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Kantian ethics
believed that certain types of actions
(including murder, theft, and lying) were absolutely prohibited,
even in cases where the action would bring about more
happiness than the alternative.

Kant’s theory is an example of a deontological moral theory

according to these theories, the rightness or wrongness of

actions does not depend on their consequences but on
whether they fulfil our duty.

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 Kantian ethics

This theory implies that as long as you act in a moral

way then the consequences of your actions don't
matter. Immoral actions include lying and using
people as means to an end.

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 two questions that we must ask ourselves
whenever we decide to act

(i) Can I rationally will that everyone act as I propose

to act? If the answer is no, then we must not
perform the action.

Does my action respect the goals of human beings

(ii)
rather than merely using them for my own purposes?
Again, if the answer is no, then we must not perform
the action

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 Rawl’s ethics
John Rawls is best known for his
liberal theory of justice, or justice
as fairness.

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 Rawl’s ethics

Each person is to have an equal right to the

most extensive basic liberty compatible with
similar liberty for others.
Social and economic inequalities are to be
arranged so that they are both:
•reasonably expected to be to everyone's
advantage and
• attached to positions and offices open to
all.

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Sir William David Ross:
(1877-1971)

The Right and the Good

(1930):
An introduction to
Intuitionism as a Model of
Ethics
7
 Ross ethics
Ethical Intuitionism.
Ross contends that we have an intuitive knowledge
of the rightness and wrongness of acts that doesn't
amount to the evaluation of the consequences of
our actions

, Ross contends that this intuitive knowledge doesn't

consist of a set of moral absolutes that can not be
overridden.

our moral principles present us with prima facie duties.

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 Significant Points of Ross’
Model:

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 Ross ethics
six types of prima facie duties

Duties of Fidelity

those that rest upon previous acts of my own (promising

and reparation);

Keep one’s promise

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 Ross ethics
six types of prima facie duties

Duties of Gratitude

those that rest upon previous acts of others (gratitude)

gratefulness and return the same

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 Ross ethics
six types of prima facie duties

DUTIES OF JUSTICE

those that rest on the fact or possibility of a distribution of

pleasure or happiness

prevent or correct mismatch between person’s

pleasure or happiness and their merit

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 Ross ethics
six types of prima facie duties

Duties Of Beneficence

those that rest on the fact that there are others whose condition we
may make better

generosity

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 Ross ethics
six types of prima facie duties

Duties of Self-Improvement

T h o s e T h at Re st O n T h e Fa c t T h at We
M ay M a ke O u rs e l ve s B e tte r

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 Ross ethics
six types of prima facie duties

Duties of Non-Maleficence

those that rest on our obligation to not injure

others

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 Ross ethics
six types of prima facie duties

Self-Improvement

(improve one’s condition).

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