Lecture 5: An Introduction to ETHICS

How do we know WHAT is:
GOOD AND BAD?
ETHICAL OR UNETHICAL?
RIGHT FROM WRONG?

Ethical Theories

• Deontology
• Teleology
• Virtue

Deontology

Do the right thing by following

• Rules
• Principles
• Duties

Teleology

• It's getting a "good" or "right" outcome that matters
• Never mind how we got there
• The end must justify the means
• The greatest good for the greatest number

Virtue Ethics

• "Goodness" comes from good habits of character
• These habits are "virtues" such as courage, justice, temperance and prudence
• These habits of character are the "golden mean" of behaviour

The MEAN

1. Courage is the mean between rashness and cowardice
2. Justice is the mean between the injustice of overzealous and excessive law and the injustice of lawlessness