CS4001: Compting, Society and Professionalism Savik Das Assistant Professor Deontology & Social Contract Theory Janary 23rd, 2018
Homework 1 Discssion Volnteers?
Utilitarianism Review
Utilitarianism Review Principle of Utility (Greatest Happiness Principle) "An act is right (or wrong) to the extent that it increases (or decreases) the total happiness of all affected parties." The intention behind an act does not matter only its conseqences. Two forms of tilitarianism: Act tilitarianism: calclate tility for each action Rle tilitarianism: adopt moral rles which, if followed by everyone, will lead to the greatest happiness
Utilitarianism Upsides Focsed on happiness Practical Comprehensive Takes into accont all possible effects
Utilitarianism Downsides Calclating overall happiness is complicated in practice Have to chose appropriate bondaries Time bondaries Who is an affected party? Forces the se of a single scale for disparate things Ignores njst distribtion of benefits / costs
Deontology (Kantianism)
Deontology Dictionary definition: the theory or stdy of moral obligation Normative ethical position that jdges the morality of an action based on rles From Greek root deont -> That which is binding
Deontology Morality is based on reason An act is right iff it conforms to the relevant moral obligation; and it is wrong iff it violates the relevant moral obligation. Unlike tilitarianism: the conseqences of an action are irrelevant to moral evalation The vale of an action lies in motive especially motives of obligation.
Kantianism Based on the writing of philosopher Immanel Kant (1724 1804) People shold be gided by niversal moral laws. Mst be based on reason. The only thing that is good withot qalification is good will. Morality derived from this starting premise. A person has good will only if the motive of his or her action is based on moral obligation, derived from niversally valid norms.
Kantian imperatives An imperative is a way that reason commands the will Two types of imperatives: Hypothetical If I want to obtain e, then I mst obtain means m Categorical An imperative that has no exceptions
Kantian perspective on imperatives Kant believed that hypothetical imperatives cold not persade moral action becase they are based too heavily on sbjective considerations. Part of the reason why he was dissatisfied with tilitarianism / conseqentialism. They tell s which means to best achieve or ends, bt do not tell s which ends we shold choose. Difference between right (moral obligations) and good (positive conseqences for actions) Good is irrelevant
The Categorical Imperative The Categorical Imperative in Kantianism is moral law that every moral agent recognizes whenever accepting an act as morally obligatory. Two (eqivalent) formlations of the Kantian Categorical Imperative.
Categorical Imperative: Formlation One Act only from moral rles that yo can at the same time will to be niversal moral laws. In layman s terms: Do nto others as yo wold have them do nto yo Remember: Kant s argment is not based on conseqences. He arges that breaking the categorical imperative is illogical / against reason.
Class Discssion: Lying Using the first formlation of the categorical imperative, show that lying is against reason.
Categorical Imperative: Formlation Two Act so that yo always treat both yorself and other people as ends in themselves and never only as a means to an end. In layman s terms: Treat others how yo wish to be treated. Two formlations are thoght to be eqivalent to each other.
Class Discssion: Hiring people nder false pretenses Using the second formlation of the categorical imperative, show that this is against reason.
Class Discssion: The Stop Sign as a Kantian Yo are driving ot in the desert. Yo can see in all directions for miles. No one else is arond. Yo see a stop sign. Do yo stop? Why or why not?
Class activity: Stealing food to feed starving children Yo are an able-bodied adlt, bt have little money. Yo come across impoverished, starving children. There s a grocery store nearby, bt yo can t afford to by any extra food. According to Kantianism, is it right to steal food to feed starving children?
Kantianism advantages Rational Universal Not dependent on the particlars of a given sitation All people are treated eqal Appeals to or innate sense of dty
Kantianism disadvantages It s rarely the case that a single rle characterizes an action There's no way to resolve conflict among rles e.g., stealing vs lying vs helping others in need Allows for no exceptions Lies that save social face (e.g., the bad hairct)
Perfect vs imperfect dties To help resolve conflicts between some rles, Kant made a distinction between perfect and imperfect dties. Perfect dties mst be followed always. Tho shall nots, (e.g., no stealing, no lying) No exceptions Imperfect dties mst be followed only if they do not conflict with perfect dties. Helping others Cltivating yor skills
Social Contract Theory
Social contract theory Based on the writings of English philosopher Thomas Hobbes. Lived dring the civil war and saw the conseqences of social anarchy. In his book, Leviathan, Hobbes states: In a state of natre, no one wold do anything prodctive becase someone else wold jst rin it
Social contract theory Moral rles are simply the rles that are necessary if we are to gain the benefits of social living. Basic idea: Everyone agrees to give p some liberties (e.g., obey property rights) in order to reap the benefits of a civilized society We need two things: A set of moral rles to govern relations among citizens A government capable of enforcing them
Morality according to social contract theory Morality is the set of rles that rational people will agree to obey, for their mtal benefit, provided that other people will obey them as well.
Reason for making rles is different Kantianism: Can the rle be niversalized withot reslting in a logical inconsistency? Rle Utilitarianism: Does the rle reslt in the greatest happiness? Social Contract Theory: Wold rational people collectively accept the rle as binding becase of its benefit to the commnity?
Application of rles is different Kantianism: Evalate the rle against the categorical imperative. Rle Utilitarianism: Calclate total happiness. Social Contract Theory: Evalate the agreed pon rights of the rational agents involved.
How do we form the social contract?
The langage of rights Negative right: freedoms / liberties (example: free speech) Positive right: obligations to yo from others, and to others from yo (example: free edcation, healthcare) Absolte right: garanteed withot exception Limited right: Restricted nder some circmstances Negative rights are sally absolte Positive rights are sally limited
Rawl s principles of jstice Each person may claim a flly adeqate nmber of basic rights and liberties so long as these claims are consistent with everyone else having a claim to the same rights and liberties. Examples: freedom of thoght and speech, freedom of association, the right to be safe from harm, and the right to own property, Any social and economic ineqalities mst satisfy two conditions: They are associated with positions in society that everyone has a fair and eqal opportnity to assme They are to be of the greatest benefit to the least-advantaged members of society (difference principle)
Class Discssion: The Stop Sign with Social Contract Theory Yo are driving ot in the desert. Yo can see in all directions for miles. No one else is arond. Yo see a stop sign. Do yo stop? Why or why not?
Grop activity: The Proxy Server Yor company has blocked access to sports websites. Yo have access to a proxy server. Yo want to read ESPN on yor lnch hor. According to SCT, is it ethical for yo to access yor proxy server to access ESPN? Why or why not? What if, instead of ESPN, it was an adlt website?
SCT Advantages It is framed in the langage of rights Has explanatory power: Explains why people act in self interest in the absence of an agreement tragedy of the commons Explains why civil disobedience is sometimes ethical
SCT Disadvantages None of s signed the contract Doesn t explain what to do when yo have conflicting rights Difficlt to apply to dilemmas May be nfair to people who can t hold p their side of the contract