Deontological and Teleological Theories
- Created by: GeorgeBarton
- Created on: 20-12-16 15:13
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- Deontological and Teleological Theories
- Deontological: A deontologist is concerned with the nature of the act in itself, they say that actions are right or wrong in themselves
- For a deontologist, the ends never justify the means. They have absolutist ideas about morality e.g 'You should never kill because killing is wrong'
- Deon=Duty, so deotologists are concerned primarily with their duty. They say that some acts are simply just right or wrong, because of an absolute law laded down by God or otherwise
- 'Do not kill'
- Absolutism
- Maintains that some things are fixed for all time and all people
- A moral command that's true for all time and all situations
- 'What makes an ethic deontological is that it pays no regard to consequences'
- Ethical Absolutes: No murder, no stealing, no abuse,no sexual crimes etc.
- Maintains that some things are fixed for all time and all people
- Synderesis Rule: 'Do good and avoid evil'
- Example of Deontological Ethics: Natural Law; believes some actions are intrinsically wrong
- RCC Encyclical: 'There exist acts which are always seriously wrong by reason of their object'
- Humanae vitae: 'Every act of sex should be open to the gift of life'-no contraception
- For a deontologist, the ends never justify the means. They have absolutist ideas about morality e.g 'You should never kill because killing is wrong'
- Teleological: Ethics are teleological if they focus on end results, rather than something being right or wrong intrinsically, or by merit of action alone. This is sometimes called 'consequentialist'
- They do not say that an action is right or wrong within itself
- Teleos= Greek word meaning end, means that you make moral decisions based on consequences
- 'Sometimes you have to put your principles aside and do the right thing'
- Examples of Teleological theories: Utilitarianism and Situation Ethics
- Relativism: No objective moral truths, depends on culture, personal choice and situation, the opposite to absolutism
- 'There are no objective truths' -Mackie
- 'Man is the measure of all things'-Protagoras
- Teleological Strengths: Puts the majority over the minority, takes into account whole situation, more compassionate, personal flexibility
- Teleological Weaknesses: Can lead to immoral acts being committed, end result may not be positive, a single person is not solid morality
- Deontological Weaknesses: Can lead to unnecessary suffering, can lead to unhappiness, selfish in some cases, no free will
- Deontological Strengths: Creates order in society, clear moral guidelines, no guilty consequences
- Deontological: A deontologist is concerned with the nature of the act in itself, they say that actions are right or wrong in themselves
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