There are three types of ethics (META, NORMATIVE, and APPLIED)
For any moral judgment, if a person affirms that right/wrong actions
can be determined, then this investigation falls under “NORMATIVE”
For any moral judgment, if a person is skeptical about the objective
status of it (truth or falsity), then the investigation falls under “META”
For any moral judgment, if a person applies findings from the above
two domains into specific contexts, the exercise falls under “APPLIED”
Three Frameworks for Normative Ethics
DEONTOLOGY
UTILITARIANISM
VIRTUE THEORY
DEONTOLOGY:- actions are morally right or wrong based on adherence to rules and duties,
irrespective of the consequences.
human knowledge is justified through deduction and induction
deduction:- drawing specific conclusions from general premises or principles. It's a "top-down"
approach where the conclusion logically follows from the given premises. If the premises are true
and the reasoning is valid, the conclusion must also be true.
Inductive reasoning, or induction, involves drawing general conclusions from specific observations.
Example of deontology: Telling the truth is a duty. Even if lying could produce better outcomes in a
specific situation, deontology asserts that one must tell the truth because honesty is a universal
moral obligation.
Criticisms:
• Rigidity: It doesn't allow exceptions; strict adherence to rules can lead to morally
questionable outcomes.
• Neglect of Consequences: It overlooks the outcomes of actions, which can sometimes be
detrimental.
1. Immanuel Kant's principle of universalizability
Structure 1. Take any action P
2. 2. Add the universal quantifier, (x) P, add a negation {not (x) P}
3. 3. See if the universalized action not P creates contradictions. explain and give one
more example and under which topic does this come in ethics
Kant's Universalizability Test in deontological ethics, you can follow these structured steps:
1. Formulate the Maxim:
o Identify the underlying principle (maxim) guiding the action you're considering.
o Example: "I will make false promises to obtain money when in need."
2. Universalize the Maxim:
o Imagine a world where everyone adopts and acts upon this maxim.
o Example: Everyone makes false promises to obtain money when in need.
3. Check for Contradictions:
o Assess whether the universalized maxim leads to a logical contradiction or an
undesirable situation.
o Example: If everyone made false promises, trust in promises would erode, rendering
the concept of a promise meaningless. This contradiction indicates that the maxim is
not morally permissible.
Utilitarianism:- The most ethical choice is the one that will produce the greatest good for the
greatest number.
Criticisms:
• Measurement Problem: Quantifying happiness and comparing it across different people is
challenging.
• Lack of data about future
• Justice Concerns: Actions that produce overall happiness might still be unjust to a minority.
Virtue Theory:- virtue ethics emphasizes the role of one's character and virtues in evaluating
ethical behavior, rather than rules or consequences.
Key Principles:
• Moral Virtues: Traits like courage, temperance, and wisdom are cultivated to achieve moral
excellence.
• The Golden Mean: Virtue lies between two extremes; for instance, courage is a balance
between recklessness and cowardice.
Criticisms:
• Lack of Action Guidance: It doesn't provide clear guidelines for specific situations.
• Cultural Relativism: What is considered a virtue can vary between cultures.