1. Theories of Ethics

2. Utilitarianism
Jeremey Bentham
All living things are motivated solely to pursue pleasure and avoid pain
To be rational is to be impartial
The right thing to do is to consider every living thing’s interest equally and impartially
The right thing to do is whatever produces the greatest overall amount of pleasure (Principle of Utility)

3. Some Implications of Utilitarianism
Only the consequences of our actions matter for moral evaluation
Rights are not important and can be ignored (Ex: Bentham and London’s Beggars)
The good of the many ALWAYS outweighs the good of the few or the one

4. Deontology (version a)
Immanuel Kant
The right thing to do is to obey the moral rules (ex, “don’t steal”), AND to obey them just because they are the rules
Moral Rules are universal. That is, they are the same for all people, in all a places, at all Times in any circumstances.

5. Some Implications of Deontology
We are never morally permitted to break any moral rule
Morality does NOT differ in different cultures or different periods of history

6. Social Contract Theory
Without government and society, we would find ourselves in a State of Nature in which life would be “nasty, brutish, poor, solitary and short.”
Because we have reason, we would form a Social Contract to create law and government as soon as possible
Once we have law and government, we would then be able to develop morality.
Thomas Hobbes

7. John Lock Rights and Property
The point of government is to protect human rights, like “life, liberty and property.” We obey the law in return for this protection
For Locke, the right most in need of government protection is Property
John Locke

8. Libertarianism
Robert Nozick
The most important right of all is our right to self-ownership
We are each our own property. We own ourselves. We may do whatever we like with ourselves, and consenting adults whatever they like with each other. The only thing we may not do is violate another person’s self ownership

9. Implications of Libertarianism
Government should be as small and limited as possible
Drugs, Prostitution, Polygamy, organ selling should all be legalized
Acts like “consensual cannibalism” should not be legally punished
Income tax is unjust and should be abolished

10. Deontology (version b)
Persons are morally special, they have inherent value and dignity and are deserving of absolute respect.
It is always wrong to use a person as if they were only an object
Kant again

11. Implications of Deontology (version B)
We do not OWN ourselves. We aren’t objects, we can’t be owned, not even by ourselves.
Prostitution, Organ Selling, Drugs, etc … shold be illegal
Consensual cannibalism should be legally punished. You don’t even have a right to kill yourself.

12. Virtue Ethics
Ethics should not focus on rules, rights, duty, or actions; rather, ethics is about character: what kind of person should we be?
A good person cultivates the virtues – good character traits like honesty or courage – while avoiding the vices – bad character traits like greed or cowardice
A good society, is one in which government provides the resources to allow people to flourish as human beings.
Aristotle 385 BCE – 323 BCE

13. Implications of virtue ethics
The right thing to do partially depends on a universal quality, a virtue like courage, and partially on the individual and her situation. We are all ethically obligated to be brave, but the brave thing to do varies depending on the individual and her situation
What we do does not matter nearly so much as why we did? What virtue or vice compelled us to act? What kind of person are we for acting on the basis of said virtue or vice?
Things are said to be “made for” a specific purpose. Aristotle takes this as far as to say that some people are natural born slaves!

14. Marxism
Karl Marx
Class Conflict – A ruling class harmfully controls a ruled class
Oppression – A moral, political, social and economic system in which some groups are held down so others can benefit
Exploitation – treating people like things
Alienation – When an oppressed group does not seem themselves authentically, but as the oppressor defines them

15. Feminism And Ethics

16. Basic Claims of Feminism
Women and men should have equal moral, legal, political, and social status
We live in world in which society is biased in favor of males and sees things from a predominately male perspective (Patriarchy)
Justice requires that we fix this. We must combat Patriarchy and work for a more equal society (egalitarianism)

17. Carol Gilligan

18. Jake and Amy
Amy: No. “They should talk it out and come to an agreement.”
Jake: Yes. “A life is worth more than money.”

19. Differences between men and women
1) Abstract moral principles are primary
2) Reason is everything
3) Contractual justice is the primary virtue
Differences between men and women
Women:
Personal relationships are primary
Emotion is as important as reason
Care is the primary virtue