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 - Watch the audio-visual material on this topic [Link].  Performance Task 2 [Link].
3. Deontological Theory - Watch the audio-visual material on this topic.  
4. Utilitarianism - Watch the audio-visual material on this topic [Link].  Performance Task 3 [Link].
5. Justice & Taxation [Link]

Performance Tasks:

There are four (4) Performance Tasks that you need to comply for the Midterm period.  Links to the three tasks are found above.  The link to the last task is found in the next chapter, Elements of Moral Experience.

Quizzes:

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

References: [Link]