Deontological ethics

Approach to Morality The core of the following analysis is centralized around two opposing theories formulated to constitute the grounds of morality: Utilitarianism and Kantian ethics. Through its respective beliefs, each perspective is initially explained and subsequently applied to the fundamental issue raised in Case 1, The Ethics of Lying, to provide an answer for what actions are regarded as morally “correct”. Morality denotes the following: the extent to which an action is classified as…

Virtue ethics starts with the question, “What makes for a good, or excellent, person?” They answer the question by arguing that being a good person is about having a good character. A character is a set of dispositions and those who have a good character are naturally disposed to do good things. It is believed that those with good characters are “virtuous” and that good character traits are virtues, while bad character traits are vices. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a virtue is a…

Assess Kant’s view that ethics should be based on duty not consequences. Philosopher Immanuel Kant proposed his theory of ethics in his 1785 book ‘Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals’. He essentially argued that moral decisions shouldn’t be based on their consequences but rather our moral duty. The deontological approach to ethics is reasonable and straightforward; it provides a stability and certainty that cannot be achieved by looking at consequences. This being said, I feel as though the…

Deontological and teleological theories are two extremities of normative ethics that represent a spectrum of judging morality based on intent, action, and consequence. While the two may seem like a dichotomy at first a juxtaposition of the two will reveal the commonalities as well as differences. To better understand these viewpoints an examination of both deontological and teleological views will be necessary, and examples will be given for clarification. Deontological theory is the notion…

What qualifies as an ethical dilemma? How serious does a problem need to be to prevail as a dilemma? What or who matters when in regard to ethics? Well, all of these questions seem to have clear answers. In fact, the majority of people will insist that any dilemma that has anything to do with making a decision that would affect other people or their own lives, is an ethical dilemma worthy of being considered. However, would those same people agree that a dilemma concerning the safety of dogs or…

” (p. 65) This argument seems to reveal that the student has no fundamental moral qualms with murder and perhaps even lacks any rigid moral beliefs whatsoever. That Rodya finds this line of reasoning persuasive suggests he is devoid of the deontological ethics associated with…

The Kantian Ethics theory is the deontological theory that will be utilized in dilemma mentioned above. Immanuel Kant argues that one should base morality on proper duty and proper motive. Kant has two major formulations to his theory, “Act only on that maxim that you can will as a universal law…[and] Always treat humanity, whether in your own person or that or another, never simply as a means but always at the same time as an end.” (MacKinnon, p. 116, 2001). According to Kant’s theory, it…

that does not depend on ulterior motives. The categorical imperative is not a command on people on what they should do or not. Kant formulated it to provide a way in which people would be able to evaluate their actions, measuring their morality and ethics. It is a procedure which any action can be evaluated to deem it morally relevant or not. Kant was individually interested in self governance among people. He believed that the actions that people take have no meaning unless they are done…

Kantian ethics also focuses on actions and intentions, instead of focusing on the outcome of these actions and its benefits. Unlike Utilitarianism, Kantian ethics doesn’t care to maximize happiness, but rather to be worthy of happiness. Also under Kantian ethics, a person actions can only be moral if it is based upon a universal principle. I think that Kant would allow Batman to kill…

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher renowned for his revolutionary metaphysical and epistemological theories, and for his very strict deontological moral theory. The latter stressed the absolute or “exceptionless” nature of moral rules, together with the irrelevance of consequences or feelings in the assessment of moral judgments. As a strong deontologist Kant opposed to all forms of consequentialism. He also opposed to any type of non-cognitivist in ethical theory, particularly the form…