Basic Framework of Normative Ethics

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Basic Framework of Normative Ethics
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Normative Ethics

• Normative means something that guides or
  controls
• Aims to discover what should be the moral
  standards that are supported by the best reasons

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Normative Ethics in Management
Deontological Theory
Teleological Theory
Altruism
Ethical Egoism
Utilitarian Principle
Distributive Justice
Kantianism
Universalism
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Teleological theory

• Derived from Greek word telos means end
• Determine ethics of an act by looking to the
  consequences of the decision (The Ends)
• Utilitarianism and Distributive Justice are based
  on teleological approach

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Ethical Egoism

• An action is good if it produces result to
  maximize persons self-interest at the expense
  of others.
• It denies that a person should help others when
  the person will get nothing out of it.
• Enlightened egoism is enlightened self interest
  considers the long range perspective of other or
  humanity on the whole.

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Utilitarian Principle
Consequentialism
Universalism
Utilitarian principle
Hedonism
Maximalism
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Strengths Weaknesses of Teleological theory

• They provide a relatively precise and objective
  method for moral decision making
• They are in accord with much of our ordinary
  moral reasoning An action would provide some
  benefit or inflict harm. This is morally relevant
  reason for or against performing it.
• Some moral reasoning are non-teleological in
  character

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Deontological Theory

• Derived from greek word deon means duty
• This approach believes we have a duty not to do
  bad
• Bribery is wrong by its very nature regardless of
  the consequences
• It is non-consequential theory
• Determine the ethics of an act by looking at the
  process of the decision (The means)
• Kantianism is based on deontological approach

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Deontology vs Utilitarianism
Principle inherent in action Outside the action
Individuals are valuable in themselves Criticized because it makes sacrifice, some people for sake of others
According to deontologists utilitarian go wrong when they fix on happiness as the highest good. They point out that happiness cannot be the highest good for humans Concerned with total amount of happiness
Theory asserts that there are some actions that are always wrong, no matter what consequences Right or wrong are dependent on consequences vary with the circumstances
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Kantianism- Immanuel Kant

• For Bentham it is Happiness, for Kant it is
  goodwill
• An action is morally right only if the person
  performing it is motivated by a good will and
  vice-versa.
• A goodwill means action done for reasons of
  principle from a sense of duty, nothing else.

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Kantianism vs Utilitarianism
Details Kantianism Utilitarianism
Explicit and direct appeal to consequences in determining right or wrong Absent yes
Motive for action Sole importance Incidental
Permit sacrifice of individuals or minorities to collective self interest No Yes
Ethics of Duty Welfare
Theory Non Consequentialism (Deontological) Consequentialism
Formulations on Sense of Duty, Categorical imperative maxim Utility, Maximise happiness, Hedonism
Common good must have priority over every thing else Yes No
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Strengths of Deontological Theory

• This theory makes more sense in cases where
  consequences seem to be irrelevant
• It is the way they account for the role of
  motives in evaluating actions

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Weaknesses of Deontological theory

• Failure to provide a plausible account of how our
  moral obligations and resolve problems of moral
  conflict
• Rules in Rosss theory is plausible No reason is
  provided in accepting these rule
• Rosss rules are open to ethnocentrism
• There is no order of priority to guide in cases
  where they conflict

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Virtue Ethics- Aristotle

• It asks What kind of person should we be?
• It does three things
• It defines the concept of virtue
• It must offer some list of virtues
• It offers some justification of that list and
  explain how we define what are virtues and vices

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Virtue Ethics

• Emphasizes on role of individual traits
• Virtue is defined as a character trait that
  manifests itself in habitual action
• For Greeks virtue means Excellence
• Virtue Ethics Excellence of Human Character

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Strengths

• Help to resolve Ethical Dilemmas
• It takes into account the importance of
  relationships.

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Ethical Relativism

• There is no universal set of principles by which
  to judge morality
• Each society has its rules and it is
  inappropriate to compare ethical rules of one
  society with that of another
• Relativists thus rule out possibility of
  discussion across societies on ethical issues.

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