Deontology

Deontology

1. Strengths

   • Focus on the value of moral absolutes that do not change with time or culture, there surely must be things beyond fad or fashion
   • E.g. Daniel Dennett Three Mile Island Disaster, ignores consequence & focuses on good will
   • E.g. Jim's Predicament, everyone has a quality & looks towards the golden rule

2. Stand in opposition to consequentialist theories as focus on right or wrong rather than consequences of actions

3. W.D.Ross

   • Prima Facie Duties = 1) Fiedelity 2) Beneficence 3) Justice 4) Non-Injury 5) Reperations 6) Gratidude 7) Self-Improvement
   • Burning Building Example

4. Criticisms

   • Plato = Axe murderer is trying to kill victim, victim goes one of two ways, axe murderer questions, it is inconceivable to lie, cannot justify lying according to Plato, Kant = Cannot justify lying, W.D.Ross = Can if Prima Facie duties allow it
   • Bernard Williams = No unity in ethical considerations, Kant is too cold, by Kant saying saving a stranger its unrealistic, he wants us to impartial to ethical dilemas but we can be partial to factual situations
   • Sartre = Young man example, Kant's Deontology not useful when duties conflict, W.D.Ross prima facie duties more helpful as beneficence, gratitude & non-injury apply to sick mother
   • Nietszche = Kantinism is another word for herd mentality, we should seek to achieve the Ubermensch spoke about in Thus Spoke Zarathustra to "Transvalue values" & "Give meaning to the earth"

5. Frances Kamn's Principle of Permissible Harm

   • Harm is only permissible if it is an aspect/part of greater good
   • In the case of Diverting a runaway train to kill one rather than five
   • Not in the case of killing one to harvest the organs of five others

6. Kant

   • Two senses of the word ought: Categorical (Non-Conditional) = A certain obligation or duty regardless of the circumstances, Hypothetical (Conditional) = What we should do in certain situations but not an obligation
   • Principle of Universalizability = We must act in accordance which is binding on everyone, we should look to the golden rule
   • There is only one thing intrinsically good: Good Will
   • "We shouldn't be a slave to our emotion but ruled by reason"
   • Realm of Ends e.g. Slave harvesting cotton