Deontology (Duty Ethics) Lecture PDF

“Two things move the mind with ever-increasing admiration and awe the oftener and more steadily we reflect on them: the starry heavens above and the moral law within.” – Immanuel Kant, German Philosopher Three Leading Ethical Theories Duty Ethics ...

“Two things move the mind with ever-increasing admiration and awe the oftener and more steadily we reflect on them: the starry heavens above and the moral law within.” – Immanuel Kant, German Philosopher Three Leading Ethical Theories Duty Ethics  Objectives Introduce Deontology Explore the theory of Absolute Deontology Understand Categorical Imperatives Review objections to Absolute Deontology Dupre, B. Ch 13 Kantian Ethics Nozick, R. The Experience Machine Bassham, R. Ch 1 Ethics: A Brief Introduction  You, a doctor, have only four doses of a life-saving medication, and five ill patients. One patient’s illness is advanced and will require four doses to be saved. The other four patients each need only one dose. You save the other four patients. Sadly, the Did you do the right thing? fifth patient dies.  Pill Distribution Like “Organ Harvest”, you have a choice between two consequences: (a) one patient dies, or (b) four patients die Now it DOES seem permissible to select the option that results in one death rather than four. What was different here?  Pill Distribution What changed? HOW the consequences were brought about In “Pill Distribution”, you did NOT achieve the result by murdering someone! Suggests: certain kinds of actions are WRONG (e.g., murder), regardless of the result Deontology (Duty Ethics) The general view that some actions ARE morally right (or wrong) regardless of their consequences (we will explore two versions of deontology) Agent Action Consequence Recipient  Absolute Deontology Immanuel Kant: German philosopher (1724- 1804) He specifically endorsed a moral system called Absolute Deontology We have certain moral duties that are ABSOLUTE We should fulfill these duties NO MATTER WHAT  Absolute Deontology E.g., “You should not lie” Kant believed telling the truth is an absolute, unconditional duty Meaning it is never morally permissible to lie (no exceptions!)  Kant’s Reasoning… What if EVERYONE lied all the time? What would happen? If everyone lied no one would believe what anyone else said, and if no one believes what anyone else says, there is no point in lying Therefore, you should not lie