BIOL 2P95 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Rule Utilitarianism, Categorical Imperative, Paternalism

• School: Brock University
• Department: Biological Sciences
• Course: BIOL 2P95
• Professor: Lightbody

Document Summary

Types of ethical theories: consequentialist and non-consequentialist theories, consequentialist focuses on the ends of the actions, the consequences. Whether the end result will produce more good than harm: non-consequentialist is not as concerned with the ends of an action, but instead the steps to get there. (cid:862)b(cid:455) a(cid:374)(cid:455) (cid:373)ea(cid:374)s (cid:374)e(cid:272)essa(cid:396)(cid:455)(cid:863) co(cid:374)se(cid:395)ue(cid:374)tialist. Martin luther king is a non-consequentialist because he wants a fair approach to the end. Welfare and non-welfare consequentialism: welfare consequentialism holds that the end result of any act must increase the net benefit for all, non-welfare consequentialists argue that the end result of my action must increase the net benefit for myself. The principle of utility: the most important welfare consequentialist theory is utilitarianism. Utility in this case means (cid:449)hate(cid:448)e(cid:396) is (cid:862)good(cid:863) fo(cid:396) hu(cid:373)a(cid:374) (cid:271)ei(cid:374)gs: the principle of utility states that one should only act to promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number.