Mrunal Ethics (E1/P2) Theories- Teleological vs.

Deontological Ethics

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- Mrunal - http://mrunal.org -

[Ethics] E1/P2: Human Interface: Theories of Ethics- Teleological,

Deontological, Virtue Ethics, Conduct Ethics, Rights based,
Utilitarianism, Hedonism, Egoism,
Posted ByMrunalOn 20/09/2015 @ 6:15 pm In Ethics | 17 Comments
1. 3 Theories of Ethics (V-C-R)
2. T1: Virtue Ethics
3. T2: Conduct Ethics
1. T2A: Utilitarian Theory
2. T2B: Hedonism
3. T2C: Egoism
4. Summary of Conduct Ethics
4. T3: Rights Based Ethics
1. 3 Generation of rights
2. John Rawls
5. Case study: Sardar & ICS
6. Case study: Ethical justification?
7. Descriptive Questions (200 words each)
In the previous part (E1/P1), we looked at the types of judgments and pre-conditions for ethical scrutiny. In this
part, we shall look at various theories of ethics, their merits and demerits.

3 Theories of Ethics (V-C-R)

1. Virtue
Ethics

We judge a persons virtue rather than his conduct

We focus on conduct rather than person. Further

2.Conduct
Ethics

If we focus on course/means/action: Deontological

If we focus on goal/end/outcome: Teleoglogical / consequentialism.

3.Rights
We give rights to an individual. By xyz action, whether rights of Mr.ABC are violated or
based Ethics not? On that parameter well evaluate the action

T1: Virtue Ethics

Focus more on virtues of the agent rather than consequences of his actions.
Plato

Gave four Cardinal virtues of a good man: Wisdom, Courage, Temperance, Justice.

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Mrunal Ethics (E1/P2) Theories- Teleological vs. Deontological Ethics

Aristotle

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Proposed Golden Mean. Which means avoiding extreme good and extreme bad.
Avoiding altruism (Maximum happiness to others while ignoring yours) and avoiding
hedonism (maximum pleasure for yourself).
Buddhist philosophy of Madhyama-pratipad proposes the same middle-way.
Although it cant be applied to all cases. e.g. if someone alleges youre a mad-man, you
cant say Im half-mad!

T2: Conduct Ethics

Teleological: Consequentialism
Examples: (1) Utilitarianism (2) Hedonism (3) Egoism

Deontological: Non-consequentialism
Examples (1) Varnashram dharma (2) law of
Karma (3) religious scripture
Focus on means/methods/actions
Also known as Duty based ethics

Focus on End/Goals/Consequences
Wed have gained independence sooner, had we used
violence against the British, and sooner we gained
independence, faster wed have become a 1st world
country, so, use of violence is right, because end goal is
noble.

Gandhi: We dont want to gain independence

through the use of violence. Because even
though self-rule is a noble goal, violence is not
the right mean/instrument to achieve it.

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1. It may justify robbing a bank, IF the looted money is

to be used for charity.
2. It may justify pirating coaching class material,
because itll lead to greatest good for greatest number
of people.

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Kant: Piracy as a process is wrong. Because

it violates the right to property. Anyways,
well discuss Kant in detail, in separate lecture
on Syllabus topic #5: Moral Thinkers.

In both 1 and 2, we are focusing on the end.

Its ok to lie, to save someones life.

Difficult to justify because by lying were

violating the other persons right to
knowledge.
Gives motivation to work, even when the result
is uncertain or far away. e.g. Lord Krishna
advising Arjun to fight in the war against the
Kaurav.

Anyways, its not important to get into finer nuances of each and every thinker and theory, we just have to see
its application in case studies. So, while solving a case study, try to see it through the glasses of various
theories.

T2A: Utilitarian Theory

Utilitarianism: if lynching makes 99 people happy and one person unhappy, is it good?
Utilitarianism says you should work for greatest happiness for greatest number of people.
A lynch mob kills a person believing a committed a crime.
In this case say 100 peoples happiness minus 1 dead guys unhappiness = 99 units of happiness. So, is it
an ethical action after all it led to maximum happiness for maximum people?
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Thus, in traditional Act Utilitarianism theory, lynch mob is justifiable.

But, What if we make a rule out of above case I.e. it is ok for people to kill other people. If this rule is
held valid then people will fear coming out of their home => economy & society will collapse=> not
maximum good for maximum people.
Therefore, by application of Rule utilitarianism, we can prove lynch mob is ethically wrong.

Utilitarianism is not same as altruism.

Altruism
You should put other peoples happiness before your own happiness.
You should strive for maximum peoples happiness, youre also part of that crowd. So, your
Utilitarianism
own happiness also matters as a unit.
Hedonism
You should maximize your own pleasure.

Utilitarianism: Merits and demerits

Demerits

Merits
Democratic way of
decision making.
Who should
become PM? Ans.
The one whose
party gets
maximum votes.
Ensure distributive
justice. Take higher
taxes from the rich
and use it for the
welfare scheme of
the poor.

Minority voice / opinion is not considered. Because utilitarianism

concerned with benefit to majority.
Utilitarianism would not agree with the fundamental rights given to
minorities.
Orthodox views are validated. e.g. in the times of Raja Ram Mohan Rai,
people thought Sati system was right.
Not every happiness is quantifiable or comparable: is reading
Shakespeare equivalent to happiness of eating two Macdonald burgers? So,
which happiness should government provide to citizens? Although
thinkers later qualified the levels of happiness. Reading Shakespeare is
sublime happiness so it cant be equivalent to even 100 mac-burgers.

Youve to keep the merits and demerits of each theory in mind, to ensure its proper application in case studies.
E.g. if a case study involves minority rights or feminism, it may not be right to bend the utilitarianism principle
to justify your stand.

T2B: Hedonism
Hedonism says maximize your own pleasure/happiness.
Among Indian philosophical schools, Charvaka school (Lokayatmat) advocates the same.
Hedonism
Epicureanism
Gandhism

Strive for Pleasure in all forms. Pleasure is the only truth of life.
Absence of pain is the greatest pleasure.
Sustainable pleasure is (1) freedom from fear (2) freedom from bodily pain
Sustainable pleasure obtained by (1) Knowledge (2) friendship (3) Modest Life
opposite of Hedonism because it preaches Complete control over senses, Bramhcharya.

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Hedonism: Merits and Demerits

Merit
Focus on maximum happiness
if we stop defining Hedonism as gross sensual
pleasure and focus on long lasting sustainable
pleasure then it is refined hedonism.
Refined hedonism: appreciating art, investing in
personal relations, cultivating hobbies.
Similarly Epicureanism also encourages us to live
happy, modest, good life and invest in friendship.

Promotes consumerism: boost to economy, employment

generation. If everyone pursues ascetic lifestyle, wholl
provide food to the families of Chinese workers in apple
factory?

Demerits
Drug abuse gives short term pleasure,
hedonism would justify it.
Its ok to spend salary on lavish lifestyle
rather than saving it for pension.
Health and financial prudence gives long
term happiness at the expense of short
term discomfort. But a Gross Hedonist
wouldnt like it.
Law of marginal utility: youve to
consume more and more to get same
amount of pleasure.
This, consumerism leads to exploitation
of natural resources which is not good for
environment and sustainable
development.
Greed becomes need.

Moral Skepticism
According to Sophists (Greece) and Charvaka (Ancient India)- Ethical studies have no logical foundation
because
1. There are no fixed / objective criteria to separate moral act from immoral act, therefore, men are
incapable of pursuing moral path
2. If men pursue moral path, itll not be in their best self-interest.
3. External forces determine a mans action, so rarely a man has free will to choose his own action.
And this thought process leads to next theory of ethics Egoism

T2C: Egoism
Egoism says maximize your own self-interest. Because (1) it is in human nature to avoid pain (2) it is irrational
for a man to ignore his self-interest.
Hedonism

It is ok to sleep till late, even if you miss important business meeting.

Egoism

You should walk up early, if theres an important business meeting.

Similarly, A girl wanting to become fashion-model will deny herself the pleasure of good
food (Hedonism), to remain thin and slim.

If parents sacrifice personal comforts for better education for children, if businessman gives part of his
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income in philanthropic causes, if a soldier sacrifices his life for protection of the nation -how does
Egoism interprete them?
Egoism says in all such actions are unconsciously selfish. e.g. philanthropy hidden objective of gaining
fame and respect. Although hidden motives are difficult to verify.
Egoism: Merits and Demerits
Merit

Demerit

Egoism can lead to happiness for others also e.g. Mukesh Ambanis
decision to run a refinery at Jamnagar is driven by his own self-interest
of profit generation but it also generates employment for lakhs of
people. Capitalism works parallel to this.

Labour exploitation. Not

always environmentally
sustainable or socially
inclusive. Trickle down
doesnt always work.
In a resource scare country,
will not work. And increase
the divide between the rich
and the poor.

Youre running a mobile company with profit motive, but at the same
time youre doing a social service by helping people in their need to
communicate with others.

Mobile tower radiation

harming entire society in the
long term.
If everyone looking @his
self-interest, wholl care for
future generation aka no more
sustainable Development.

If everyone tries to maximum his own self-interest, still there will be

resistance by others, so ultimately an equilibrium will be established
wherein its win-win for all.

If everyone tries to maximize his

own self-interest, itll lead to
disaster. e.g. Prisoners dilemma

The demerits of egoism encouraged Mathematician John Nash (movie: A beautiful mind), to work on Game
theory. He died in 2015, May. So consider that homework, for some ethical case study involving game-theory.

Summary of Conduct Ethics

Theory

Utilitarianism

Hedonism

Thinkers
1. Jeremy
2. Bentham
3. John
Stuart
Mill.

Meaning

Maximum happiness for

maximum no. of people

1. Charvaka
Maximum pleasure for
2. Epicurus
yourself
(Refined)

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Merits

Demerits

Democratic Decision
Making

Minority
unheard
Orthodoxy

Refined hedonism:
long term sustained
pleasure
Consumerism boom to
economy

Consumerism
vs.
environment
Greed
becomes
need

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Egoism

1. Greek
Sophists
Maximum self-interest
2. Hobbes
3. Nietzsche

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Capitalism, trickle down

Prisoners dilemma

T3: Rights Based Ethics

We give rights to an individual. By xyz action, whether rights of Mr.ABC are violated or not? On that
parameter well evaluate the action.
In China, a person from rural area cant move to Shanghai without permit. So, his right to selfdevelopment is violated.
In N.Korea, ordinary citizens are denied internet service, so their right to knowledge id violated, although
the State may justify it saying internet-ban is necessary for maintenance of law and order or to prevent
the brainwashing of the North Koreans by Western powers.
When rights are given, it imposes accountability on the government. e.g Freedom of expression
=>Media => Check on corruption.
Right to education => enlightened citizenry =>they exercise RTI and thereby make government
answerable.
Human rights: ensures feudalism doesnt come back.
So, How do we judge an action using rights based theory? Our thinking of rights based ethics begins with
the liberalism.
Negative Approach
Freedom of
expression: State is
denied from
encroaching in
individual sphere.
Most of our
fundamental rights
are negative.

Positive Approach
State is enabled to empower the citizenry. e.g. Freedom of movement is a
negative right, but if the state constructs more highways and railways to
enable faster movement of goods and people, the state is enabling the
citizens to enjoy their rights.
Same way right to education=> Government making more sarkaari
schools.

3 Generation of rights
1st
Gen

Negative rights. Usually political rights e.g. right to vote, civil liberties.
But these were found to be inadequate. e.g. women got right to vote but they found it did not lead
to their real development. This gave birth to 2nd generation rights

2nd
Gen

Enabling rights, developmental rights, positive rights.

e.g. Social security, right to health, education

3rd
Gen

Environmental rights: Kyoto protocol, Rio+20 and subsequent sustainable Development goals
(SDG)

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Group rights, cultural rights e.g. ensuring protection of the culture of North East people.

John Rawls
Leading thinker of this school is John Rawls. As such not much point doing Ph.D on him, all you should
remember is he tried to reconcile between Liberty (capitalism) and Equality (Communism)
Liberty

Equality

give maximum liberty to people without encroaching on other peoples liberties.

If Ambani is earning Rs.1,000 crore, if that leads to the poor getting Rs.10 crore (say through
taxation and trickle down), then it is ethical. This is akin to Gandhis Antyodaya.
This is different from Capitalism because theyd not like taxation.
This is different from communism, because theyd want wealth of Ambani to be equally
distributed among all poor.

For Case studies, keep in mind- rights based approach should be used for major themes only e.g. speech,
health, education. For trivial individualist things, e.g. lying, stealing better to apply other theories for your
answer.

Case study: Sardar & ICS

During the British era, ICS (Indian Civil services) officers were responsible for arrest and persecution of Sardar
Patel and many other freedom fighters. Yet, after independence, Patel decided to continue ICS service under a
new name IAS and retained those ICS officers in it, despite the opposition by the other members of
Constituent assembly. Discuss the ethical dilemmas that Sardar Patel would have faced before arriving at this
decision.

Case study: Ethical justification?

Is following course of action ethically justifiable? Yes / No and Why?
1. It is ok to remove organs of a convict on death row without his consent, IF we transplant them to needy
children from poor families.
2. It is ok for government to run opium farms, provided they sell it to foreign countries use the money for
benefit of the poor.
3. We should legalize prostitution because itll lead to less exploitation of the women in the hands of pimps
and policemen.
4. Government should ban cigarettes and alcohol from movies since it influences young audience to begin
smoking and drinking.
5. Women in armed forces should be posted only in the desk jobs, since theyre physically less fit to serve in
frontline field posts.

Descriptive Questions (200 words each)

1. Discuss in brief, major theories of Ethics. Which of them, in your opinion, answers the moral Dilemma
better than others?
2. Utilitarianism, though logically consistent, has internal-contradictions. Do you agree? Justify your stand?
3. Define Betrayal. Narrate a historic example of betrayal and discuss the underlying ethical currents.
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4. Moral value of an act is not wholly dependent on its consequences. Discuss with a historic example.
5. A universal theory of Ethics is impossible to frame since the moral choices depend on culture, religion,
region and time-period. Do you agree, Justify your stand.
6. According to Charvaka and other moral sceptics- Ethics has no logical foundation and perception is the
only source of knowledge. Do you agree, Justify your stand.
In the third part (E1/P3) well look at values, role of family-society-Edu. Institutions in inculcating human
values and ethics in public and private relations. Visit Mrunal.org/Ethics for more study material on Ethics.
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