Ethical Theories and Introduction to Ethics

Ethical Theories and Introduction to Ethics

Learning Objectives

• At the end of the lesson you will be familiar with the major ethical theories and their key philosophers
• At the end of the lesson you will understand the difference between deontological and teleological approaches to ethics
• At the end of the lesson you will have begun to consider different ways of exploring ethical issues and ethical theories

What do you already know about ethics and moral decision making?

The Nature of Ethics and Moral Decision Making

• Ethics explores how human beings decide what is right and wrong
• Ethics distinguishes humans due to our ability to make moral decisions

Major Ethical Theories and Their Key Philosophers

• Ethical theories like absolutism, natural moral law, and Kantian ethics are associated with key philosophers and works

Difference Between Deontological and Teleological Approaches to Ethics

• Deontological ethics focus on the nature of the acts themselves
• Teleological ethics are concerned with the ends or consequences of actions

Introduction to Metaethics and Its Importance

• Metaethics concerns itself with the meanings of ethical language
• Metaethics is a modern development in ethical studies

Ethical Naturalism and Its Relation to Metaethics

• Ethical naturalism is a view linking morals with scientific knowledge
• Ethical naturalism is related to metaethics

Definitions

• Ethics: the principles by which people live
• Deontological ethics: an approach concerned with the nature of the acts themselves
• Teleological ethics: an approach concerned with the ends or consequences of actions
• Metaethics: a field concerned with the meanings of ethical language
• Ethical naturalism: a view linking morals with scientific knowledge

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.