Topic #7: The Big Three Ethical Principles

Objectives:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of three primary ethical principles - deontology,
teleology, and virtue-ethics.
2. Evaluate the three primary ethical principles namely deontology, teleology,
and virtue ethics.
3. Provide examples of these three principles, teleology, deontology, and virtue
ethics.

Different Approaches to Ethics:

I. Deontology is an ethical principle that says the right thing to do is to follow
rules or duties, no matter what the outcome is. It comes from the Greek word
"deon," which means "duty." According to deontology, some actions are
always right or wrong, no matter what the consequences are. Thus, it is also
called the non-consequentialism ethical principle. It means we should always
do what is right according to set rules, like “Don’t lie” or “Keep your
promises.” Imagine you promised your friend you would help them with their
homework. Even if you get invited to a fun party, you still help your friend
because you promised. You keep your promise because it’s the right thing to
do, even if you miss out on the party. By helping your friend, you are doing
your duty and being a good friend.

Your religious leader tells you not to miss your weekly worship. Your options
are to follow or not your religious leader. But if you follow your religious
obligation, thus you will be judged as a good person by your community.

A. Pros:
a) Clear Rules: It gives clear rules to follow, like “Don’t lie” or “Always
keep your promises,” which makes it easy to know what to do.
b) Fairness: It treats everyone equally because the same rules apply to
everyone.
c) Consistency: It helps people make consistent decisions because they
always follow the same rules.
Cons:
a) Too Strict: Sometimes, the rules can be too strict and don’t allow for
exceptions, even in special situations.
b) Conflicting Rules: There can be times when two rules conflict, like if
you have to choose between telling the truth and not hurting
someone’s feelings.
c) No Flexibility: It doesn’t consider the outcomes or the context, which
can make it hard to do what’s best in every situation.
B. Proponents
 The most well-known and important proponent of deontology is Immanuel
Kant. He was a famous philosopher from Germany. Kant believed that
 people should follow strict rules, like “Always tell the truth” and “Keep
your promises,” no matter what. He thought that doing the right thing
meant following these rules because they were the right thing to do.
II. Teleology, also known as consequentialism, comes from the Greek word
“telos” meaning “the end” which is an ethical principle that says the right
thing to do is the one that leads to the best results or outcomes. It means we
should make choices that bring the “best” or most happiness to the most
people. By sharing the cookie, you made both friends happy, which is a good
result. You chose to share because it led to the best outcome for everyone
involved.

Another example. You see litter in the hallway. If you pick up the litter and
throw it in the trashcan the hallway will become clean. If you ignore it, the
hallway will remain dirty. But you pick up the litter and throw it in the trash.
The outcome of your action resulted in a clean hallway, and everyone can
enjoy a clean hallway.

Another one, your parents are very busy and stressed with work. You can
either help your parents’ or ignore them. Ignoring your parents’ business will
make your parents stressed and tired. You decide to help with household
chores without being asked. Your action makes your parents feel less stressed
and are very grateful for your help.

A. Pros:
a) Focus on Outcomes: It looks at the results of actions to decide if they are
good or bad, aiming for the best possible outcome.
b) Flexibility: It allows for different actions in different situations as long as
the end result is good.
c) Practical: It helps people make decisions based on what will bring the
most happiness or benefit to the most people.
Cons:
a) Unpredictable: It can be hard to predict the outcomes of actions, so it’s
tricky to always know what the best choice is.
b) Justifies Bad Actions: Sometimes, it might justify doing something wrong if
it leads to a good result, like lying to make someone happy.
c) Ignores Rules: It doesn’t always follow set rules, which can make it
confusing to know what’s right or wrong.

B. Proponents
 The most well-known and important proponent of teleology is Jeremy
Bentham. He was a philosopher from England. Bentham believed that the
best actions are the ones that bring the most happiness to the most
people. He thought that we should always try to make decisions that lead
to the greatest good for everyone.
 III. Virtue Ethics
Virtue ethics is a branch of moral philosophy that emphasizes the role of character
and virtue in ethical decision-making, rather than rules (deontology) or
consequences (utilitarianism). It focuses on developing good character traits
(virtues) that enable individuals to lead a meaningful and flourishing life. In other
words, virtue ethics is an ethical principle that says being a good person means
having good character traits, like kindness, honesty, and bravery. It means we
should try to be good people by developing good habits and qualities. Imagine you
see a classmate who is new and looks lonely. You decide to be kind and invite them
to play with you and your friends. By being kind and friendly, you show good
character traits. Inviting a new classmate to play helps you practice being kind and
inclusive, which makes you a better person over time.

A. Pros:
a. Focus on Good Character: It encourages people to be kind, honest, and brave,
which makes them good friends and helpful members of the community.
b. Personal Growth: It helps people grow and become better over time by
practicing good habits.
c. Flexible: Instead of following strict rules, it allows people to make decisions
based on what a good person would do in each situation.

Cons:
a. Hard to Decide: Sometimes, it’s tough to know what the right thing to do is
because it depends on the situation and what virtues are most important.
b. Different Views: People might disagree on what qualities are most important,
like whether being honest is more important than being kind.
c. No Clear Rules: Without specific rules, it can be confusing to know exactly
what to do in tricky situations.

B. Proponents of Virtue Ethics

 The most well-known and important proponent of virtue ethics is Aristotle. He
was a famous philosopher from ancient Greece. Aristotle believed that being
a good person means developing good habits, like being kind, brave, and
honest. He thought that by practicing these virtues, people could live happy
and fulfilling lives.

C. Examples of Virtue Ethics

a) Honesty: Being truthful in all situations, even when it is difficult.
b) Courage: Facing challenges and fears with bravery.
c) Compassion: Showing empathy and concern for others' well-being.