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How Actions Can Be Morally Evaluated. Teleological Ethics. Teleological Ethics: we are morally obligated to do X because of its good consequences Deontological Ethics: X is morally good because we ought to do it (i.e., it is our duty). Motive/Intention (Character). ACT. Consequences.
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How Actions Can Be Morally Evaluated Teleological Ethics • Teleological Ethics: we are morally obligated to do X because of its good consequences • Deontological Ethics: X is morally good because we ought to do it (i.e., it is our duty) Motive/Intention (Character) ACT Consequences Deontological Ethics
Utilitarianism: we ought to promote the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number • Bentham: the hedonic calculus is based on the intensity, duration, certainty, immediacy, fecundity, purity, & number of people affected • J. S. Mill: the quality of pleasures needs to be considered, determined by competent judges • The motivation to produce happiness arises from conscience (feelings of sociability) J. Bentham(1748-1843) J. S. Mill (1808-73)
Kant’s Ethics (Formalism) I. Kant (1724-1804) • Morality is not based on consequences; happiness is morally valuable only if it is based on a good will—that is, acting for the sake of doing your duty • You are morally obligated only if everyone is obligated: the form of obligation consists in its universal or “categorical” character • The “categorical imperative”: act only on rules that you could will everyone to adopt