deontology
How do you determine what the right thing to do is?
Ethical theories - help to determine what is right.
We cover 3 theories:
utilitarianism - consequentialism
Virtue ethics
deontological ethics - principle-based ethics
Lesduur is: 50 minOnderdelen in deze les
How do you determine what the right thing to do is?
Ethical theories - help to determine what is right.
We cover 3 theories:
utilitarianism - consequentialism
Virtue ethics
deontological ethics - principle-based ethics
After this class
-Do you (still) know what utilitarianism says about what good conduct is?
-Do you know what deontological ethics says about what good conduct is?
Deontology
Ethical Theory 2: Deontology
Immanuel Kant
- Your action can be called ethically correct (humane) when it is done out of a sense of duty.
- It is not the outcome of your choice that must be humane, but the intention/principle with which you made this choice.
- It is about consciously doing the right thing: always acting to preserve human dignity.
Ethical Theory 2: Deontology
How do you know what is right to do?
Ask yourself the question: would you want everyone in this situation to act as you intend to?
YES --> do it
NO --> don't do it
Could your action form the basis of a universal law (applicable to everyone)?
Lying is always wrong!
Yes
No
Under what circumstances would you lie?
Would you lie to save a friend's life?
Yes
No
Criticism of Deontology
- no attention to the circumstances
- no attention to emotion
- no attention to the consequence
Check
Let's see if you've understood a bit about these two theories...
When you look at what makes most people happy, then you follow
utilitarianism
Deontology
The Dilemma: The Ticking Bomb
In a large city, a terrorist attack is planned. The police have apprehended a suspect who has confessed to placing a bomb at an unknown location. The bomb will explode within 1 hour and is likely to cause hundreds of casualties.
The suspect refuses to disclose the bomb's location. There is no technical means to find or defuse the bomb in time without his help.
The security services are considering putting the suspect under extreme pressure, including torture, to uncover the bomb's location.
The question:
Is it morally permissible to torture the suspect to potentially save hundreds of lives?
Explain what a utilitarian would decide.
Explain what a deontologist would decide.