moral theory
- discourse constituted by a structured set of normative, coherent, and in principle justifiable assertions
- explains why an action is right or wrong or why a person or character is good or bad
- grounds on which to establish what is deemed right/wrong and why
virtues
inner qualities and moral character that guide one’s behaviour towards goodness
duty
responsibilities and obligations that one owes to oneself and society
utility
principle of maximizing overall happiness and welfare
rights
fundamental privileges and entitlements bestowed upon individuals
natural law
moral standards that govern human behaviour are, in some sense, objectively derived from the nature o human beings and nature of the world
principle
basic truths and standards that guide moral reasoning
capacities
the inherent abilities and potentialities that enable ethical behaviour
Virtue ethics
- rightness based on whether an action would accord with relevant virtues
- virtuous character
Deontologism
- rightness determined partly or entirely by an actions intrinsic nature
- duty
consequentialism
- rightness depends solely on consequences or results
- utility
key features of consequentialism
- consequences determine morality
- impartiality
- aggregation - sum harms and benefits across all affected
- Flexibility
- forward looking
why consequentialism appeals in health ethics
- clear decision rule
- practical in emergencies
- population focus
- adaptability
limits of consequentialism
- ends justify means
- neglect of rights
- measurement problem
- distribution issue - may overlook equity
utilitarianism
- type of consequentialism
- happiness, well-being, utility as outcome measure
the principle of utility
The greatest happiness principle
- maximization
- aggregation - add together everyone’s happiness
- equality
act utilitarianism
- evaluate each act whether it maximizes happiness
- no fixed rules
- flexibility - do what you do to get it
rule utilitarianism
- an action is right if it follows a rule that, if generally adopted, would maximize happiness
- focus on rules or practises, not individual acts
- rules shape long term trust, stability, predictability
would a general rule permitting this kind of action maximize happiness overall
key critiques of utilitarianism
- ends justify means
- neglect of basic moral considerations
- demandingness
- measurement problem
- distribution problem
core idea of non-consequentialist ethics
- some actions are right or wrong in themselves, regardless of outcomes
- obligations, duties, principles
key features of duty-based ethics
- intrinsic rightness or wrongness
- duties and obligations
- rules and principles
- universalism
- respect for persons
two key formulations to Kant
- universalizability
- respect for persons - not as means
ethical imperatives
- hypothetical - conditional
- categorical - unconditional, do this regardless
duties in Kantian ethics
- truth telling
- respect for autonomy
- non maleficence
- justice and fairness
- promise keeping and fidelity
