Types of Moral Theories
- Utilitarianism: A Theory of Consequences. ...
- Deontology: A Duty-Based Moral Philosophy. ...
- Relativism: A Theory Based on Experiences. ...
- Divine Command Theory: A Higher Power. ...
- Virtue Ethics: Always Improve Yourself. ...
- Egoism: A Theory Based on Self-Interest. ...
- Natural Rights Theory: Human Rights. ...
What are the two major types of moral theories?
- Some of the other moral theories are utilitarian (but not classical utilitarian). ...
- Others moral theories are non-utilitarian but still teleological. ...
- For example: Virtue theory defines the right as acting according to virtue (but then preserves it teleological credentials by defining virtue as a disposition to act in ways tending, in ...
What are some examples of moral theories?
Some examples of moral values include faithfulness in marriage, loyalty to a company, love and respect for family members, and commitment to a skill that carries meaning. Morals build on values to form specific, context-driven rules that govern a person’s behavior. Here is a list of the most important values.
What are the seven ethical theories?
categories of ethical theory include deontology, utilitarianism, rights, and virtues. Deontology The deontological class of ethical theories states that people should adhere to their obliga-
What are the different types of ethical theories?
What Are the Four Major Ethical Theories?
- Deontology. The theory of deontology states that when we have to make ethical decisions, our first thoughts are on our duties and obligations.
- U
- tilitarianism. According to the theory of utilitarianism, people choose their actions based on how their decisions will benefit the most people.
- R. ...
- V. ...
- C
- onsequential Ethics. ...
- onconsequential Ethics. ...
What are the 5 theories of moral status?
Beauchamp and Childress cover five different perspectives on moral status, each of which appeals to some characteristics that serve as criteria by which one can distinguish between beings that have moral status and those that do not: (1) human properties, (2) cognitive properties, (3) moral agency, (4) sentience, and ( ...
What are the 6 moral theories?
When asked what values people hold dear, what values they wish to be known by, and what values they wish others would exhibit in their actions, six values consistently turn up: (1) trustworthiness, (2) respect, (3) responsibility, (4) fairness, (5) caring, and (6) citizenship.
What are the four moral theories?
Four broad categories of ethical theory include deontology, utilitarianism, rights, and virtues.
What are the three major types of moral theories?
These three theories of ethics (utilitarian ethics, deontological ethics, virtue ethics) form the foundation of normative ethics conversations.
What are the 8 ethical theories?
' The following chapters analyse the answers provided by eight different theories of ethics: egoism, hedonism, naturalism and virtue theory, existentialism, Kantianism, utilitarianism, contractualism and religion.
What is an example of a moral theory?
For example, I could decide not to go to my job one day when doing so would just happen to cause a car crash. There is no way to expect a car crash to occur that day, but my action would be right insofar would cause positive results. People might then say, “You got lucky and ended up doing the right thing.”
What moral theory is best?
Utilitarianism holds that the most ethical choice is the one that will produce the greatest good for the greatest number. It is the only moral framework that can be used to justify military force or war.
What are the two main categories of moral theories?
There are two broad categories of ethical theories concerning the source of value: consquentialist and non-consequentialist.
What is formal moral theory?
Formal Ethics gives the rule the attention it deserves. Modelled on formal logic, Formal Ethics was inspired by the ethical theories of Kant and Hare. It shows that the basic formal principles of ethics, like the golden rule, are very similar to principles of logic, and gives a firm basis for our ethical thinking.
What is the summary of moral traditions?
Summary of Moral Traditions. Consequentialism: Focuses on the consequences of an act to determine if the act is moral or immoral. Deontology: Focuses on the act. Certain acts are intrinsically right or wrong. Virtue Ethics: Focuses on the character of the agent. A virtuous agent will act morally.
Why are virtue ethical theories susceptible to cultural relativism?
Given that different cultures sometimes hold different traits of character to be virtuous, it seems that virtue ethical theories are susceptible to the difficulties involved with cultural relativism. (2) It also seems that virtuous characteristics can be exhibited even when the actions carried out are immoral.
What are Kant's objections to deontology?
Objections to Kantian deontology: (1) Kant’s claim is that the moral status of our actions is determined solely on the basis of the rightness or wrongness of the action itself. This means that it is categorically wrong to, for example, lie, in any circumstances, regardless of the consequences.
What is the deontological view of parents?
On a deontological view, parents must fulfill this obligation, even if breaking the obligation were to result, for the parents, in some great benefit (increased financial savings, for example). The deontological view holds that some actions cannot be justified by their consequences.
What is the basis of deontology?
Deontological theories (derived from the Greek word for duty , deon) base morality on certain duties, or obligations, and claim that certain actions are intrinsically right or wrong, that is, right or wrong in themselves, regardless of the consequences that may follow from those actions. What makes a choice or an action right is its conformity with a moral norm. Thus, an agent has a duty to act in accordance with a moral norm, irrespective of the (potentially beneficial) effects of acting otherwise.
What are the characteristics of a character?
Character traits commonly regarded as virtues include courage, temperance, justice, wisdom, generosity, and good temper (as well as many others). This approach to normative ethics also emphasizes moral education.
Why are torture and genocide justified?
Genocides, torture, and other evils may be justified on the grounds that they, ultimately, lead to the best outcome. Unjust rules – for example, laws that legalize slavery or apartheid – might also be justified on utilitarian grounds.
Which theory states that morality comes from the development of our thinking?
There are two theories in the cognitive development camp, which believe that morality comes from the development of our thinking. Piaget's theory states we go through heteronomous and autonomous levels as children and enter ideal reciprocity in teen years. Kohlberg believed in three levels and six stages.
What are the three levels of morality?
Based on people's answers, Kohlberg identified three levels of morality: pre-conventional morality, conventional morality and post-conventional morality. Each of these levels contains two stages. People can pass through these stages at different rates, and be at different ages for each stage.
How many levels of morality did Kohlberg believe in?
Kohlberg believed in three levels and six stages. The levels include pre-conventional morality, conventional morality and post-conventional morality. Learning Outcomes. When this lesson is done, you should be able to: Identify the different theories of moral development.
What did Kohlberg think about the three stages of thinking?
Lawrence Kohlberg believed we go through three stages in which we fine tune our way of thinking and making moral decisions. He got these ideas based on an experiment where he told a story called 'Heinz's dilemma.'.
What are the arguments for evolutionary moral development?
Proponents of this theory believe that human beings have a sense of morality as a result of evolution. Animals show cooperation, generosity and love toward each other, and we exhibit those same behaviors.
What is Kohlberg's belief?
It was Kohlberg's belief that most people did not reach this stage. Lesson Summary. To review, there are certain theories in psychology that seek to explain the development of our morality. Psychoanalytic theory states our moral self is founded in the superego that develops after age five.
What are the two main points of evolutionary development?
There are two main points made in evolutionary development theory: kin selection theory and reciprocal altruism. This theory focuses on the tendency to be more altruistic toward those who we are related to.
Consequentialism
- Consequentialist theories, unlike virtue and deontological theories, hold that only the consequences, or outcomes, of actions matter morally. According to this view, acts are deemed to be morally right solely on the basis of their consequences. The most common form of consequentialism is utilitarianism.
Deontology
- Deontological theories (derived from the Greek word for duty, deon) base morality on certain duties, or obligations, and claim that certain actions are intrinsically right or wrong, that is, right or wrong in themselves, regardless of the consequences that may follow from those actions. What makes a choice or an action right is its conformity with a moral norm. Thus, an agent has a duty …
Utilitarianism
- Utilitarianism states that actions are morally right if and only if they maximize the good (or, alternatively, minimizes the bad). Classical utilitarians like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill (as well as many contemporary utilitarians) take ‘the good’ to be pleasure or well-being. Thus, actions are morally right, on this view, if and only if they maximize pleasure or well-being or mini…
Virtue Ethics
- Virtue ethics takes its philosophical root in the work of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. Virtue theories claim that ethics is about agents, not actions or consequences. Living an ethical, or good life, then, consists in the possession of the right character traits (virtues) and having, as a result, the appropriate moral character. Unlike deontological accounts, which focus on learning …
Summary of Moral Traditions
- Consequentialism: Focuses on the consequences of an act to determine if the act is moral or immoral Deontology: Focuses on the act. Certain acts are intrinsically right or wrong. Virtue Ethics: Focuses on the character of the agent. A virtuous agent will act morally.