5 Ethical Theories Flashcards

Major Ethical Theories

• Five major ethical theories: Consequentialist, Deontological, Virtue, Ethics of Care, and Feminist Ethics.

Consequentialist Theory

• Rightness of actions is determined solely by their consequences.
• Focuses on the amount of good produced by an action.

Utilitarianism

• Renowned type of consequentialism.
• Right action yields the most beneficial balance of good over bad for all involved.
• Employs the greatest happiness principle, aiming to maximize overall happiness irrespective of distribution.

Types of Utilitarianism

• Two types: Act Utilitarianism and Rule Utilitarianism.

Act Utilitarianism

• An act is deemed right if it produces as much good as any alternative option.
• Evaluates the effects of each potential act.

Rule Utilitarianism

• Centers on the established rules that govern types of actions.
• An action is ethical if it follows the established rule, regardless of potential negative outcomes.

Examples of Utilitarianism

• Act Utilitarianism: Ending the life of a terminally ill patient may be justified if it maximizes overall happiness without causing public outrage.
• Rule Utilitarianism: A rule against active euthanasia could be upheld despite its possible negative consequences suggesting it promotes better overall outcomes.

Deontological Theory

• Focuses on the nature of the acts rather than their consequences.
• Examples include the moral standing of Robin Hood's actions deemed wrong despite good outcomes.

Kantian Ethics

• Right actions depend on adherence to moral rules rather than consequences.
• Actions taken from a sense of duty are ethical.

Categorical Imperatives

• Moral duties are universally binding without exceptions.
• Two essential characteristics of moral laws: Universality and Impartiality.

Formulations of Categorical Imperative

• First formulation: Universality.
• Second formulation: Respect for persons.

Kantian Moral Example

• The rightness of actions regarding terminal illness cases can be challenging to assess in this framework.

Virtue Ethics

• An ethical theory emphasizing the cultivation of virtuous character traits.
• Virtues are ingrained habits that align with high standards of moral excellence.

Achieving Virtue

• One becomes virtuous through the practice of moral habits and mimicking virtuous role models.
• Character develops over time and is not fixed.

Concept of Virtue in Aristotle’s Perspective

• Virtue is seen as a balance between extremes: cowardice (too little) and foolhardiness (too much).

Virtue Theory Moral Reasoning

• The dilemma regarding the life of a terminally ill patient raises questions of virtue versus vice.

Feminist Ethics

• Seeks to advance women's interests and rectify social injustices rooted in societal oppression.
• Emphasizes the importance of social context in moral considerations.

Branches of Feminism in Ethics

• Include liberal, radical, and ecofeminism.

Feminist Approaches to Ethics

• Ethical perspectives view moral agents as interconnected within relationships, contrasting individualistic traditional theories.
• Stress that moral reflection must consider social realities.

Ethics of Care

• Emerges from feminist perspectives, prioritizing the unique demands of specific situations.
• Highlights the significance of feelings and virtues in personal relationships, such as compassion and sympathy.

Arguments of Ethics of Care

• Asserts that caring and emotions play a crucial role in a comprehensive ethical system.