Will Geist

Morals and Money

Test 1
Moral and Ethical Theories
Kantian Ethics
Kantian ethics is a form of deontological ethics, which means that it is a normative
ethical theory that is based on the adherence to a set of rules. This means that in Kantian ethics,
the distinction of what actions are right and wrong is based on whether or not this action fulfils
ones duty. Kant proposed that the only actions that can truly be considered morally valuable are
good wills. This is because a good will can always be considered right based on the intentions of
the good will, regardless of the outcome of these intentions. Good will is to be judged on motive
alone. Duty, then, is the necessity of acting out of reverence for universal law. An action can
only be good, then, if its maxim is duty to moral law. By using reason, you can realize what is
right to do, based on what you feel and know you should do.
Kantian ethics explains that we must act according to the categorical imperative. A
hypothetical imperative is what we must obey in order to satisfy personal desires of needs. The
categorical imperative, on the other hand, means that for an action to be considered morally
right, it has to be right for everyone based on Universal law. If you are doing something that you
wouldnt want everyone else in the world to be able to do, it is morally not right.
Kant believed that the ability to use reason is what separates humans and non-humans.
Therefore, because a rational being would never consent to being used as a means to someone
elses end, we must treat all other humans with respect, as the ends instead of the means.
There are 2 types of acts. The first, actions taken in accordance of duty, which have no intrinsic
value, and actions taken for the sake of duty, which are morally right.

Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic Social Teaching, written by the Catholic Church, is doctrine based on the
principles of human dignity, solidarity and the common good, charity, subsidiarity, and social
justice.
The first principle is human dignity. The concept of human dignity starts with the idea
that humans are made in Gods image, and we possess dignity because we are capable of
knowledge, possessions, and community. Because humans are the foundation and end of every
social institution, we are required to take action in order to protect human dignity, and are
responsible for contributing to the needs of others and living in peace with all. This leads to the
next point, which is
Solidarity. Humans are social beings, and part of playing your role in the world is
participation in society. Each person is dependent of every other person in the world, and
therefore, people must take action based on the common good of society instead of focusing on
what is good for them as individual people. Solidarity is fundamental to the Christian faith.
The next core value of Catholic Social Teaching is charity, or preferential treatment and
protection to the poor and vulnerable. The moral test of any society is looking at how they treat
their vulnerable members. Charity gives substance to a persons relationship with God as well as
the people around them. We must provide charity because it is required for the common good of
all of us as humans.
Dignity of work and the rights of workers is the next key aspect of Catholic Social
Teaching. Work shapes and fills human dignity, which means that the economy exists to serve
people, not the other way around. Therefore we must fight to protect workers rights in order to
care for society as a collective.
The final key aspect of CST is care for Gods creation. This involves caring for,
conserving, and replenishing the earth that God created. In order to do that, we need to make
creation part of our lives, focus on a sustainable environment, and not ignore the rights of future
generations to the earth we live in. Worshiping Gods creation is also part of caring for it.

Ethics of Care
Ethics of care is a normative ethical theory. Normative ethics means it is a theory about
what makes and action right or wrong. Ethics of care focuses on the more feminine perspectives,
and focuses on creating and maintaining relationships. Care ethics seeks to promote the well-
being of caregivers and recievers in social relations and meeting the needs of ourselves and
others.
Care is defined as the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance,
and protection of someone or something. The two core aspects of care are the cognitive aspect
and emotional aspect. The cognitive effect pertains as to when someone when someone cares
about something they see that thing as of concern, interest or value to them. The emotional care
aspect has to do when someone places emotional attachment to something they care about.
However, there are objections the core aspects of care. The reasons are that someone
could believe something to be good, but not care about it, that neither the cognitive element nor
the emotional element of care are necessarily part of care, as well as that neither the cognitive
nor emotional element are required for care.
Because all individuals are interconnected, we rely on one another for achieving our own
interests, therefore we must care for each other in order for the advancement of society. We must
be conscious of the level of vulnerability individuals have to the choices we make and actions we
take.