Theory of Ethics

Ethical Theory
Defines terms in uniform ways and link
ideas and problems together in consistent
ways (Harries)
Is a comprehensive perspective on morality
that clarifies, organizes, and guides moral
reflection.
Provides a framework for making moral
choices and resolving moral dilemmas
Way

to identify, structure and integrate moral

reasons
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Ethical Theory
Why multiple theories?
Enriches

the problem-solving process

Allow problems to be looked at from different
angles
Help to determine the best solution
Ethical conduct is fundamentally grounded in a
concern for other people. It is not just about law
or religion (Fleddermann, C.B.)
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Ethical Theory
Utillitarianism- seeks to produce the most
utility taking into account the consequences
for everyone affected
Duty Ethics- contends that there are duties
that should be performed. (e.g. not to injure
others, etc.) regardless of whether these
acts lead to the most good.
Right Ethics- emphasizes that we all have
moral rights, any action that violates theses
rights is ethically unacceptable. The ultimate
overall good of the action is not taken into
account. It says we ought to respect human
rights.

Ethical Theory
Virtue ethics- regards actions as right that
manifest good character traits and regards
action as bad that display bad character
traits. It focuses on the type of person we
should strive to be. Good character is
central of morality.
Self realization ethics - emphasizes the
moral significance of self-fulfillment. How
self is conceived? The self to be realized is
understood in terms of caring relationships
and communities.

Utillitarianism
It holds that those actions are good that
serve to maximize human well-being.
Not on maximizing the well being of the
individual, but rather maximizing the wellbeing of society as a whole. A collective
approach.
E.g. building a DAM

Utillitarianism
Utilitarianism seems a straightforward
way to interpret the central principle in
most engineering codes Engineers shall
hold paramount the safety, health and
welfare of the public in the performance of
their professional duties
What

exactly is the good to be maximized?

Should we maximize the good effects of
individual action or the good effects of
general rules (policies, laws, principles in
codes of ethics)?
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Utillitarianism
Utilitarianism and Cost-benefit Analysis
Cost Benefit analysis
Good

and bad consequence of some action

or policy
Weighs total goods against total bads
Compares the result
Is this Utilitarianism, But often not

Cost Benefit analysis

Whose

good and bad is considered?

How good and bad are measured ?

Cost-Benefit: a case of Pinto

automobile (ref. Fleddermann)
Pinto- a subcompact car by Ford
company
At the early stage of development,
crashworthiness test revealed the Pinto
could not sustain a front end collision
without windshield breaking.
Quick fix solution- the differential was
moved very close to the gas tank.
Thus gas tanks collapsed and exploded
upon rear-end collisions at low speeds.

Cost-Benefit: a case of Pinto

automobile (ref. Fleddermann)

Article by Mark Dowie

Cost-benefit analysis developed by Ford in 1971 to decide whether
to add $11 part per car to protect vulnerable fuel tank
$ 11 was insignificant but it would make far more difficult to market
a car that was to be sold for no more than $2000
The cost of installing the part on 11 million cars and another 1.5
million light trucks
The cost of not installing the part, and instead paying out costs for
death and injuries from accidents, was projected.
Worth of human life $200,000 (from National highway traffic safety
administration)
Cost of non death injury was $67,000
Estimated burn death- 180/year and serious burn injuries 180/year
Total annual cost for death and injuries= 48..million
Cost for adding the part to automobile= 137 million
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Cost-Benefit: a case of Pinto

automobile (ref. Fleddermann)
Article by Mark Dowie
The death and injuries out to be more than
estimated- Dowie estimated 3000 per year
Juries awarded larger damages verdicts
The Cost-benefit analysis focused on cost
benefit of Ford Motor Company
It omitted the bad consequences of not
informing consumers of known dangers
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Utillitarianism Types
Act- Utillitarianism:- A particular action is
right if it is likely to produce the most good
for the most people in a given situation,
compared to alternative choices that
might be made.
Rule Utillitarianism:- right actions are
those required by rules that produce the
most good for the most people.
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