Utilitarianism and Moral Decisions

Utilitarian Concepts

• Utilitarian calculus is employed to evaluate the implications of actions based on the balance of pleasure versus pain.
• Utilitarianism focuses on assessing actions through their consequences, aiming for the greatest overall happiness.

Moral Implications

• Moral tragedy arises when decisions lead to regret, highlighting the complexity of moral judgment.
• Gage's accident demonstrates the impact of physical injury on moral reasoning abilities, affecting ethical decision-making.

Emotional Perspectives

• Guilt serves as a moral sentiment that prompts individuals to rectify perceived wrongs, acting as an internal corrective mechanism.
• Shame reflects the discomfort associated with breaching societal norms, influencing behavior and self-perception.

Stages of Moral Development

• Preconventional stages define morality in self-centered terms, focusing on individual consequences.
• Conventional stages involve seeking moral guidance from societal norms and peer influences.
• Postconventional stages represent a shift towards universal principles, facilitating moral decisions based on broader ethical frameworks.

Ethical Perspectives

• Justice perspective emphasizes duty and moral principles, leading to a more formal approach to ethical reasoning.
• Care perspective prioritizes relational context and emotional connections, advocating for a balanced approach in moral development.

Influences on Moral Development

• Carol Gilligan posits that women's moral development often diverges from conventional models, suggesting alternative pathways.
• Cultural relativism asserts that moral judgments are shaped by societal norms, reinforcing the idea that ethics can vary significantly across cultures.

Rights and Ethics

• Welfare rights pertain to entitlements related to social goods necessary for well-being and a decent quality of life.
• Liberty rights emphasize individual freedom to pursue legitimate interests without interference.

Core Principles

• The principle of utility denotes that the ethical choice maximizes happiness for the majority while minimizing suffering.