There is no real ethical theory. What
one person believes is intolerable,
duty, etc., is not right for every person
in every circumstance.
Ethical Theories
Ethical Perspectives
Teleological (Aristotle)
 Telos – Greek root meaning goal, purpose
or end, logos meaning study
 Having to do with the design or
purpose of something
 Looking for the end – not as an end
point, but as a completion, as fullness.
 Seeking to understand the ultimate
goal, purpose or end of something
Aristotle's Ethical Theory
 Humans find happiness within community
 To be happy is to live well and do well
 Human activity aims to achieving the
good – happiness
The highest form of happiness is based on
rational behaviour – live an ethical life
How do you accomplish this
according to Aristotle?
 Be moderate in all things
 Absolute good can be found only in God
 Good is inscribed by God into the nature
of all things (innate)
 To find the good in anything is to discover
its purpose
 A person develops good character by acting
virtuously – virtues control passions
Aristotle’s Main Ideas
Main Idea: Vision or purpose or ends
What is good? Human activity aims to
achieving the good
What motivates humans? Humans find
happiness within
community
Moral guidelines: Values
Life Orientation: Goals
Requirements: Imagination
Strengths: Vision, direction
Weaknesses: Irrelevancy; ends justify the means
Deontological (Kant)
 Deon – Greek word meaning duty
 Asking questions like – What is my duty? What is my duty as a Catholic?
 To do what is right
Kant’s Ethical Theory
 Ethics are a matter of one’s inner conviction
and autonomy
 A human act is morally good when it is done for
the sake of duty
 The use of reason is central to moral life – duty
is determined by principles
How do you accomplish this according to Kant?
 I must act in such a way that the principles
according to which I act should become universal law
 The only good is good will
 Good is only good if it is done out of good will and provides not personal
gain
 Moral acts are performed out of duty and obligation
 Reason dictates what is good
Kant’s Main Ideas
Main Idea: Duties and structures
What is good? A human act is morally good when
it is done for the sake of duty
What motivates humans? “I must act in such a
way that the principles according to which I act
should become universal law
Moral guidelines: Rules
Life Orientation: Duties
Requirements: Responsibility
Strengths: Structure, organization
Weaknesses: Bureaucracy; blindly following orders
Relational (Levinas)
 Starting with the other, not with ourselves
 Face to face with the other who calls me to be
ethical
Levinas’ Ethical Theory
 The central question in philosophy is: where
is the Good?
 Each thing or person is a unique expression
of the Good
 The face of another calls me to respond
How do you accomplish this according to Levinas?
 Goodness translates into responsibility for the Other (turn away from own
desires and interests)
 The infinite Good (God) is at the heart of ethics
 The good comes as a vocation (not from myself)
Levinas’ Main Ideas
Main Idea: Encounter with
the other
What is good?
The central questions is:
where is the good?
What motivates humans?
The face of the other calls me
to respond
Moral Guidelines: Needs
Life Orientation: Others
Requirements: Involvement
Strengths: Heart, grounding
Weaknesses: Sentimentality – people wear masks