PHIL 1273 1nd Edition Lecture 5 Outline of Last Lecture I. Continuation from Introductory UnitII. From Moral Psychology to Moral TheoryIII. Moral TheoryOutline of Current Lecture I. Reflection on Nora Tilden CaseII. Three Types of Moral TheoryA. Actions1. Type 12. Type 2B. Persons1. Type 3III. UtilitarianismCurrent LectureI. Reflection on Nora Tilden CaseA. What principle is in play initially?1. Good consequences outweighing bad by-productsB. Did this principle come under pressure as the story continued?1. Yes; less acceptable actions2. No; acting in self-defense under attackC. Did another principle emerge as important?1. Achieve good effects with minimal bad effects2. Attributing value to life, thus ignoring the rights of the individual3. Right to property vs. Right to LifeD. Underlying rules affect one’s beliefs on why humans view right as correct1. Multiple obligations in place2. Internally complexII. Three Types of Moral TheoryA. What makes the right thing correct?1. Under the presumption of one’s prior understanding of correct behavior2. The basic question of moral theoryB. What is meant when people talk about morality?1. ActionsThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.a. Type 1: effect, or output, of the actions (“consequentialism” – moral approach to explain the origin of moral action by looking to the consequences)b. Type 2: intent of the action (“deontological ethics” – moral approach to ethics based on moral duty)2. Persons3. Type 3: character of the person based on their general behavior (“virtue theory” – nonspecific to single action)III. UtilitarianismA. An example of consequentialism1. To judge an action, look at its effects2. If its effects are good, the action is right (and conversely true)3. Aim of morality: “the greatest good for the greatest number”B. Key Figures: Bentham and J.S. Mills1. Benthama. Good = feeling good (as a state of being)i. Pleasure of happiness (psychological state)ii. “utility” to refer to this pleasurable state of beingiii. “hedonistic utilitarianism”b. Why think that pleasure is the highest good?i. Everyone seeks it; nothing else exists that everyone seeksii. For any other candidate (fame, love, etc.), one can always say humans seek it because it makes them happyc. Action is right if it raises utilityi. Example of “right” = effects are goodii. Key point: NOT agents’ own utility but the utility of all concerned- Anyone who will feel pleasure or pain as a result of an actioniii. Taking net values- Actions have complex effects- The balance of pleasure over paino Across a groupo In an individualo Over
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