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Consequentialism

Consequentialism. Is it OK to inflict pain on someone else?. What if it is a small amount of pain to prevent a great deal of suffering?. Consequentialism. Consequentialism.

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Consequentialism

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  1. Consequentialism Is it OK to inflict pain on someone else? What if it is a small amount of pain to prevent a great deal of suffering?

  2. Consequentialism

  3. Consequentialism • Ethical theory that judges the moral rightness or wrongness of an act according to the desirability of its consequences

  4. Consequentialism Two questions must be asked What has intrinsic value? Who should receive this value? Intrinsic Value: Value that is good or desirable in itself Instrumental Value: Value is judged in terms of achievement of other ends

  5. Ethical Egoism • People should always act to promote their own self interest • Note -- egoism should not be confused with being an egotist-- a self centered person with an inflated ego

  6. Ethical Egoism What has intrinsic value? Self Interest (Happiness) Who should receive this value? Me • Hedonism: Moral rightness of an actions depends upon how much pleasure or pain it produces.

  7. Ethical Egoism Not concerned with gratifying immediate desires Concerned with promoting our objective (long term) self interest

  8. Ethical Egoism What does it mean to act in your self interest? Pursue those ends that will contribute to your personal happiness Maximize our own good an well being

  9. Ethical Egoism “Love and friendship are profoundly personal, selfish values…. One gains a profoundly personal, selfish joy from the mere existence of the person one loves. It is one’s own personal, selfish happiness that one seeks, earns and derives from love”

  10. Ethical Egoism How would an ethical egoist justify the following? Putting your life at risk to save a loved one. Giving money to a worthy charity Helping your neighbor move

  11. Utilitarianism What has intrinsic value? Pleasure (Happiness) Who should receive this value? The greatest number of people

  12. Utilitarianism Ethical theory that maintains that the morally right act is the one that promotes the greatest good for the greatest number of people

  13. Utilitarianism • Jeremy Bentham (1748-1842) • John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)

  14. Utilitarianism A traffic light should be installed at the intersection to prevent accidents The person who stole your money must be punished to deter future crime All citizens will be required to pay income tax The speed limit on highways should be 65 mph

  15. Two Forms of Utilitarianism • Act-utilitarianism: affirms that the right action is the one that directly produces the best balance of happiness over unhappiness for all concerned

  16. Two Forms of Utilitarianism • Rule-utilitarianism: says that the morally right action is the one that, if followed as a general rule, would produce the greatest overall good, all instances and everyone considered

  17. Utilitarianism What has intrinsic value? Is pleasure or happiness the ultimate goal in life? Who should receive this value? Can we justify seemingly immoral acts on utilitarian grounds?

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