Ethics Theory and Practice Jacques P Thiroux Keith

Ethics: Theory and Practice Jacques P. Thiroux Keith W. Krasemann Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter Twelve C Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Nonconsequentialist and Consequentialist Views • Rule nonconsequentialist views are opposed to any of the four acts at any time – Kant- if you universalize lying, cheating, breaking promises, stealing, then…. . • Promises have no meaning, lie contradicts truth telling, treat humans as a means to an end. • Some cultures are next in severity to killing • Some cultures are worse Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Nonconsequentialist and Consequentialist Views • Consequentialist and act nonconsequentialist views – Act nonconsequentialists (intuition) would not necessarily take a stand for or against these issues unless they felt like doing so Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Nonconsequentialist and Consequentialist Views – Consequentialist theories would accept any of the four actions if the greatest good consequences would result – Ethical Egoists- if in best their interest – Act Utilitarian- if they thought would bring best consequences for everyone affected by act – Rule Utilitarian- would have rules, would have exceptions Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

• Most see lying, cheating. Breaking promises, stealing as wrong in general – Destroys trust, relationships – People disappointed, angry, upset/ NOT happiness Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Breaking Promises • A Promise is declaration, vow, agreement into which a person enters freely. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Breaking Promises • Implied agreements such as the following allow us to live safely and meaningfully with each other in society: – Not to do harm to one another – Not to lie or cheat – To obey laws imposed for the general good – To stop at red lights and stop signs – To treat each other with respect and dignity – To keep promises we make Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Breaking Promises • Breaking promises is a form of dishonesty, as is cheating Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Breaking Promises • In earlier days, a person’s promise or word was an integral part of reputation, but now many promises or agreements have to be written down for two reasons: – They are more complex – Fewer people actually honor their agreements http: //www. atypicallyrelevant. com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/01/sue-people. jpg Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. divorcedocs. net/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/legal-

Arguments Against Breaking Promises • Breaking promises destroys human relationships • Again, the Domino argument applies here http: //www. strangenotions. com/wphttp: //www. robertson. ms/promises. jpg Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. content/uploads/Dominos. jpg

Arguments Against Breaking Promises • Breaking promises seriously affects people’s life choices • Breaking promises destroys general social trust • Loss of personal integrity may result Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Arguments Against Breaking Promises • Breaking promises destroys human relationships • Again, the Domino argument applies here • Breaking promises seriously affects people’s life choices • Breaking promises destroys general social trust • Loss of personal integrity may result Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Arguments for Breaking Promises • One should have the individual freedom to decide which promises to keep and which to break – Any rules against breaking promises are a denial of such freedom – Changed circumstances • I can’t afford to pay you back • I fell out of love Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Arguments for Breaking Promises • Breaking promises should be allowed when more important moral issues are involved, such as protecting and saving human life – p 250 • It should be allowed when no harm is done to anyone by breaking the promise http: //www. ericgarland. co/wp. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. content/uploads/pix/2012/07/bankers-hand-in-cookie-

Arguments for Breaking Promises • Promises made in unusual situations, for example, as to satisfy someone on his or her deathbed, can justifiably be broken later on, especially for good reasons • Just as we often say, “buyer beware, ” recipients of promises also should beware – they shouldn’t count on promises being kept Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Case Studies- Breaking Promises p 251 -252. • Ethical egoism- self interest • Utilitarianism- bring best good consequences for all involved • Divine Command theory • Kant’s Duty ethics- categorical imperative • Ross’s Prima Facie Duties- p 54 • Virtue Ethics- virtuous character Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Stealing • A basic assumption in most societies is that people are entitled to what they have inherited, invested, created, and earned • Therefore, stealing generally is considered to be immoral Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Arguments Against Stealing • People have property rights, which are often considered as important or even more important than life itself • Stealing breaks down the trust people have in one another http: //www. homeobook. com/wp. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rightshttp: //www. beliefnet. com/columnists/every reserved. content/uploads/2013/08/copy-right. jpg http: //unitedcivilrights. org/images/fa-prprty. gif

Arguments Against Stealing • Stealing constitutes a serious invasion of privacy • The Domino argument https: //skyvisionsolutions. files. wordpress. com http: //media. nbcconnecticut. com/images/652*367/home. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. mino-effect. jpg? w=300&h=227 invasion-generic. jpg

Arguments Against Stealing • Stealing has destructive effects, both physical and psychological, upon victims http: //www. easyvideopagesreview. com/wp. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Arguments Against Stealing • Thieves themselves can be seriously affected through loss of integrity and through punishment if they are caught http: //www. bathroomreader. com/wp. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Arguments Against Stealing • As with the other three issues, stealing also has a bad effect on society in general Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Arguments For Stealing • We live in a corrupt economic system in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer – Sometimes the only way to achieve some sort of balance between these inequities is to steal Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. http: //www. the 666. com/fotos/Rich-dont-work. jpg

Arguments For Stealing • Stealing should be allowed in crucial emergency situations, such as to prevent the starvation of children http: //i 4. walesonline. co. uk/news/article 4382936. ece/ALTER Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. NATES/s 615/Child. jpg

Arguments For Stealing • Stealing is a way out for those who crave a life of thrills, adventure, and excitement https: //s-media-cache. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. ak 0. pinimg. com/736 x/c 2/06/b 8/c 206 b 8 ba 53 aa 73 d 813 fe 49 b

Arguments For Stealing • It is allowable to steal from institutions and organizations because they can afford it and end up with most of our money anyway http: //top-10 -list. org/wp- Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Arguments For Stealing • As with cheating, one ought to be allowed to steal as long as one doesn’t get caught https: //i. ytimg. com/vi/l_Dz 3 TRNdb. Y/maxresdefault. jpg Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Arguments For Stealing • It can be condoned when it involves stealing government and military secrets from potential or real enemies so as to protect one’s own national security Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Case Studies- Stealing p 255 -256 • Ethical egoism- self interest • Utilitarianism- bring best good consequences for all involved • Divine Command theory • Kant’s Duty ethics- categorical imperative • Ross’s Prima Facie Duties- p 54 • Virtue Ethics- virtuous character Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.