thics Theorie

By ,
Vinay
ntroduction

Ethics Theories is a set of

propositions (for example,
utilitarianism) which attempts to
provide general norms for the
guidance and evaluation of moral
conduct.
sification of Ethical Theo
1 . Teleological Ethics
Teleology (Consequence Ethics): Determination
of rightness or wrongness based on consequences.

Consequentialism: Refers to those moral theories

which hold that the consequences of a particular action
form the basis for any valid moral judgment about that
action (or create a structure for judgment,).
 Cla ssification of
Teleological Ethics
(a) UTILITARIANISM:
Right and wrong are determined according to
that course of action that produces the greatest benefit
for the greatest number of people.

The view that an action or policy is right if and

only if it is likely to produce at least as great a surplus
of good over evil consequences as any available
alternative

Hedonic Utilitarians: 19th century, Jeremy Bentham,

Pleasure is the only good and pain the only bad.

Ideal Utilitarians: Friendship and beauty (good) and

opposites, alienation and ugliness (bad).
(b) ETHICAL EGOISM AND ALTRUISM:

Egoism: Right and wrong are determined by the

course of action that will bring the most personal
pleasure and avoid the most pain.

Altruism: Right and wrong are determined by

an individual take actions that have the best
consequences for everyone except for himself.
(c) EMOTIVISM:

Right and wrong are determined by the

individual’s subjective, emotive response to a
situation – how one feels.

(d) LEGALISM:

Right and wrong are determined by

the law.
Ethical norms are based solely on the
legal system and the courts
(e) FIDEISM:
Right and wrong are determined
by religious belief or faith in God.
2 . Deontological Ethics
Deontological Ethics is a Duty Based Ethics

Right and wrong are determined according to duty – not what

you do but why you do it.

Deontological ethics or deontology is an approach to ethics that

determines goodness or rightness For example, telling lies or
breaking a promise are intrinsically wrong, regardless of the
consequences.

For example, Kant famously argued that

we have a moral duty to always tell the
truth, even to a murderer who asks where
the would-be victim is.
 Problems with
Deontological Ethics

How does one decide what to do when there

are conflicting duties?

All this theory says is act on duty, therefore

you have no clear way of choosing which duty
to follow

If people are following different duties, then

there is no consensus
Virtue Ethics
Right and wrong are determined according
to acting in certain ways considered to be
good or virtuous

Morality consists in forming good habits of

character – that is, in developing the virtues

Virtue theory is an approach to ethics

which emphasizes the character of the
moral agent, rather than rules or
consequences, as the key element of ethical
thinking.
Problems with Virtue Ethic

ØVirtues vary from culture to culture, so

the same problems of cultural relativism
arise

Øsince virtues are culturally biased, there

is no consensus
Thank You