KILL 1 TO SAVE 5?

Thought Experiments
CONSEQUENTIALISM VS. Trolley Problem
DEONTOLOGY
The video explores two prominent ethical theories: Scenario: A trolley is headed towards five people tied to
consequentialism and deontology. the tracks. You have the option to pull a lever,
redirecting the trolley to a track where it will kill one
It raises the central question of morality concerning the person instead.
act of killing one innocent person to save five others.
Moral Question: Is it morally permissible to actively
intervene and cause the death of one person to save
five?
Consequentialism
Consequentialist View: Justifies pulling the lever to
 An ethical theory that asserts actions are morally
minimize overall harm (1 death vs. 5 deaths).
right if they lead to the best overall consequences.
The outcome of the action is paramount. Deontological View: Opposes the action, emphasizing
 Emphasizes maximizing good outcomes (e.g., saving that killing an innocent person is morally wrong,
five lives). regardless of the outcome.
 In the context of the Trolley Problem, diverting the
trolley is justified because it minimizes the loss of
life. Transplant Case

Scenario: A surgeon can save five patients who need

Deontology organ transplants by killing one healthy person to
harvest their organs.
 An ethical theory that focuses on adherence to
moral duties and rules rather than the Analysis: This case intensifies the moral implications of
outcomes of actions. using one life for the benefit of many.
 The morality of an action is determined by Consequentialist Perspective: Might argue the act is
whether it aligns with a set of principles or justified as it saves more lives.
moral rules, which may be absolute or flexible.
Deontological Perspective: Rejects the action, as it
involves murder, which violates a fundamental moral
Absolutist vs. Non-Absolutist Deontology principle.

Absolutist Deontology (e.g., Immanuel Kant) Common Misconceptions and Corrections

 Believes some moral rules must always be  The video clarifies that the notion of deontology
followed, regardless of consequences. being strictly absolutist is misleading.
 For example, it would be impermissible to kill  While some interpretations of deontology are
an innocent person under any circumstances. absolutist, others allow for rule exceptions
based on context and consequences.
Non-Absolutist Deontology  The essence of deontology lies in the
commitment to moral duties and obligations
 Allows for the context-dependent application of rather than an absolute prohibition against all
moral laws. consequences.
 Some versions can permit breaking certain rules
if it results in a greater good, such as saving
lives. Conclusion
  The video emphasizes the complexity of moral  For example, telling the truth is considered a
reasoning and encourages viewers to critically moral duty, regardless of potential adverse
engage with ethical dilemmas. effects.
 Both theories provide valuable frameworks for
analyzing moral questions, but they arrive at
Practical Example
fundamentally different conclusions regarding
the permissibility of sacrificing one life to save A scenario involving a doctor discovering a patient's
others. terminal illness illustrates the conflict between
 Encourages further exploration of ethical deontological and consequentialist ethics.
frameworks beyond these two to understand
the multifaceted nature of morality. Deontological Perspective: The doctor has a moral
duty to inform the patient about her condition, even if it
risks her health.
WHAT IS DEONTOLOGY? Consequentialist Perspective: The doctor might opt to
lie to the patient to prevent potential harm, focusing on
 Deontological ethics is a normative ethical
the possible outcomes rather than the moral obligation.
theory that emphasizes the importance of duty
in determining the morality of actions. It posits
that some actions are inherently right or wrong,
regardless of their consequences. Decision-Making Framework
 This theory values adherence to moral rules,  In deontological ethics, moral decisions should
such as telling the truth, even when such be based on whether an action is right or wrong
actions might lead to negative outcomes. in itself.
 Through examples, the distinction between  If an action is deemed right, there is a moral
deontological ethics and consequentialism is imperative to carry it out; if wrong, one must
illustrated, highlighting the obligation to act in refrain from it.
accordance with what is deemed morally right.  This framework encourages individuals to
consider ethical principles before evaluating the
consequences of their actions.
Definition of Deontological Ethics

 Deontological ethics is one of the three major

normative ethical theories, alongside virtue Conclusion and Call to Action
ethics and consequentialism.  The video encourages viewers to engage with
 The term originates from the Greek word the content by liking and subscribing for more
"dion," meaning duty. discussions on ethical theories.
 This ethical theory asserts that the morality of  It emphasizes the importance of understanding
an action is determined by its adherence to deontological ethics in making moral decisions.
duty rather than its consequences or virtue.

Core Principles

 Actions are classified as inherently right or

wrong, independent of their outcomes.
 Deontological ethics prioritizes moral duties,
suggesting that individuals have an obligation to
perform right actions and avoid wrong ones.
NORMATIVE ETHICS traits such as honesty, courage, and
compassion.
 Normative ethics involves the study of ethical
 Aristotelian Ethics - This approach encourages
action and defines what is right and wrong. It
individuals to cultivate virtues in pursuit of a
sets standards for moral behavior and provides
good life, finding a balance between extremes
a framework for evaluating human conduct.
through the concept of the "golden mean".
 The focus is on establishing moral criteria that
 Critics point out challenges in defining what
differentiate between ethical and unethical
constitutes a virtue and how to apply virtue
behavior.
ethics in practical situations.

The Three Primary Ethical Theories

Components of Ethical Decision-Making
1. Consequentialism
Understanding ethical theories requires analyzing the
 This theory judges the morality of an action
following components involved in moral actions:
based on its outcomes or consequences. The
central tenet is that the best action is the one  The Agent: The individual performing the action
that produces the best overall results. and their motivations.
 Utilitarianism: A prominent form of  The Act: The specific action taken, which must
consequentialism that advocates for actions be evaluated for its ethical implications.
that maximize happiness and minimize suffering  The Outcome: The result of the action that
for the greatest number of people. determines its moral worth under
 Critics argue that focusing solely on outcomes consequentialism.
may overlook the importance of the motives
behind actions or the rights of individuals
involved. Implications of Ethical Theories

Each ethical theory informs different aspects of moral

dilemmas:
2. Deontology
 This theory asserts that some actions are  Consequentialism - tends to justify actions
intrinsically right or wrong, regardless of their based on broader social benefits but might
consequences. It emphasizes moral duties and consider individual rights less.
obligations, suggesting that individuals must act  Deontology - stresses fidelity to duty and moral
according to certain principles. rules but can lead to rigid outcomes that ignore
 Kantian Ethics: Based on the ideas of situational nuances.
philosopher Immanuel Kant, who argued for the  Virtue Ethics - focuses on moral character,
categorical imperative, which posits that one promoting personal growth, yet may struggle
should act only according to maxims that can be with applying virtues across varying situations
universally applied. consistently.
 Deontology is often critiqued for its potential to
lead to strict adherence to rules that may not
account for the complexities of real-life The Importance of Ethical Reflection
situations.
The video emphasizes the necessity of ethical reflection
and critical thinking when confronted with moral
3. Virtue Ethics dilemmas. Engaging with normative ethics aids
 Instead of focusing on rules or consequences, individuals in making informed and principled decisions,
virtue ethics emphasizes the character and guiding them to assess situations comprehensively.
virtues of the moral agent. It advocates that
moral behavior stems from possessing virtuous