You see a runaway trolley moving toward five tied-up
(or otherwise incapacitated) people lying on the tracks. You are standing next to a lever that controls a switch. If you pull the lever, the trolley will be redirected onto a side track, and the five people on the main track will be saved. However, there is a single person lying on the side track. THE TROLLEY PROBLEM Youhave two options: 1. Do nothing and allow the trolley to kill the five people on the main track. 2. Pull the lever, diverting the trolley onto the side track where it will kill one person. MORAL THEORY Moral – of, relating to, or concerned with the principles of right and wrong Theory – set of accepted beliefs or organized principles that explain and guide analysis MORAL THEORY It is an explanation of what makes an action right or what makes a person or thing good. Moral Theory vs Moral Code Moral code is simply a set of rules. The rules in a moral code inevitably conflict but provide no means for resolving their inconsistencies. Moral Theory vs Moral Code Moral theory identifies the essence of rightness A moral theory provides us with very general norms, or standards, that can help us make sense of our moral experiences, judgments, and principles. MORAL THEORY There are moral theories of value and theories of obligations. Theories of Value There are moral theories concerned with the goodness of persons or things. Value Value can be either intrinsic or instrumental. Something has intrinsic value: if it has inherent worth in itself Something has instrumental value: if something is considered as a means towards achieving a certain end. Theories of Obligation These are moral theories concerned with the rightness or wrongness of actions. There are consequentialist, nonconsequentialist, and alternative moral theories. NONCONSEQUENTIALIST THEORIES These are also known as deontological theories. These theories say that the rightness of an action does not depend entirely on its consequences. It depends on the nature of the action itself. Divine Command Theory It asserts that the morally right action is the one that God commands. Natural Law Theory A theoryasserting that the morally right action is the one that follows the dictates of nature. Natural Law Theory People are supposed to live according to natural law—that is, they are to fulfill their rightful, natural purpose. The things that we are designed to seek are called basic goods. The Basic Goods 1. Life 2. Reproduction 3. Educate one’s offspring 4. Seek God 5. Live in society 6. Avoid offense 7. Shun ignorance Kant’s Theory Itasserts that the morally right action is the one done in accordance with the categorical imperative. Kant’s Theory Hypothetical imperative: a moral command that is conditional on personal motive or desire. Categorical imperative: a moral law that is unconditional or absolute for all agents Categorical Imperative Universalizability principle: “Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” Formula of Humanity: “Act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end, and never as a means.” CONSEQUENTIALIST THEORIES These are also known as teleological theories. These theories say that what makes an action right is its consequences. Specifically, the rightness of an action depends on the amount of good it produces. Ethical Egoism Itasserts that the morally right action is the one that produces the most favorable balance of good over evil for oneself. That is, in every situation the right action is the one that advances one’s own best interests. Utilitarianism Itasserts that the morally right action is the one that produces the most favorable balance of good over evil, everyone considered. Utilitarianism Principle of utility: “We should act always so as to produce the greatest good for the greatest number.” It treats intentions as irrelevant. Types of Utilitarianism Act-utilitarianism: right actions are those that directly produce the greatest overall good, everyone considered. Rule-utilitarianism: the morally right action is the one covered by a rule that if generally followed would produce the most favorable balance of good over evil, everyone considered. 1. Vaughn, L. (2016). Doing Ethics: Moral Reasoning and Contemporary Issues (4th Edition). New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company p. 67 – 76 2. Philosophy Experiments. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.philosophyexperiments.com/ 3. [CrashCourse]. (2016, November 7). Natural Law Theory: Crash Course Philosophy #34. [Video File]. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_UfYY7aWKo 4. [CrashCourse]. (2016, November 14). Kant & Categorical Imperatives: Crash Course Philosophy #35. [Video File]. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bIys6JoEDw 5. [CrashCourse]. (2016, November 22). Utilitarianism: Crash Course Philosophy #36. [Video File]. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a739VjqdSI