Ethical Theories

Overview of the Lessons:

This chapter presents the different ethical theories as propounded by great thinkers in the history of philosophy.  Theories are attempts of great thinkers to answer some fundamental ethical questions such as (1) Where do we get the principles of goodness and badness of actions?, (2) What is the nature of moral actions?, (3) How moral principles are applied to concrete situations? etc.  In discussing them, we hope to get some moral insights that would help us understand the ethical problems besetting our society today.

The presentation is not historical -in the sense that the philosophers are not presented in chronological order.  But the presentation is more on its themes.  Plato's and St Thomas's ethical theories are treated as "transcendent."  Aristotle's theory is treated as "aretaic."  Kant's theory is considered "deontological."  Bentham's and Mill's theories are treated as "utilitarian."  As mandated (CMO 20), the lessons on Justice and Taxation are included.

Lesson Contents:

1. Transcendent Theory - Watch the audio-visual material on this topic, part 1: Plato's Ethical Theory [Link] audio-visual and part 2: St Thomas's Ethical Theory [Link].  Performance Task 1 online [Link].
2. Aretaic (Virtue) Theory - to get the ppt file of Aretaic and Deontological theories, pls click the [Link].  Performance Task 2 [Link].
3. Deontological Theory  
4. Utilitarianism - to get the ppt file, pls click [Link].  Performance Task 3 [Link].
5. Classical Ethical Theories - to get the ppt file, pls click [Link]
6. Justice & Taxation [Link]

Performance Tasks:

There are three (3) Performance Tasks you need to comply for the Midterm period.  Links to the three tasks are found above.  

Quizzes:

1. Quiz 2 [Link] - covers the lesson Transcendent Theory 
2. Quiz 3 [Link] - lessons on Aretaic & Deontological Theories
3. Quiz 4 [Link] - lessons on Utilitarianism, and Justice and Taxation
4. Quiz 5 [Link] - Classical Ethical Theories

References: [Link]