Scribd
Upload
122 views21 pages

Normative Theories

1) Normative theories propose standards or rules to distinguish right from wrong actions. They are divided into consequentialist and non-consequentialist approaches. 2) Consequentialist theories, like utilitarianism, argue that an action's morality is determined by its consequences - whether it produces the most benefits. Non-consequentialist theories contend morality depends on factors beyond consequences alone. 3) Non-consequentialist approaches include rights-based theories that an action is right if it respects people's natural rights, and distributive justice theories that focus on fair distribution of resources according to contribution or merit.

Uploaded by

SadeeqUllahKhan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
122 views21 pages

Normative Theories

1) Normative theories propose standards or rules to distinguish right from wrong actions. They are divided into consequentialist and non-consequentialist approaches. 2) Consequentialist theories, like utilitarianism, argue that an action's morality is determined by its consequences - whether it produces the most benefits. Non-consequentialist theories contend morality depends on factors beyond consequences alone. 3) Non-consequentialist approaches include rights-based theories that an action is right if it respects people's natural rights, and distributive justice theories that focus on fair distribution of resources according to contribution or merit.

Uploaded by

SadeeqUllahKhan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 21

Normative

Theories

Contents
Normative theories
Consequencialist theory
Egoism
Utilitarianism
Non- consequentialist theory
Rights principle
Distributive Justice
Ethics of Care
Virtue Ethics

Normative Theories
literally Normative means process of

setting standards or rules of behavior.


Normative theories propose some
actions or principles for distinguishing
right actions from wrong actions.
These theories can be divided into
01: Consequentialist
02: Non- consequentialist approaches.

01:Consequentialists Theory
Many philosophers(jeremy bentham) have
argued that the moral rightness of an action is
determined solely by its results or consequence.
If the results are good , then the act is
right.
If the results are bad , then that act is
wrong.
It can be further divided into two more
approaches :
A: Egoism
B:
Utilitarianism

Egoism(Consequentialist)
The view that associates morality with
self interest is referred to egoism.
Egoists contends that an act is morally
right if and only if it best promotes an
agents self interest (agent refers to
particular group or organization).
Egoists use their self interest as the
standard for measuring the actions
rightness.

Egoism(Consequentialist)
According to egoism we care for others
because it is in our best self interest.
I am not required to act in the interest of
others, but I should if that is the only way to
promote my own self interest.
Example
Providing more and more facilities to
your employees does not mean that you
are caring for your employees, but you
want them to be more productive(profit).

Problems with Egoism


1:Egoism is not a sound theory:
It is a wrong notion that we care for others only because it
is in our own best self interest.

Example
A man while driving a company truck, spotted smoke
coming from inside a car. The man quickly take a U turn,
drove up to the burning vehicle and found a one year old
girl trapped in the back seat. Disregarding his own
safety , the man entered the car and removed the infant.

Problems with Egoism


2: Egoism ignores blatant Wrongs:
The most common objection to egoism is that by reducing
everything to the standards of self-interest.

Egoism takes no stand against


seemingly outrageous acts like
Stealing
Murder
Deliberately false advertising
Earnings through illegal ways

Utilitarian( consequentialist )

Utilitarianism
Proposes that an action is right if it
produces the most utilities(benefits)
for all persons affected by the action
(including the person performing the
act).

Example: Is it right to let one


patient die in order to harvest his
organs and perhaps save five lives?

Utilitarian (conts)
Utilitarianism

:Holds that actions

and policies should be evaluated on the


basis of the benefits and costs they
will impose on society. In any situation
the right action or policy is the one that
will produce the greatest net benefits
and less cost.
Note: Benefits here means happiness
and satisfaction or monetary benefits.

Utilitarian (conts)
Example:
The government may appropriate private
property for public use, usually with
compensation to the owner. Thus the
government
may legally purchase your
house from you to widen the highway- even
if you dont want to sell the house or want
more money than the government is willing
to pay. The public interest is served at your
private expense. Is this just?

Problems with utilitarianism


1:Sacrificing sufferings of some people for
the general benefits of others:
Example:
Medical researchers initiated a long range study of
viral hepatitis at New York institution of mentally
retarded children.
They deliberately infect some of the children with a
strain of hepatitis virus epidemic (disease).
According to utilitarians the suffering of some
individuals was justified because it maximize the total
happiness produced.

Problems with
utilitarianism
2:Some actions are wrong even if they produce more
good:
Like utilitarianism focuses on the result of an action.

Example:
If a dying woman has asked you to promise to send 25,000$
to her nephew and she dies without anyone else knowing
about the money. You also know the nephew is spendthrift
and a drunkard and were the money delivered to him it would
be wasted in a week.
On the other hand very fine orphanage needs such a sum,
something that would provide happiness to many children for
years to come. Being a utilitarian you should give the amount
to the orphanage.

Utilitarianism and
Organization
Utilitarianism make it appealing as a
standard for decision making in business
and non-business organizations.
Utilitarianism provides a clear and
straightforward basis for formulating
policies.
By utilitarian standards, an organizational
policy, decision or action is good if it
promotes the general welfare.

02:Non consequentialist
Theory
These philosophers contend that
right and wrong are determined by
more than the likely consequences of
an action.
Example:
Tom to break his promise to Fred is wrong
not simply because it has bad results ( Fred
hurts feelings).
but because of the inherent character of
the act itself.

Rights Principle
Rights Principle: The morally
correct action is the one that you
have a moral right to do.

According to this view, all people have


natural rights to life, liberty, and property,
and everyone is morally permitted to do
anything they wish, provided that their
actions do not violate the rights of other
people.

Rights principle
Rights are
entitlements
Example: Right to free
speech
Example: Right to
freedom of religion
Example: Right to an

Distributive Justice
Distributive Justice
Principle:
The morally correct action is the one
that produces a fair distribution of
resources(benefits and burdens).
Each person receives resources
according to how much they deserve
(in terms of contribution, effort or
merit.)

Distributive Justice
(Fairness)

General Fairness Principles:


People who are similar in relevant
respects should be treated similarly
People who differ in relevant
respects should be treated differently.
If Jack and Jill both do the same work, and
there is no relevant difference, then in justice
they should be paid the same wages.

And if Jack is paid more than Jill simply


because he is a man, or because he is white,
then we have an injustice

Ethics of Care
Care Principle: The morally
correct action is the one that
appropriately cares for the
people with whom you have
relationships.
Example: love toward son or daughter
versus love toward a stranger

Ethics of Care
Care for the needs of people with whom you
have relationships.
Examples:
( Care for your
I. Family
II. Friends
III. Employees
IV. Customers
V. Stockholders

own needs)

You might also like