1. Ethics: Theory and Practice
Jacques P. Thiroux
Keith W. Krasemann

2. Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing
Chapter Seven
Reward and Punishment
Chapter Twelve
Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing

3. Definition of Key Terms
Retributive Justice: People should get what they deserve either in reward or punishment, regardless of the consequences
Distributive Justice: The distribution of good and bad on a just and fair basis
Reward: Something given or received for worthy behavior

4. Definition of Key Terms
Punishment: The act of penalizing someone for a crime, fault, or misbehavior – a penalty for wrongdoing
Retributivism (deserts theory): The act of giving people what they deserve, regardless of the consequences

5. Definition of Key Terms
Utilitarianism (results theory): The act of rewarding or punishing based upon the results of the act and whether or not it brings about the greatest good consequences for the greatest number of people
Restitution (compensation theory): The act of compensating victims for harm or wrong done to them

6. Reward Four basic ways in which good and bad can be distributed:
As equally among people as possible
According to people’s abilities
According to what they deserve or merit
According to their needs

7. Theories of How to Reward
Retributivist, or deserts, theory states that people should be rewarded strictly on a basis of what they deserve or merit for what they have done in the past
Utilitarian, or results, theory would reward on the future good consequences of rewarding

8. John Rawls and His Theory of Justice
Natural Rights v. Rights of a Just Society
Rawls believes such rights are given to humans by a just society, developed behind a “veil of ignorance”

9. John Rawls and His Theory of Justice
Rawl’s two basic principles
Equality principle: Each person has equal rights to maximum liberty compatible with the same amount of liberty for everyone else
Difference principle: Inequality is permissible if it’s to everyone’s advantage

10. Punishment Four Requirements:
It must involve unpleasantness of some sort
It must be imposed or endured for some reason
It must be imposed by some person or group that has “duly constituted” moral or legal authority
It must be imposed according to certain rules or laws

11. Theories of Punishment
Retributive (deserts) theory states that punishment should be given only when it is deserved and only to the extent that it is deserved; it is concerned with the past rather than the future

12. Theories of Punishment
Utilitarian (results) theory is future oriented and given in order that. . . rather than because of as in retributivism
Consequences:
Imprisonment is not conducive to rehabilitation and reform
Psychiatric or psychological treatment, rather than punishment, also is ineffectual

13. Theories of Punishment
Restitution, or compensation for victims, theory holds that justice is served only if victims are granted restitution for the crimes committed against them

14. Synthesis
No one who is innocent should be convicted or punished despite any good consequences coming from the punishment
People must truly deserve any punishment they get, and it should fit the crime but not be excessive
More serious crimes would require more serve punishment

15. Human Rights
The promotion of human rights is a widely accepted project
The concept of a right is powerful because it allows the bearer to make claims on others
The importance of the contributions of human rights to civilization cannot be underestimated

16. Lying, Cheating, and Stealing
Lying is an intentionally deceptive message in the form of a statement or piece of information deliberately presented as being true – anything meant to deceive or give a wrong impression
White lie
Lies of Commission
Lies of Omission

17. Lying, Cheating, and Stealing
Cheating is deceiving by trickery, swindling, misleading, and acting dishonestly or practicing fraud

18. Lying, Cheating, and Stealing
A promise is a declaration or vow that one will or will not do something, and to break a promise is to fail to conform to or to act contrary to or violate the promise
Stealing is taking something without right or permission, generally in a surreptitious way