The Origin of Ethics
Legal Standards are
enforced
Ethical standards come
from society
Bases for Ethical Systems
Deontological
Teleological
Standards-based ethics
uses specific rules
Results-Based Ethics
defines right and wrong in terms of end results
Started by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)
Tried to reform some of the unfair laws in England
Utilitarianism
Developed a theory that the morally correct rule
was the one that provided
“the greatest good to the greatest
number of people. The greatest good for
the greatest number”
results from learning that everything is relative.
Ethical
Ambivalence
Are there any moral absolutes?