Ron Gavrin

Slides derived from

Dr. Michael Bennetts Ethics slides package
And online information
 Philosophy consists of 4 branches:

1. Ethics
2. Logic
3. Epistemology
4. Metaphysics
 Religious
Logical (philosophical)
Professional
Legal

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There are four fundamental ethical principles and
five major ethical theories:

The four fundamental ethical principles are:

1. respect for autonomy (freedom),
2. beneficence (good),
3. justice (fair) and
4. Non-malfeasance (do no harm).

The five major ethical theories are

virtue, deontology, utilitarianism, rights , etc.
 Aristotles Virtue Ethics
Goodness of act depends on function/goal
Golden Mean and Golden Rule
Mills Utilitarianism
Greatest good for greatest number
Kants Formalism and Duty/Deontology
Categorical imperative to behave well
Lockes Rights
Rights because you are alive and human

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Mills A statement is correct if it produces the Conflicts arise amongst
utilitarianism- greatest benefit for the greatest number benefits. Your benefit has
based of people. Must consider duration, to be balanced against
intensity, equal distribution someones loss
Kants Duty- Duty is to do what would be acceptable Conflicts arise if principle
based for everyone to follow may cause harm. Telling a
white lie because it might
hurt
Lockes Everyone is free-and-equal. All have Can be hard to tell if ones
Right-based rights to life, health, liberty, and person rights infringe on
possessions of her labour anothers

Aristotle Happiness comes from developing Definition of virtue is hard

Virtue-based virtues and qualities of character, thru and may be culturally
deduction and reason. An act is good if dependent. Golden mean
it comes from reason can be good

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 The goodness of an act, object or person
depends on the function or goal concerned
Humans need to achieve true happiness by
developing the virtues of thought, reason,
deduction and logic
Virtues need to achieve the Golden Middle
between excess and deficiency
Example: Modesty is the golden middle between
the excess of vanity and the excess of humility

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 Hard to define virtue
What actually IS the middle?
Virtues vs. Vices

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 Main Points of Aristotle's Ethical Philosophy
1. The highest good and the end toward which all human activity is
directed is happiness, which can be defined as continuous
contemplation of eternal and universal truth.
2. One attains happiness by a virtuous life and the development of reason
and the faculty of theoretical wisdom. For this one requires sufficient
external goods to ensure health, leisure, and the opportunity for
virtuous action.
3. Moral virtue is a relative mean between extremes of excess and
deficiency, and in general the moral life is one of moderation in all
things except virtue. No human appetite or desire is bad if it is
controlled by reason according to a moral principle. Moral virtue is
acquired by a combination of knowledge, habituation, and self-
discipline.
4. Virtuous acts require conscious choice and moral purpose or
motivation. Man has personal moral responsibility for his actions.
5. Moral virtue cannot be achieved abstractly it requires moral action in
a social environment. Ethics and politics are closely related, for politics
is the science of creating a society in which men can live the good life
and develop their full potential.
 The term deontology comes from the Greek word
deon, meaning duty.
The theory of deontology states we are morally
obligated to act in accordance with a certain set
of principles and rules regardless of outcome.
In religious deontology, the principles derive
from divine commandment so that under
religious laws, we are morally obligated not to
steal, lie, or cheat.
In Kants deontological theory the rules (or
maxims) derive from human reason.
 Every human has a duty to act in a correct
and ethical manner
Categorical Imperative
The intention is more important than result
No white lies!
If you do your duty, all will be well

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There are three formulations:
The First Formulation of the Imperative
Act only according to that maxim whereby
you can at the same time will that it should
become a universal law without
contradiction.
The first formulation of the categorical
imperative appears similar to the Golden
Rule: Do not impose on others what you do
not wish for yourself.
The Second Formulation of the Imperative
Act in such a way that you treat humanity,
whether in your own person or in the person
of any other, never merely as a means to an
end but always at the same time as an end.
The Third Formulation of the Imperative
Therefore, every rational being must so act
as if he were through his maxim always a
legislating member in the universal kingdom
of ends.
 The formula of humanity:
Act in such a way that you treat humanity,
whether in your own person or in the person of
another, always at the same time as an end and
never simply as a means.
For example,
if I steal a book from a friend, I am treating him as a
means only (to obtain a book).
If I ask to have his book, I am respecting his right to say
no and am thereby treating him as an end in himself, not
as a means to an end.
If I only ask for the book in order to appear nice and
hope that my friend is likely to do more things for me in
the future, then I am still treating him as a means only
 Be honest
Be fair
Do not hurt others
Do no harm
Do not lie
Never steal
Keep your promises
Obey the law

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 Life is never black and white but gray
Does not consider the outcome of the action

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Hume, Bentham, Mills = utilitarianism.
The axioms of the moral theory that seeks to
maximize happiness :

1. Pleasure or Happiness Is the Only Thing That Truly

Has Intrinsic Value
2. Actions Are
Right Insofar as They Promote Happiness,
Wrong Insofar as They Produce Unhappiness
3. Everyone's Happiness Counts Equally
 Always do what produces the most good for
the most people
Similar to Cost-Benefit analysis
(or Pros vs. Cons also called Benjamin Franklin
balance sheet)
( add up the goodies and subtract the baddies)
Not so easy to do

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 Used by democracies all the time
Problem is quantifying maximum benefit
Mills suggested 3 factors should be
considered
1 Number of people affected
2 Intensity of pleasure (pain)
3 Duration of pleasure (pain)
Often please one group at the expense of
another
(smoking vs. non-smoking)

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 For years, the best-selling compact in North
America
Test showed that the windshield would pop
out in collisions. So engineers moved the
drive train back so that the differential was
close to the gas tank
Many exploded on rear-end collisions

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 $11 part would greatly reduce the likelihood of
injuries ands death BUT
Would drive the cost over $2,000 (perceived price-
point)
Would have to recall 12,5 million cars for a total
cost of $137 million
But a death was worth $200,000 and an injury
$67,000
Assumed 180 burn deaths (not a nice way to go!)
and 180 serious injuries for a total cost of $49.5M
CBA says dont put the part in!
This is NOT Mills theory

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 Every individual has rights because they exist
The right to life and the right to the
maximum possible individual liberty is key
American Declaration of Independence
Canadian Bill of Rights

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We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men
are created equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -
-That to secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from
the consent of the governed, --That whenever any
Form of Government becomes destructive of these
ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to
abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its
foundation on such principles and organizing its
powers in such form, as to them shall seem most
likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

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 Fundamental freedom of conscience, religion,
thought, belief, opinion, expression, peaceful
assembly and association
Democratic rights to vote
Legal rights to life, liberty and the security of
the person and the rights not to be deprived
of these rights (unless you are deemed a
terrorist!)
Equality rights before and under the law and
the right to equal benefit and protection of
the law
Mobility rights to enter, remain in and leave
Canada

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