How Actions Can Be Morally Evaluated

1. How Actions Can Be Morally Evaluated Teleological Ethics • Teleological Ethics: morality is defined in terms of the consequences of actions • Deontological Ethics: morality is defined in terms of intention (e.g., doing one’s duty) Motive/Intention (Character) ACT Consequences Deontological Ethics

2. Natural Law Theory • Our consciences (informed by reason and experience) reveal our obligations: to God (e.g., obedience), ourselves (e.g., development), and others (e.g., respect) • Objection: consciences conflict; doing one’s duty is not always natural or obvious • Reply: our intention should be to do our duty (which should be properly informed) Samuel Pufendorf

3. Kant’s Ethics (Formalism) • Morality is not based on character or consequences, for virtues or happiness are morally good only if informed by a good will– the intent to act for the sake of doing your duty • Morality is about obligation (for everyone): the form of moral obligation is its universality, its categorical (vs. hypothetical) character • Humans can act for the sake of doing their duty, so treat them as ends-in-themselves

4. Kant: The Categorical Imperative • Always act only on maxims (rules) that you could will everyone universally to adopt • Tests for universalizing a maxim: consistency (universalizability without contradiction) and acceptability (can be accepted if universalized) • W. D. Ross: duties sometimes conflict; this shows how they are valid only prima facie • T. Regan: duties to animals are not indirect