Ethical theories

Teleological

Utilitarian

Deontological

Kant’s Ethics

Theory of rights

Ethical Theories
• Consequentialists (Teleological)

• From the Greek telos, meaning goal or end describes an

ethical perspective that contends the rightness or
wrongness of actions is based solely on the goodness or
badness of their consequences.

• Outcome drives the moral decision.
• This category holds that the moral rightness of an

action is determined solely by its result.

• Moral right or wrong is dependent on the

outcome.

• The ends are more important than the means.

Consequentialists (Teleological)

Ethical Theories

• Non-consequentalist (Deontological)

• From the Greek deon, meaning "duty") refers to an

ethical theory or perspective based on duty or
obligation.

• Action drives moral decision.

• This category holds that other factors are also

relevant to the assessment of an action.

• Moral right or wrong is not dependent on the

outcome.

• The means are more important than the ends.

Example of DEONTOLOGY
• Suppose you are software engineer and learn
that nuclear missile is about to launch and might
start a war.
• You can hack the network and cancel the
launch but it against your professional code of
ethics to break any software system without
permission. And it’s a form of lying and
cheating.

Example of DEONTOLOGY

• Deontology advises not to violate these rules.
• However, in letting the missiles launch, thousands of
people will die.
• So, following the rules, makes deontology easy to
apply.
• But it also means the disregarding the possible
consequences of our actions when determining what
is right and what is wrong.