PHI 1101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: John Stuart Mill, Immanuel Kant, Act Utilitarianism

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHI 1101
• Professor: Iva Apostolova

Document Summary

Philosophers associated with this approach: aristotle and john stuart mill, aristotle (also the founder of virtue ethics" and the natural law" theory): - humans are rational animals and as such performing rational acts is their ultimate telos" (goal, purpose); - we flourish and are happy when we are virtuous; - virtues, such as courage, objectivity, justice, temperance, etc. , are achieved through reason; - we become just by performing just acts; courageous by performing courageous acts, etc. - the principle of utility: greatest happiness for greatest number of people". - example: if one saves a drowning child, one has done something moral, regardless of one"s motives: act utilitarianism. : focuses on the consequences of one"s actions for maximizing happiness: rule utilitarianism. : focuses on rules as guidelines to maximizing happiness: general criticisms to the aristotelian approach to ethics. - virtues vary from culture to culture and time period to time period;