Download Ethical theorists: A comparison of main ideas

Ethical theorists: A
comparison of main ideas
Aristotle: Teleological Approach




Aristotle (384-322
BCE)
Educated in Plato’s
Academy
Explored natural
world and human
experience rather
than ideas
Teacher of Alexander
the Great
Aristotle with Bust of Homer by Rembrandt
Immanuel Kant: Deontological
Approach




Kant was born, lived and died in
Königsberg, Germany
At the age of forty-six, Kant received
an appointment as a professor of logic
and metaphysics at his alma mater the
University of Königsberg.
His famous claim: "Though our
knowledge begins with experience, it
does not follow that it arises out of
experience.“
A philosophical classic is his work
Critique of Pure Reason wherein he
asserts that our perceptual apparatus
is capable of ordering senseimpressions into intelligible unities,
which, while in themselves cannot be
proven, we are led to conclude
through "pure reason," that intelligible
unities, such as God, freedom, and
immortality, do exist
magazine.uchicago.edu/. ../punchline.html
Emmanuel Levinas: Relational
Approach
(1905-1995)





Representative
philosopher of relational
ethics
Jewish
Born in Lithuania
At 17 moved to France
Lost much of his family in
the Holocaust
Ethical theorists: A comparison of
main ideas
Aristotle
1.
Humans find
happiness within
community
Ethical theorists: A comparison of
main ideas
Aristotle
1.
2.
Humans find
happiness within
community
To be happy is to live
well and to do well
Ethical theorists: A comparison of
main ideas
Aristotle
1.
2.
3.
Humans find
happiness within
community
To be happy is to live
well and to do well
Human activity aims
at achieving the good
Ethical theorists: A comparison of
main ideas
Aristotle
1.
2.
3.
4.
Humans find
happiness within
community
To be happy is to live
well and to do well
Human activity aims
at achieving the good
Since the highest
capacity of humans is
to be rational, the
highest form of
happiness is based on
rational behaviour
Ethical theorists: A comparison of
main ideas
Aristotle
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Humans find
happiness within
community
To be happy is to live
well and to do well
Human activity aims
at achieving the good
Since the highest
capacity of humans is
to be rational, the
highest form of
happiness is based on
rational behaviour
Be moderate in all
things
Ethical theorists: A comparison of
main ideas
Aristotle
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Humans find
happiness within
community
To be happy is to live
well and to do well
Human activity aims
at achieving the good
Since the highest
capacity of humans is
to be rational, the
highest form of
happiness is based on
rational behaviour
Be moderate in all
things
Kant
1.
Ethics is a matter of
one’s inner conviction
and autonomy
Ethical theorists: A comparison of
main ideas
Aristotle
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Humans find
happiness within
community
To be happy is to live
well and to do well
Human activity aims
at achieving the good
Since the highest
capacity of humans is
to be rational, the
highest form of
happiness is based on
rational behaviour
Be moderate in all
things
Kant
1.
2.
Ethics is a matter of
one’s inner conviction
and autonomy
A human act is
morally good when it
is done for the sake of
duty
Ethical theorists: A comparison of
main ideas
Aristotle
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Humans find
happiness within
community
To be happy is to live
well and to do well
Human activity aims
at achieving the good
Since the highest
capacity of humans is
to be rational, the
highest form of
happiness is based on
rational behaviour
Be moderate in all
things
Kant
1.
2.
3.
Ethics is a matter of
one’s inner conviction
and autonomy
A human act is
morally good when it
is done for the sake of
duty
The use of reason is
central to moral life –
duty is determined by
principles
Ethical theorists: A comparison of
main ideas
Aristotle
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Humans find
happiness within
community
To be happy is to live
well and to do well
Human activity aims
at achieving the good
Since the highest
capacity of humans is
to be rational, the
highest form of
happiness is based on
rational behaviour
Be moderate in all
things
Kant
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ethics is a matter of
one’s inner conviction
and autonomy
A human act is
morally good when it
is done for the sake of
duty
The use of reason is
central to moral life –
duty is determined by
principles
I must act in such a
way that the
principles according to
which I act should
become a universal
law
Ethical theorists: A comparison of
main ideas
Aristotle
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Humans find
happiness within
community
To be happy is to live
well and to do well
Human activity aims
at achieving the good
Since the highest
capacity of humans is
to be rational, the
highest form of
happiness is based on
rational behaviour
Be moderate in all
things
Kant
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ethics is a matter of
one’s inner conviction
and autonomy
A human act is
morally good when it
is done for the sake of
duty
The use of reason is
central to moral life –
duty is determined by
principles
I must act in such a
way that the
principles according to
which I act should
become a universal
law
Levinas
1.
The central question
in philosophy is:
where is the Good?
Ethical theorists: A comparison of
main ideas
Aristotle
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Humans find
happiness within
community
To be happy is to live
well and to do well
Human activity aims
at achieving the good
Since the highest
capacity of humans is
to be rational, the
highest form of
happiness is based on
rational behaviour
Be moderate in all
things
Kant
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ethics is a matter of
one’s inner conviction
and autonomy
A human act is
morally good when it
is done for the sake of
duty
The use of reason is
central to moral life –
duty is determined by
principles
I must act in such a
way that the
principles according to
which I act should
become a universal
law
Levinas
1.
2.
The central question
in philosophy is:
where is the Good?
Each thing or person
is a unique expression
of the Good
Ethical theorists: A comparison of
main ideas
Aristotle
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Humans find
happiness within
community
To be happy is to live
well and to do well
Human activity aims
at achieving the good
Since the highest
capacity of humans is
to be rational, the
highest form of
happiness is based on
rational behaviour
Be moderate in all
things
Kant
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ethics is a matter of
one’s inner conviction
and autonomy
A human act is
morally good when it
is done for the sake of
duty
The use of reason is
central to moral life –
duty is determined by
principles
I must act in such a
way that the
principles according to
which I act should
become a universal
law
Levinas
1.
2.
3.
The central question
in philosophy is:
where is the Good?
Each thing or person
is a unique expression
of the Good
The face of another
calls me to respond
Ethical theorists: A comparison of
main ideas
Aristotle
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Humans find
happiness within
community
To be happy is to live
well and to do well
Human activity aims
at achieving the good
Since the highest
capacity of humans is
to be rational, the
highest form of
happiness is based on
rational behaviour
Be moderate in all
things
Kant
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ethics is a matter of
one’s inner conviction
and autonomy
A human act is
morally good when it
is done for the sake of
duty
The use of reason is
central to moral life –
duty is determined by
principles
I must act in such a
way that the
principles according to
which I act should
become a universal
law
Levinas
1.
2.
3.
4.
The central question
in philosophy is:
where is the Good?
Each thing or person
is a unique expression
of the Good
The face of another
calls me to respond
Goodness translates
into responsibility for
the Other
Ethical theorists: A comparison of
main ideas
Aristotle –
Purpose
Kant –
duty driven
driven
Teleological ethics
Good will is the most
derives from
precious
discovering the
possession, a good
finality of what we
in itself.
are intended to be .
When people seek to
become all they are Categorical imperative:
intended to be,
I should act the way I
they develop
would want
habits that
everyone else to
represent the best
act.
of what human
means. These are
virtues.
Levinas –
relationship driven
When confronted by the
“other’s” face we
are compelled to
act on their behalf.
We are responsible for
one another.