PHIL 112 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Kantianism, Relativism, Consequentialism
6 Dec 2016
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All ethical theories can be divided into two broad categories, relativism and. Relativism basically states that: situations that benefit the common good determine what is ethical, end results that benefit the common good determine what is ethical. Universalism basically states that common values or rules that are binding and never change determine what is ethical. Kant developed his duty ethics because he believed utilitarianism had no moral compass and would lead to an ends justifies the means system of ethics. Kant"s duty ethics focuses on universal moral absolutes that are: categorical (unchanging, imperatives (commands, discerned by rationality (reason) Virtue and natural law ethics focus upon fundamental character traits and values shared universally by all humans and cultures.
