PHLB09H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Supererogation, Kantian Ethics, Virtue Ethics
Document Summary
Two objections summarized: utilitarianism has been accused of permitting the impermissible, utilitarianism has been accused of requiring what seems only supererogatory (permitted but not required) Kantian ethics: kant proposed a different general principle that was meant to capture all of ethics, utilitarianism advocates for producing the best outcome, kantian ethics emphasizes the means and motives of agents. However, you cannot go the beach with it is busy, so you leave, but then it is empty, so you go back (leads to a continuous circle) Second formulation: act so that you treat humanity, in your own person as well as in that of another, always also as an end and never only as a means , respect the rational nature of everyone. Informed consent: should a physician deceive a patient about the potential side-effects of a treatment, our rational nature involves the ability to decide how to act.
