ethical theories

• ethical theories are different approaches to deciding what is right and wrong
• what are the three types of consequentialism?

  • utilitarianism
  • contractarianism
  • respect for nature
• what are the principles of ultilitarianism?

  choosing the option that causes the greatest good for the greatest number of people
• what are the principles of contractarianism?

  doing the right thing means abiding by the agreements that the members of rational society would choose
• what are the principles of respect for nature?

  it focuses on the importance of species or groups of animals, rather than the individuals
• what are the two types of deontology?

  • animal rights
  • relational importance
• what are the principles of animal rights?

  animals are just as important as humans, there should be strict limits on what we do with or to animals, no matter how beneficial the outcome may eb for humans
• what are the principles of relational importance?

  people feel more strongly about animals they have a relationship with, they feel less concern for animals they don't have a relationship with
• what are the three types of environmental ethics?

  • anthropocentrism
  • sentience - centred
  • environmental - centred
• what are the principles of anthropocentrism?

  considers humans as the most important species on earth, and they therefore have no duty to care for other animals to preserve nature
• what are the principles of sentience centred ethics?

  animals should be treated based on how sentient they are
• what are the principles of environmental centred ethics?

  all living things are dependent on one anther and humans are not worth more than any other species. humans must respect all other elements of nature to enable life to thrive
• anthropomorphism means assigning human emotions and characteristics to animals, and interpreting their behaviour through that filter
• speciesism means treating certain animal species as more important than others