Introduction to Ethics
Introduction to Ethics
Ethics refers to the branch of Philosophy that deatls with moral principles, specifically how we act or behave.
Ethics is not the same as study of laws: Murder is morally and legally wrong. Telling a lise in most circumstance is not against the law, but could be viewed as morally wrong.
Ethics is not the same as customs and culture. There are different customs on how we greet others - a kiss on the cheek or a handshake, yet to fail to shake hands with someone is not usually seen as morally wrong.
Ethics is not the same as study of laws: Murder is morally and legally wrong. Telling a lise in most circumstance is not against the law, but could be viewed as morally wrong.
Ethics is not the same as customs and culture. There are different customs on how we greet others - a kiss on the cheek or a handshake, yet to fail to shake hands with someone is not usually seen as morally wrong.
BBC - Ethics - Introduction to ethics: Ethics: a general introduction
Ethics are a system of moral principles and a branch of philosophy which defines what is good for individuals and society.
Types of ethical questions:
There are three main levels of ethical questions.
There are three main levels of ethical questions.
Approaches to normative ethics.
Deontological ethics focus on duty (from the Greek, 'deon', meaning 'what is true', or 'duty'), motives, and the rightness or wrongness of actions or rules rather than their justification in terms of consequences. Such theories view 'goodness' in terms of adherence to law, duty or motives, actions being right or wrong in themselves, as opposed to actions being instrumentally good, the end goal justifying the means of achieving it.
Philosophers distinguish beetween act and rule deontological theories. In brief, act deontologists judge the rightness of their actions on the basis of what and just and impartial person would do in the same particular set of circumstances. By contrast, rule deontologists follow fixed principles or rules that apply regardless of their ability to deliver favourable outcomes in specific cases. Immanuel Kant's Categorical imperative offers one example of rule-deontology. Its fixed principle of acting with Good Will and in terms of unversalising the rule by which one acts applies whether or not it promotes pleasure or pain. Kant is well aware of the human tendency to make exceptions to rules, for example when the obligations of a promise prove costly. It may be supposed that deontological thought is seldom seen in areas of public policy, but this is not the case. Examples of deontologial thinking are common to medical codes of conduct in the UK and internationally, such as:
Teleological ethics (from the Greek, 'telos', meaning 'goal' or 'purpose') can, confusingly, be used in two distinct senses.
Deontological ethics focus on duty (from the Greek, 'deon', meaning 'what is true', or 'duty'), motives, and the rightness or wrongness of actions or rules rather than their justification in terms of consequences. Such theories view 'goodness' in terms of adherence to law, duty or motives, actions being right or wrong in themselves, as opposed to actions being instrumentally good, the end goal justifying the means of achieving it.
Philosophers distinguish beetween act and rule deontological theories. In brief, act deontologists judge the rightness of their actions on the basis of what and just and impartial person would do in the same particular set of circumstances. By contrast, rule deontologists follow fixed principles or rules that apply regardless of their ability to deliver favourable outcomes in specific cases. Immanuel Kant's Categorical imperative offers one example of rule-deontology. Its fixed principle of acting with Good Will and in terms of unversalising the rule by which one acts applies whether or not it promotes pleasure or pain. Kant is well aware of the human tendency to make exceptions to rules, for example when the obligations of a promise prove costly. It may be supposed that deontological thought is seldom seen in areas of public policy, but this is not the case. Examples of deontologial thinking are common to medical codes of conduct in the UK and internationally, such as:
- Doctor-patient confidentiality (assuming that what is revealed does not break the law of the country concerned);
- anti-discrimination laws establishing rights to be treated fairly in accessing health, housing and education without regard to one's age, disability, creed, ethinic or racial origin, sexual orientation, gender, nationality, political affiliation, etc
Teleological ethics (from the Greek, 'telos', meaning 'goal' or 'purpose') can, confusingly, be used in two distinct senses.
- Aristotle's ethics focuses on the purpose of actions and beings. In this sense of teleology, everything is aimed towards an end purpose. This may be because some divine being(s) designed them that way, or simply because living things by their nature, work towards certain goals (whether consciously or not).
- Teleology can more simply refer to acting on the basis of achieving certain consequences or outcomes.
