Kantian Ethics
Natural Law Theory
Rights Based Moral Theory
Virtue Ethics
Prima Facie Duties
Divine Command Theory
Cultural Relativism