Download Ch. 4: Deontology

Ethics and Values for Professionals
Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Learning Objectives:
o To explain the right- and duty-based ethics of
deontology;
o To contrast the deontological and utilitarian
approaches to a situation;
o To understand how human nature underpins
the principles of deontology.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Ethical Theories
(Philosophical Traditions)
Relativist Theories
Ethical Subjectivism
Cultural Relativism
Universal Theories
Utilitarian
Deontology
Virtue
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Universalist Theories:
Different perspectives on ethical situations
Virtue Ethics
• Personal
character
• Intention
Deontology
• Duty
• Action
Utilitarianism
• Consequences
• Results
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Universalist Theories:
o Maintain that truth is objective;
o Maintain that morality is not created but rather
discovered; and
o Maintain that there are universal moral
principles (moral truths) that do apply equally
to all people of all cultures all the time.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Deontological Ethics:
o duties, obligations, commitments,
responsibilities
o that which we must do, and
o that which we must not do;
o regardless of the consequences.
o “I do it because it is the right thing to do.”
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Deontological Ethics:
o The ends do not justify the means
o JSMs principle of non-malfeasance is in fact a
duty to do no harm.
o The dignity of the individual must be protected.
o Individuals have rights that should not be
sacrificed even if it would provide a net increase
in the overall, collective good.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Deontological Ethics:
For example: Child labor
o Utilitarian would argue – children are better
with jobs than without since they contribute to
their family’s income, and the overall welfare of
their society.
o Deontologist would argue – it is unethical to
treat young children this way – slavery.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Deontological Ethics:
o Immanuel Kant
(1724-1804)
o Categorical Imperative
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Categorical Imperative:
o Actions fall into one of two categories, things we
must do and thing we must not do.
o It is absolute, there are no exceptions –
consequences are not taken into account.
o How do we know, which act goes into which
category? We apply Kant’s Golden Rule.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Kant’s Golden Rule (Maxim):
“Act only on the maxim by which you can
at the same time will
that it should become a universal law.”
o Example: Should I lie or tell the truth?
o What do you want everyone else to do, lie or tell
the truth?
o I would want everyone to tell the truth.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Autonomy:
o Unlike other animals, humans do not act only
out of instinct and conditioning – humans are
rational.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Autonomy:
The rational mind:
o defines what it is to be a human being.
o allows us to make free and informed choices
about how to live our lives (about our own
ends) – self-rule;
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Autonomy:
The rational mind:
o all adult humans are rational (excl. mentally ill),
therefore:
o all adult humans are morally equal;
o they have the same fundamental rights; and
o must be given equal consideration.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Autonomy:
o When we limit the ability of others to make
their own choice, we de-humanize them (take
away their human dignity) which is unethical.
o Therefore, if we treat others as a means to our
ends, we deny them their very humanity.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Immanuel Kant:
o Golden Rule drives us to act the same way we
would insist that others act;
o Treat others with the same respect that we
would expect;
o Since as rational beings, we are all moral equals,
deserving of equal respect.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Immanuel Kant:
o I have a right to pursue my own chosen ends as
long as I do not in turn hurt others (treat them
as means to my ends).
o My rights establish your duties and my rights
are the same as the rights of others.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Distinguishing between Wants & Interests:
o To understand rights, we think of them as
protecting interests, which are not the same as
wants.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Distinguishing between Wants & Interests:
o Wants (desires): subjective; what people will
actually pursue.
o Interests: work for a person’s benefit and are
objectively connected to what is good for that
person.
o People don’t always want what is in their (best
long-term) interest to have.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Distinguishing between Wants & Interests:
o Utilitarianism seeks, as an ethical ending in
some versions, happiness which is the
satisfaction of wants and thus does not
distinguish between wants and interests.
o JSM would allow us to decide for ourselves,
which permits pursuit of wants.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Distinguishing between Wants & Interests:
o Deont. argue that wants and interests are not
equal.
o Some interests are so important to the wellbeing of the individual that they should not be
sacrificed to maximize the collective’s
happiness.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Distinguishing between Wants & Interests:
o I don’t have a right to my wants, but I do have a
right to some interests.
o i.e. sharing of music and movies over the
Internet may maximize happiness but violate
the property rights of the creator (owner).
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Distinguishing between Wants & Interests:
o Citizens may want “uncongested roads” but do
not have a right to uncongested roads.
o We do not get rights simply by wanting
something very badly, but too few rights, reverts
to Utilitarianism.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Balance of Wants & Interests:
o Balance struck by a general account of enough
rights such that they offer equal respect for and
protect the autonomy and dignity of others.
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Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics
Chapter Review Questions:
1. How does deontological ethics establish a
connection between individual rights and the
nature of human beings?
2. Distinguish between wants and interests. Why is
the distinction important?
3. According to I Kant, how can one determine if a
certain action is right or wrong? Give an example.
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