Normative Ethics

Section 1Moral Standing, Value, Rights and Rightness

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Moral Standing

Moral standing belongs to things which ought to be taken into consideration when decisions are being made (Chapter 2, Section 2).

Scope of moral standing – wider than that of moral rights.

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Intrinsic Value

States of affairs have intrinsic value when there are independent reasons for protecting or promoting them.

They are valuable in themselves, whether or not they are valuable for further reasons (Chapter 2, Section 2).

Intrinsic value of well-being – suggests that obligations could be related to protecting it (whether or not we talk of rights).

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Equal Consideration

Giving equal consideration to equal interests is compatible with prioritising greater interests.

Not obligatory to treat all beings equally.

One can give equal consideration to equal interests whilst prioritising the needs of, for example, beings with certain distinctive capacities.

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Consider…

the relation of needs to obligations.

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Normative Theory

Consequentialism:

focuses on the consequences of actions

John Stuart Mill’s rule-utilitarianism.

Deontological theory:

focuses on appropriate rules

Immanuel Kant & James Sterba.

Concerned with issues like what makes right actions right.

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Consider…

A successful normative ethics theory would be an inclusive one, capable of explaining (at least) obligatory as well as permissible or justifiable acts & omissions.

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Right Action

Deeds can be right because…

they are the morally best thing to do they are obligatory all-things-considered they are obligatory other-things-being

equal.

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Consider…

the difference between what is obligatory all-things-considered and obligatory other-things-being equal.

10

At times, more than one of a cluster of actions would be right.

Some actions are supererogatory – right, but beyond the call of duty. Consider examples.

Right Action