Normative Ethics

UNIT II
A Normative Ethics
Normative Ethics
 Normative ethics involves an attempt to
determine precisely what moral standards to
follow so that our actions may be morally right
or wrong, good or bad.
 The key assumption in normative ethics is that
there is only one ultimate criterion of moral
conduct, whether it is a single rule or a set of
principles. Normative ethics can be divided in
to two broad theories:
Branches of Normative Ethics
1. Teleological (Consquentialist).
 Egoism
 Altruism
 Utilitarianism
2. Deontological (Non-consquentialist)
 Divine Command Theory
 Categorical Imperatives (Kantian Ethics)
Cont.
 Teleological refers the theory of ends or
purposes. It is derived from the Greek terms
Telos (end result) and Logos (theory).
 Teleological theories maintain that the
morality of an action depends on the
consequences that the action brings about.
Cont.
 Consequentialism: An action is morally right
if the consequences of that action are more
favorable than unfavorable.
I. Egoism
 Ethical Egoism: an action is morally right if
the consequences of that action are more
favorable than unfavorable only for the
agent (for the self) performing the action.
II Altruism
Ethical Altruism: an action is morally right if

the consequences of that action are more
favorable than unfavorable for the others
III Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism: an action is morally right if the

consequences of that action are more
favorable than unfavorable to everyone
(to society or community).
Cont.
It is derived from two Greek words
’Deon’ means duty and
’Logos’ means theory
Literally, it means the theory of duty
Deontological Ethical Theory
According to this theory, an action is said to
be morally appropriate not because of its
consequence but due to its conformity to our
duty
An action or behavior is right simply
because it is right.
Morality is not conditional rather it is
unconditional
 Divine Command Theory is an example of
deontological ethical theory says we should
always do the will of the Divine .
 In other word, in what ever situation if we do what
the Divine commanded us, then we do the right: if
we do contrary to the Divine commandment, then
no matter what the consequences, we do wrong.
 Act and behave so as to suit the will of the Divine
 Teleological ethics refers to ethical propositions which are
aimed at a certain "end“
 It follows an "if...then..." format
 "If one wants _______, then one should ______" or
 "In order to get ________, one ought to ________".
 Thus following the “if…then… “ format one can say- If an
action generates the maximum pleasure for the highest
number of people then the action will be good.
Kant’s ethical system is established based
on a belief that the reason is the final
authority for any morality.
Actions of any sort, he believed, must be

undertaken from a sense of duty dictated by
reason, and an action performed for its
appropriateness or solely in obedience to
law or custom can be regarded as moral.
 Kant described two types of commands given
by reason:
(A)the hypothetical imperative, which dictates a
given course of action to reach a specific end.
Example “Do not steal if you want to be
popular or you want be not guilty and
suffer the consequences .”
Categorical Imperatives
(B) the categorical imperative, which dictates a course of action
that must be followed because of its rightness and necessity.
 The categorical imperative is the basis of morality and was
stated by Kant in these words: “Act as if the maxim (rule of
conduct) of your action were to become through your will a
general natural law.”
 Act or behave if that is your desire that you want every human,
act and behave in such a way.
Example--- Steal, if that is your wish everyone to be thief.
 a moral law that is unconditional or absolute for all agents, the validity
or claim of which does not depend on any ulterior motive or end. “So
act as to treat humanity, whether in your own person or in another,
always as an end, and never as only a means.”
B. Applied Ethics
"How should humans live and die?”
 We dare say that there is no any human activity to which
ethics is not applied.
 Applied ethics is mainly concerned with practical questions:
"Is getting an abortion immoral?“

"Is euthanasia immoral?"
"Is affirmative action right or wrong?“
"What are human rights, and how do we determine them?"
"Do animals have rights as well?“
“Who is responsible for environmental degradation?”
Ethics has been applied to:
 family structure, sexuality, and how society
views the roles of individuals; leading to a
field of applied ethics feminism.
 war, leading to the fields of pacifism and
nonviolence- diplomacy
 politics, towards dispute resolution in
peaceful manner; i.e., political virtue.
 Ethics is applied to different professions.
 This type of ethics is known as professional ethics
 Its purpose is to examine and solve ethical problems
of different professions, such as
• Business ethics
• Medical ethics
• Journalism ethics
• Engineering ethics,
• Museum ethics
• Legal ethics
• Environmental ethics
 Each branch characterizes common issues and problems that arise in the
ethical codes of the professions, and defines their common responsibility to the
public, e.g. to preserve its natural capital, or to obey some social expectations
of honest dealings and disclosure.
 Essential Work Ethics
 Work ethics refers to professional ethical standards that measure or evaluate

the behavior or activity of workers as good or bad, acceptable or not
acceptable.
 Work ethics or ethical work conduct enables workers

 to differentiate the right way of conduct from the wrong one in their
occupation.
 to have the right behavior which make them develop good relationship co-
worker and work leaders.
 to create good working condition.
 Professional Regulation (Work discipline)
Work discipline refers to actions or behavior that professionals are expected to
behave or act according to the work conduct or professional ethics. Work (labor)
discipline is the necessary observance of rules and regulations concerning the work
time , norm, mode of performance and protection of properties and instrument of
work and management of work.
 Violation of professional regulations is followed by punishment or disciplinary measures.
 Observance of work discipline is important for the workers for different reasons for example
 It helps workers to have good relationship with employers.

 It helps them to be more productive.
 Workers enjoy the work in which they are engaged
 Workers became virtues
 Workers develop good working condition
Professional regulations vary from profession to
profession but the following are common to all workers
of all profession.
 Punctuality
A worker is said to be punctual when he or she comes or leaves the work place on time.
 Proper utilization of instrument of work

Proper handling of the materials used by professionals is important discipline of work. Workers
should handle the instrument of work in the way they can use the instruments for long time.
 Working in co-operation with other workers

This refers to creating good relationship with other workers and work leaders. This is important
to create good working environment that enable them to work in brother hood spirit.
 Good appearance
This refers to dressing code. Workers need to have attractive looking according to their
occupation. In other words, they are expected to be neat and wear the appropriate clothing.
 Developing professional and creative skill
 So as to be more competent, well informed and more
productive, workers have to try to develop professional
skill.
 To develop professional skill professionals may do these
 Further learning
 Updating themselves
 Reading books
 Listening to radio
 Watching TV
 Participating in professional associations, conference and
panel discussion etc.
 Read the following passage about Karen
Ann Quinlan’s true story and discuss the
questions
 Karen Ann Quinlan, a 21-year-old woman in 1975 fell
into a permanent vegetative state as a result of
ingesting a mixture of tranquilizers and alcohol. Her
parents requested that physicians remove the
mechanical ventilator (life-support system) what they
believed their daughter's wishes would be in order to
let her die a natural death. The doctors refused,
relying primarily on medical ethics, which they
believed prohibited taking an action that might lead to
the death of the patient. The case was presented
before New Jersey court. After a long battle, the court
agreed with the parents, and Quinlan was
disconnected from her respirator.
Debate
1.What ethical issue the following story
raises?
2. From the ethical point of view, whom do

you support the court decision or the
doctors’ disagreement not to disconnect the
life-support system?
Give ethical justifications for your answer.

NON-NORMATIVE ETHICS
META-ETHICS
What does meta-ethics study?
 Meta-ethics is the study of the origin and
meaning of ethical concepts
Dimensions of meta-ethics
 Meta-ethical issues have two dimensions

A---Metaphysical issue
B---Psychological issue
A---Metaphysical issue focus on
 whether morality exists independently of
humans or not.
 Based on meta physical issues, metaethics
is classified in to
Ethical objectivism (absolutism)
Ethical relativism (subjectivism)
Ethical objectivism
 It argues that moral values are objective,

absolute and eternal in that they never
change; and also they are universal in so far
as the to any rational creatures.
Ethical relativism
 It argues that moral values are human

inventions. There is no single moral
standard that is universally applied. Moral
values differ from society to society and one
person to the other
 Moral values are subjective
B---Psychological issue focus on
What motivates us to be moral?

Some answer this question –
to avoid punishment
 to gain praise,
to attain happiness,
to be dignified
to fit with the society.
Psychological issue
 Psychological egoism maintains that self

oriented interests ultimately motivate all
human actions.
 Psychological hedonism maintains that
pleasure is the specifics driving force behind
all of our actions
 Psychological altruism maintains that at
least some of our actions are motivated by
our instinctive benevolence.

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What are the two broad theories of normative ethics?

What are the two broad theories of normative ethics?

What are the branches of teleological ethics?

What are the branches of teleological ethics?

UNIT II

Ethical Altruism: an action is morally right if

Utilitarianism: an action is morally right if the

Actions of any sort, he believed, must be

"Is getting an abortion immoral?“

 Essential Work Ethics

 Work ethics refers to professional ethical standards that measure or evaluate

 Work ethics or ethical work conduct enables workers

 It helps workers to have good relationship with employers.

 Proper utilization of instrument of work

 Working in co-operation with other workers

 To develop professional skill professionals may do these

2. From the ethical point of view, whom do

Give ethical justifications for your answer.

 Meta-ethical issues have two dimensions

 It argues that moral values are objective,

 It argues that moral values are human

What motivates us to be moral?

 Psychological egoism maintains that self

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