ETHICAL THEORIES

• Virtue Ethics


  A system of ethics in which character is the primary emphasis for how an individual and society should guide their lives
• Virtues


  • Generosity/magnanimity
  • Compassion
  • Honesty
  • Solidarity
  • Fortitude/courage
  • Justice
  • Patience
  • Benevolence
  • Nonmaleficence
  • Temperance/moderation
  • Fairness
  • Selflessness/altruism
• Virtues by Confucius

  • Xi - virtue of learning
  • Zhi - virtue of character
  • Li - virtue of community and one's interaction and responsibilities towards others
  • Yi - virtue of morality, honesty and uprightness
  • Wen - virtue of leisure and self-development (art, music, poetry, and other types of recreation)
  • Ren - virtue of benevolence, charity and humanity
• Values


  Principles or standards of behavior that help one to decide what is important in life
• Kinds of Values

  • Biological values - necessary to the physical survival of man as an organism
  • Social values - necessary to the sensual needs and fulfillment
  • Rational values - necessary to the functions and fulfillment of intellect and will
  • Moral Values - those that directly pertain to the function of intellect and will
• Ethical Relativism


  The theory that holds that morality is relative to the norms of one's culture
• Types of Ethical Relativism

  • Cultural Relativism - ethical standards are established by your culture
  • Subjective Relativism - you yourself are the only source of ethical standards
• Duty Ethics of Kant / Kantian Ethics


  Morality is based on reason not emotion. What you intend and why is the important focus.
• Good Will


  The use of Reason to inform Good Will helps highlight your Duty in any situation
• Types of Duty

  • Perfect duty - must always do (not to tell lies)
  • Imperfect duty - duty which one must not ignore but admits of multiple means of fulfillment (Duty of self-improvement; Duty to aid others)
  • Biological duty - pertains to the preservation of life and the maintenance of health and bodily functions
  • Intellectual duty - pertains to the development of intellect and will
  • Moral duty - pertains to the development of the spirit, or character
• Categorical Imperative


  To act for the sake of duty only (Hypothetical imperative is acting in order to receive some kind of reward)
• Formulation/Conceptualization of Categorical Imperative

  • Universal Moral Law - An ethical law can be universal if everybody wishes to follow it equally
  • Treat people as ends - Treat others and own self as ends, Individual's capability of leading life should be recognized
  • Kingdom of ends - Imaginary state whose laws protect individual autonomy, Morality is not just a matter of individual conduct, but also the foundation of society
• Utilitarianism

  A theory in normative ethics that says the morally best action is the one that makes the most overall happiness or "utility" (usefulness)
• The goal of utilitarian ethics is "The greatest good for the greatest number"