Deontology
- Created by: Beth Millward
- Created on: 08-06-15 10:04
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- certain actions are right and wrong in themselves and not in the consequence
- Deontology
- forms
- rights
- an action is morally right if it respects the rights that all humans have
- e.g. do not murder
- an action is morally right if it respects the rights that all humans have
- duty
- an action is morally right if it is in line with a set of agreed duties and obligations
- e.g. allowing free speech
- an action is morally right if it is in line with a set of agreed duties and obligations
- contractualism
- an action is morally right if it is in agreement with the rules that govern a social relationship or contract
- e.g. drive on the left hand side of the road
- an action is morally right if it is in agreement with the rules that govern a social relationship or contract
- divine command ethics
- an action is morally right if it is in agreement with rules and duties established by God
- e.g. do not commit adultery
- an action is morally right if it is in agreement with rules and duties established by God
- monistic deontology
- an action is morally right if it agrees with a single deontological principle which guides all other principles
- e.g. killing is wrong
- an action is morally right if it agrees with a single deontological principle which guides all other principles
- rights
- Immanuel Kant
- reason for performing any action is that it is morally obligatory to do so
- only correct motivation for an action
- right duties and obligations are determined objectively and absolutely
- following correct moral rules not enough
- must also have correct motivation
- only correct motivation for an action
- must also have correct motivation
- all people possess reason and a conscience
- all people can arrive at an understanding of moral truths independent of experience
- morality is a priori
- reason is universal and moral reason would lead to the same results
- God's existence is a necessary requirement of a just universe and for balanced moral law
- moral commands are categorical imperatives and ends in themselves
- categorical imperative - things that should be done without conditions attached
- express an absolute and unconditional duty to act in a certain way
- of supreme importance
- categorical imperative - things that should be done without conditions attached
- the categorical imperative that provides the fundamental moral groundwork for all actions is principle of universability
- 'act in such a way that their actions might become a universal law'
- if the rule governing our actions cannot be universalised, then it is not morally acceptable
- if you cannot enforce that everyone follow the same rule, then it is not a moral rule
- doesn't always work - any command could be universalised but that doesn't make it morally right
- 'act in such a way that their actions might become a universal law'
- formula of kingdom ends
- every action should be undertaken as if the individual were 'a law making member of a kingdom of ends'
- every person should know the significance of the part they have to play in establishing moral guidelines and rules
- every action should be undertaken as if the individual were 'a law making member of a kingdom of ends'
- formula of the end in itself
- a moral act must ensure that human beings are valued as ends in themselves and not means to an ends
- respect for others is paramount
- 'greatest perfection of a human being'
- doing your duty because it is your duty
- naturalistic fallacy - turning an is into an ought (what is good to do is what we ought to do)
- doing your duty because it is your duty
- a moral act must ensure that human beings are valued as ends in themselves and not means to an ends
- reason for performing any action is that it is morally obligatory to do so
- WD Ross
- prima facie duties
- actions that really matter, such as helping others
- not possible to know in advance exactly which duty will be needed
- element of judgement necessary
- if all cases are subjective to evaluation then it is impossible to claim in some cases prima facie rights actually decided the issues
- only way to come to moral knowledge is experience
- prima facie duties
- strengths
- motivation is more important than consequence
- good motive us worthy of value in itself
- it is a humanitarian principle in which all people are considered to be of equal value
- justice is always an absolute and applicable to all equally
- recognises the value of moral absolutes that do not change with time or culture
- provides objective guidelines for moral decision making
- motivation is more important than consequence
- weaknesses
- moral obligations can be difficult to explain
- except by reference to duty
- in reality our decision making is influenced by many more factors
- questionable whether duty is a good motive - what if it goes wrong?
- Kant makes no allowances for compassion or sympathy to motivate our actions
- moral obligations can be difficult to explain
- forms
- actions right wrong because they are, without reference to the outcome
- Deontology
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