IB Philosophy: Ethics

Major Ethical Theories

Utilitarianism, associated with philosophers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, focuses on maximizing overall happiness or utility. Actions are judged right if they produce the greatest good for the greatest number.

Kantian deontology, based on Immanuel Kant's work, emphasizes duty and moral rules. According to Kant, actions are moral if they can be universalized and if they respect persons as ends in themselves, not merely as means.

Aristotelian virtue ethics, derived from Aristotle, centers on character and virtues. It suggests that ethical behavior stems from cultivating virtuous habits and aiming for eudaimonia, or human flourishing.

Analyzing Ethical Dilemmas

Ethical dilemmas can be analyzed using different theoretical frameworks. For example, consider a dilemma involving lying to protect someone. Utilitarianism might justify the lie if it leads to better outcomes, while deontology might prohibit it as a violation of truth-telling duties. Virtue ethics would consider whether lying aligns with virtues like honesty and compassion.

Strengths and Limitations

Utilitarianism's strength lies in its pragmatic focus on consequences, but it can justify harmful actions if they benefit the majority. Deontology provides clear rules but may be rigid in complex situations. Virtue ethics emphasizes character development but can lack specific guidance for actions.

Applied Ethics Topics

Animal rights debates often involve utilitarian considerations of suffering versus deontological rights-based approaches. Environmental ethics examines our moral duties towards nature, with theories like deep ecology or anthropocentrism. The ethics of technology addresses issues such as AI responsibility and privacy, requiring frameworks to balance innovation with ethical concerns.

Critical Perspectives

Critical perspectives challenge these theories. For instance, utilitarianism is criticized for neglecting individual rights, deontology for being too abstract, and virtue ethics for cultural relativism. Feminist ethics and care ethics offer alternative views emphasizing relationships and context.

Summary

• Examine major ethical theories: utilitarianism, Kantian deontology, and Aristotelian virtue ethics.
• Analyze ethical dilemmas using different theoretical frameworks.
• Evaluate the strengths and limitations of each approach.
• Discuss applied ethics topics including animal rights, environmental ethics, and the ethics of technology.
• Understand critical perspectives that challenge traditional theories.