ETHICS GRE

Moral Theories
EN
TABLE 01 MORAL SUBJECTIVISM

02
OF
CULTURAL RELATIVISM

03 ETHICAL EGOISM

CONTEN 04 DIVINE COMMAND THEORY

TS 05 2
VIRTUE ETHICS
TABLE 06 FEMINIST ETHICS

07
OF
UTILITARIANISM

08 KANTIAN THEORY

CONTEN 09 RIGHTS- BASED THEORY

TS 10 3
CONTRACTARIANISM
 MORAL THEORIES

A theory is a structured set of statements used to explain

(or predict) a set of facts or concepts. A moral theory,
then, explains why a certain action is wrong -- or why we
ought to act in certain ways. In short, it is a theory of
how we determine right and wrong conduct. Also, moral
theories provide the framework upon which we think and
discuss in a reasoned way, and so evaluate, specific moral
issues.
01
Moral
Subjectivism
 Moral Subjectivism

Right and wrong is determined by what you -- the subject -- just happens to think
(or 'feel') is right or wrong.

In its common form, Moral Subjectivism amounts to the denial

of moral principles of any significant kind, and the possibility
of moral criticism and argumentation.In essence, 'right' and
'wrong' lose their meaning because so long as someone thinks
or feels that some action is 'right', there are no grounds for
criticism. If you are a moral subjectivist, you cannot object to
anyone's behaviour (assuming people are in fact acting in
accordance with what they think or feel is right). This shows
the key flaw in moral subjectivism -- probably nearly everyone
thinks that it is legitimate to object, on moral grounds, to at
least some people's' actions. That is, it is possible to disagree
about moral issues.
02
Cultural
Relativism
 Cultural Relativism

Right and wrong is determined by the particular

set of principles or rules the relevant culture just
BONJOUR happens to hold at the time.

Cultural Relativism is closely linked

to Moral Subjectivism. It implies that
HI! we cannot criticize the actions of
those in cultures other than our own.
And again, it amounts to the denial of
universal moral principles. Also, it
implies that a culture cannot be
mistaken about what is right and
wrong (which seems not to be true),
and so it denies the possibility of
moral advancement (which also
seems not to be true).
03
Ethical Egoism
 Ethical Egoism

Right and wrong is determined by what is in your self-interest.

Or, it is immoral to act contrary to your self-interest.

Ethical Egoism is usually based upon Psychological Egoism -- that we, SALU
by nature, act selfishly. Ethical egoism does not imply hedonism or that
we ought to aim for at least some 'higher' goods (e.g., wisdom, political
success), but rather that we will (ideally) act so as to maximize our self
T!
interest. This may require that we forgo some immediate pleasures for
the sake of achieving some long term goals. Also, ethical egoism does
not exclude helping others. However, egoists will help others only if
this will further their own interests. An ethical egoist will claim that the
altruist helps others only because they want to (perhaps because they
derive pleasure out of helping others) or because they think there will
be some personal advantage in doing so. That is, they deny the
possibility of genuine altruism (because they think we are all by nature
selfish). This leads us to the key implausibility of Ethical Egoism -- that
the person who helps others at the expense of their self-interest is
actually acting immorally. Many think that the ethical egoist has
misunderstood the concept of morality -- i.e., morality is the system of
practical reasoning through which we are guided to constrain our self-
interest, not further it. Also, thatÝ genuine altruism is indeed possible,
and relatively commonly exhibited.
04
Divine
Command
Theory
 Divine Command Theory

Right and wrong are just a matter of the arbitrary will of

the gods

HOL The view that morality is somehow

A dependent upon God, and that moral
obligation consists in obedience to
God’s commands. Divine Command
Theory includes the claim that
morality is ultimately based on the
commands or character of God, and
that the morally right action is the
one that God commands or requires.
05
Virtue Ethics
 Virtue Ethics
Right and wrong are characterized in terms of acting in accordance with
the traditional virtues -- making the good person.

It may, initially, be identified as the one that emphasizes the virtues, or moral character,
in contrast to the approach that emphasizes duties or rules (deontology) or that
emphasizes the consequences of actions (consequentialism). Suppose it is obvious that
someone in need should be helped.
06
Feminist
Ethics
Feminist
Ethics
Right and wrong is to be found in HAL
women’s responses to the
relationship of caring.
F
WAY
an attempt to revise, !
reformulate, or rethink those
aspects of traditional western
ethics that depreciate or devalue
women's moral experience.
Among others, feminist
philosopher Alison Jaggar faults
traditional western ethics for
failing women in five related
ways.
07
Utilitarianism
 Utilitarianism

Right and wrong is determined by the overall goodness (utility) of

the consequences of action.
Utilitarianism is a Consequentialist moral theory.

HOL Theory of morality, which advocates

A actions that foster happiness or
pleasure and opposes actions that cause
unhappiness or harm. When directed
toward making social, economic, or
political decisions, a utilitarian
philosophy would aim for the
betterment of society as a whole.
08
Kantian Theory
 KANTIAN THEORY

Right and wrong is determined by rationality, giving

universal duties.
Kantianism is a Non-consequentialist moral theory.
ETHIC
Kant’s theory is an example of a deontological S!
moral theory–according to these theories, the
rightness or wrongness of actions does not
depend on their consequences but on whether
they fulfill our duty.Kant, unlike Mill, 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. For Kantians,
there are two questions that we must ask ourselves
whenever we decide to act
09
Rights-based
Theories
 Rights-based Theories
We are to act in accordance with a set of
moral rights, which we possess simply by
BONJOUR being human.

The basic idea is that if

HI! someone has a right,
then others have a
corresponding duty to
provide what the right
requires.
10
Contractaria
nism
Contractarianism

The principles of right and wrong (or Justice) are

those which everyone in society would agree
upon in forming a social contract.
Last!
Names both a political theory of
the legitimacy of political
authority and a moral theory
about the origin or legitimate
content of moral norms. The
moral theory of
contractarianism claims that
moral norms derive their
normative force from the idea of
contract or mutual agreement.
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