Moral Theories

Moral Theories

1. Utilitarianism
2. Duty
3. Virtue
3. Religious

Guidance by Consequences
Utilitarianism - John Stuart Mill
- Goal to minimize harm and maximize benefit to one self and others

Principle of Utility
- Greatest happiness for the greatest number

Difficulties in practice
- The uncertainty of predicting consequences ad difficulties of weighting them
- To define key concepts as 'justice'


Guidance by Principles / Duty 
Deontological Theories - Immanuel Kant 
- Principles of justice
- Duty to do no harm
- Duty to help

Difficulties in Practice
- How to rank duties when they contradict
- To define key concepts as "justice"

Guidance by Virtue 
Teleological Theories - Aristotles 
- The ultimate goal for living creature is happiness
- By living a virtuous life you will gain happiness

What are the virtues?

Guidance by Supreme Being 
- Obey God
- Treat others as yourself
- Respect God's creatures


Objective or Subjective 
- Is there a possibility of moral universals?
- Moral Relativism 
- Should our respect for different cultural traditions overrule our respect for human rights

Moral Education
- Can morality be taught? If the answer is yes then how?
- If our moral beliefs are the results of a cultural condition, why not say the same about out scientific belief
- Are intelligent people more moral than unintelligent?