overview of the three ethical traditions, names discussed and some important concepts in Business & Consumer Ethics.
Do not buy this document alone, is rather as an ultra short summary (6 pages) of the three ethical traditions: utilitarianism, duty ethics and virtue ethics + a list of all names ...
Consequences
Consequentional = Utilitarianism (UTI)
ethics
focuses on the results or consequences of our actions & what brings us
utility. About the consequences that maximises our pleasure and minimize
our pain.
Should we do it? if it gives a good outcome, you are ought to do it. Good
consequences equal good actions.
Actions should be measures in terms of the happiness or pleasure that they
produce. (= hedonistic theory: the good equals the pleasant)
The arguments of this ethical tradition are the majority of the arguments used
in business ethics, political thinking and western thinking.
! the main ethical reflection used in western welfare society
Context:
- the “Rise of a New World Order” in the 16th century (Copernicus,
Newton); empiricism: knowledge & sciences by experiments and
measuring facts. Modern science
o Idea of cause & effect comes from modern science
o Making ethics a science
o UTI is all about calculation. It’s designed to be a form of
“enlightened social engineering”
! not an egoistic theory: the pleasure of others should be taken into account
The principle of utility: “We should act always so as to produce the
greatest good for the greatest number” (= thé rule in utilitarianism)
! important to not be biased what your pleasures are so when you make
the calculation you should do it in the perspective of a spectator.
Important names: founding fathers
- Bentham (18th century - act utilitarianism: each situation a new
specific calculus)
o Felicific calculus
- J.S. Mill (19th century - rule utilitarianism: ranking pleasures according
to their importance)
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