3. Moral Philosophers David Hume (1711-1776) Based his theory of ethics on human experience and psychology rather than the divine law and natural law. Our morals are based on the idea of justice and compassion and our ultimate goal is to improvement of the human race.
4. Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) Proposed changes to laws whose purpose was to maintain the status quo. Believed that instead laws should be focused on providing happiness and reducing suffering, therefore, they should be designed to serve the human race. Proposed using a utilitarian concept of pain vs. pleasure when making ethical decisions. Making ethics quantifiable by considering “greatest good for the greatest number” Intensity Duration Certainty vs. Uncertainty Convenience or remoteness Productiveness (chance of being followed by sensations of the same kind)
5. Kidder “Rule based thinking” vs. “end-based thinking” Ends-based thinking using cost-benefit analysis. Who will be helped and who will be hurt in the decision
6. Teleology is any philosophical account which holds that final causes exist in nature, meaning that design and purpose analogous to that found in human actions are inherent also in the rest of nature. The word comes from the Greekτέλος, telos, root: τελε-, "end, purpose, (not to be confused with τῆλε, “at a distance, far from”). The adjective "teleological" has a broader usage, for example in discussions where particular ethical theories or types of computer programs (such as "teleo-reactive" programs) are sometimes described as teleological because they involve aiming at goals. (wiki-source)
7. Teleology Central to theory of relativism… is an assessment of consequences. (Consequentialism) Kidder (1995), you can determine the “greatest good” w/o speculating on probable futures (24). Common Forms of Teleology Egoism Act-Utilitarianism Rule Utilarianism
8. Egoism- everyone should promote self interest b/c the greatest good will result for the greatest number. Self-serving Universal ethical egoism---described by Pojman (2002) as the least favorable form of egoism. Supported by Adam Smith, Ayn Rand, Thomas Hobbes. We should do what will maximize one’s own expected utility or bring about one’s own happiness, even when it means harming others. Survival of the fittest. Everyone should play to win.
9. Utilitarianism Emphasizes 2 features of relativism Consequentialist principle The rightness/wrongness of an act is determined by the goodness or badness of the results Not worried about the means…simply the end results Utility principle Views pleasure as the sole good and pain as the only evil An act is right it brings more pleasure than pain…. (John Stuart Mill defined pleasure/happiness)
10. 2 classical types of Utilitariansim Act is right only if it results in as much good as any available alternative (Pojman 2002) Based on the best perception and wisdom of that individual at that time. Everyone should always establish and follow that rule or those rules that will bring about the greatest good for all concerned. Act-Utilitarianism Rule-utilitarianism
11. Analysis Must be balanced Cannot focus solely on self-interest Must have some standards or guidelines b/c if rules did not exist it would have a negative effect on society and pursuit of happiness.
21. Everything that is good will bring some person or group happiness, but it does not follow that everything that brings someone happiness is necessarily good;
22. How to establish the reasonable limits of what should be done to create the “greatest happiness for the greatest number”;
23. Practical difficulty has to do with the fact that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to determine all the consequences of an action in advance, let alone evaluate their relative valueExample: Airplane crash victims and kidney transplant
24. Case Study: A Reference Request Principal, John Checkers Mentally debating what to say to professional colleague [reference] at other school, about Rolly’s health or whether he would be likely to stay in the new position for an extended period of time. Teacher, Rolly Durham
