Consequentialism v. Deontology

1. Consequentialism v. Deontology

2. Consequentialism v. Deontology • Ticking Bomb Scenario

3. Consequentialism v. Deontology • Ticking Bomb Scenario • Save the most lives

4. Consequentialism v. Deontology • Ticking Bomb Scenario • Save the most lives • Stand on principle: no torture

5. Consequentialism

6. Consequentialism • Def: Morality is determined by consequences

7. Consequentialism • Def: Morality is determined by consequences • e.g. lives saved

8. Consequentialism • Def: Morality is determined by consequences • e.g. lives saved • Maximizing the good

9. Consequentialism • Def: Morality is determined by consequences • e.g. lives saved • Maximizing the good • Utility

10. Consequentialism • Def: Morality is determined by consequences • e.g. lives saved • Maximizing the good • Utility • Pleasure

11. Consequentialism • Def: Morality is determined by consequences • e.g. lives saved • Maximizing the good • Utility • Pleasure • Happiness

12. Consequentialism • Philosopher: John S. Mill (1806-73)

13. Consequentialism • Philosopher: John S. Mill (1806-73) • British

14. Consequentialism • Philosopher: John S. Mill (1806-73) • British • “Utilitarianism”

15. Consequentialism • “The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure.”

16. Consequentialism • Zell Kravinsky

17. Consequentialism • Mr. Kravinsky said the only argument against altruistic kidney donation — those given to strangers — that has any validity for him is the one pressed by his wife and parents, who asked what he would do if one of his children needed a kidney and he had none to give.

18. Consequentialism • But, he said, he considered the probability of that happening, the probability of him being alive and having a healthy enough kidney, the probability that a sibling would not be a better donor, the probability that organ donation will still be a necessity. "I thought about all that and decided that the probabilities simply didn't outweigh the life of my recipient," he said. "I love my children, I really do. But I just can't say their lives are more valuable than any other life."

19. Consequentialism • Mr. Kravinsky says he is only applying the principle of "maximum human utility," explaining, "My life is not worth more than anyone else's." • "No one should have a vacation home until everyone has a place to live," he said. "No one should have a second car until everyone has one. And no one should have two kidneys until everyone has one."

20. Consequentialism • Striking implication of consequentialism: Impartiality

21. Consequentialism • Striking implication of consequentialism: Impartiality • Def: I must be impartial to whose good my actions promote

22. Consequentialism • “The happiness which forms the standard of what is right in conduct is not the agent’s own happiness, but that of all concerned. As between his own happiness and that of others, utilitarianism requires him to be as strictly impartial as a disinterested spectator.” • “One person’s happiness, is counted for exactly as much as another’s.” • John S. Mill, 1863

23. Consequentialism • Striking implication #2: No act is inherently immoral

24. Consequentialism • Striking implication #2: No act is inherently immoral • Torture

25. Consequentialism • Striking implication #2: No act is inherently immoral • Torture • Murder?

26. Consequentialism • Sinking of The William Brown, March 13, 1841

27. Deontology

28. Deontology • Def: Morality consist in following principles.

29. Deontology • Def: Morality consist in following principles. • e.g. never murder

30. Deontology • Def: Morality consist in following principles. • e.g. never murder • Ignores consequences

31. Deontology • Def: Morality consist in following principles. • e.g. never murder • Ignores consequences • The ends never justify the means

32. Deontology • Philosopher: Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

33. Deontology • Philosopher: Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) • Principles of duty:

34. Deontology • Philosopher: Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) • Principles of duty: • (1) Universalize your action

35. Deontology • Philosopher: Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) • Principles of duty: • (1) Universalize your action • (2) Never treat people as means to an end

36. Deontology • Case: stealing a newspaper

37. Deontology • Case: stealing a newspaper • What if everyone did it?

38. Deontology • The criticism of consequentialism:

39. Deontology • The criticism of consequentialism: • It treats people as means to an end

40. Deontology • The criticism of consequentialism: • It treats people as means to an end • Torture • Kidney donation • William Brown

41. Summary • Principles v. Consequences

42. Summary • Principles v. Consequences • Consequentialism is realistic

43. Summary • Principles v. Consequences • Consequentialism is realistic • Deontology protects our rights