Ethical Theories:

A Very Brief Overview

Phil. 334-04:
Ethics @ the Frontiers of Science
& Technology
Spring, 2012

Lawrence M. Hinman
Professor of Philosophy
University of San Diego Lawrence M. Hinman
02/05/12

Table of Contents
The Basic Question of Ethics
Three Approaches
Act-oriented Theories

Consequentialist Approaches

Rule-based Approaches
Character-based Theories
Religion
Conclusion

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Lawrence M. Hinman

Three Approaches

There are three main approaches to ethics:

Consequence-based approaches
Rule-based approaches
Character-based approaches
The first two approaches address the question of how we
ought to act, the third approach responds to the question
of what kind of person we should be.

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Lawrence M. Hinman

The Basic Question of Ethics

Historically, philosophers have disagreed about what
the basic question of ethics is. They fall into two
camps:

...on the basis of

consequences.

How ought I to act?

Fundamental
Question

What kind of person

ought I to try to be?
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...by following rules

and thus doing our
duty.
...develop character
and virtues.

Act-oriented Approaches
There are two basic ways of answer the question, How
should I act?

Consequentialism:

Act-oriented
approaches

Look at the consequences and

choose the action that has the
best consequences

Deontology:
Look

at the rules and follow

the rules (ten commandments,
duty, human rights, justice).

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Lawrence M. Hinman

Consequentialist Approaches

Issues for consequentialist approaches:

Consequences for whom?
Yardstick for measuring consequences
Act or rule consequentialism

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Consequences for whom?

For whom?
Just for me
My group

Name
of Position
Egoism
Group Conse

Just for me

Egoism

Just for my group

Group consequentialism

Family
Country
Religion

For everyone

Utilitarianism

All human beings

All sentient beings
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Do we try to measure the consequences of

each individual decision?
By definition, consequentialism not surprisingly--considers
consequences, but do we look at the consequences of?
Consequences

Each individual act

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Everyone following a
general rule

Lawrence M. Hinman

Rule-oriented Approaches
Numerous approaches have one thing in
common: rules trump consequences.
No matter how much good might be
accomplished, you cannot break the rules
Ticking bomb example
Examples of rule-oriented approaches:

The Golden Rule

Human Rights
Justice
Kant & Deontology
Ten Commandments

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Character-oriented Approaches

Fundamental Question: What

kind of person do I want to be?
Emphasizes strengths of
character necessary to
human flourishing
Example: courage
Emphasizes flexibility of rules for
new situations

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Religion and Ethical Theories

Religious Rule-oriented Approaches
Religious Consequentialism
Character-based traditions
Central to most religious traditions: the formation of character

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Pluralism
How do these approaches relate to one another?
Possible answers:
1. One is right, others are wrong
2. Each tells part of the story, none tells the whole
story
3. It is helpful to have a diversity of opinion,
including those who hold alternative positions.

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