Human Nature | Ethics Theory

Ethics Theory

As scientific principles are grounded in scientific theories, so ethical principles are grounded in ethical theories. An ethical theory is a serious, non-contradictory, systematic, action-guiding and comprehensive philosophical system that brings our considered moral judgments into reflective equilibrium with all other sources of knowledge.

The assigned reading, "Four ethical principles and their justifications," introduces four robust principles and the theories that support them:

Principle	Theory
1. A person ought to do what is in one's own long-term best interests.	Egoism
2. A person ought to do what their group considers to be admirable, just, etc.	Virtue theory
3. A person ought to do what will maximize aggregate happiness and satisfy the interests of all.	Utilitarianism
4. A person ought to respect each individual's moral rights.	Moral rights