Introduction to Ethical Theory
I. Normative Ethics: Normative ethical theory is the branch of philosophy concerned with
formulating and evaluating theories of moral rightness and moral goodness. Such theories
attempt to state the features in virtue of which morally right actions are morally right and morally
good states of affairs are morally good. Normative ethical theory has two parts:
A. Theory of Value (Theory of the Good): This branch concerns the moral evaluation of people,
states of affairs, character traits, etc. as good or bad (or better or worse). It doesn't directly
answer the question of how one should act.
B. Theory of Obligation (Theory of the Right): This branch concerns the moral evaluation of
actions as right or wrong, obligatory, permissible or forbidden.
II. Types of Normative Ethical Theories: Normative Ethical Theories are most frequently classified
according to their theory of obligation. The distinction between deontological and consequentialistic
theories is usually cited as the fundamental distinction here.
A. Consequentialism: holds that the rightness or wrongness (etc.) of actions depends entirely on the
moral value (goodness) of the consequences. Typically, consequentialist views are comparative
in the sense that the rightness of an action depends on the value of its consequences compared
with the value of the consequences of alternatives available.
B. Deontological Theories of Obligation: These theories hold that the moral rightness or wrongness
(etc.) of actions does not depend entirely on considerations of goodness. (It follows, of course,
that such theories hold that the rightness of an action does not depend entirely on the value of the
consequences of that action.) One example of a deontological theory is Divine Command
Theory.
III. Types of Consequentialism: Consequentialist theories are classified according both to their theories
of obligation and their theories of value.
A. Consequentialist Theories of Obligation:
1. Ethical Egoism: The egoist holds that the rightness of actions is determined solely by the
value of the consequences that affect the agent of the action. Effects on others are, if
relevant at all, only indirectly relevant because of effects they have on the agent.
2. Group Chauvinism: The group chauvinist holds that the rightness of actions is determined
solely by the value of the consequences for some group (usually defined in relation to the
agent--e.g., her race, her sex, her religious group) which is a proper subset of those
affected by the action.
3. Utilitarianism: This view, clearly the most popular among moral theorists, holds that the
rightness of actions is determined by the value of the consequences for all affected by the
action.
