Create An FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions Sheet Highlighting

Create An Faq Frequently Asked Questions Sheet Highlighting Utilitar

Create an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) sheet highlighting Utilitarianism and Ethical Egoism, which are two of the most well-known ethical theories. A FAQ sheet is a document that compiles a collection of information in the form of questions with their applicable answers. The goal of this sheet will be to provide some foundational information to the participants that they can take with them as they move through the Diversity Fair. It also works as a good conversational starter as people who visit your booth will be covering various aspects of ethics. You will need to establish a FAQ document and provide the following questions with their applicable answers.

What are ethics? Why do ethics vary from person to person? What are key features of consequentialist theories? What are key features of utilitarianism? What are key features of ethical egoism? What are the differences between utilitarianism and ethical egoism?

Paper For Above instruction

Ethics, fundamentally, is the branch of philosophy that explores questions of morality—what is right and wrong, just and unjust, good and bad. It serves as a guide for human conduct, helping individuals and societies determine how to act in various circumstances. Ethics are grounded in moral principles, cultural values, religious beliefs, and personal experiences, which often influence individual and societal standards of what constitutes ethical behavior. Since morality is intertwined with human cognition, emotions, and cultural context, ethic standards can vary widely from person to person and culture to culture, leading to diverse interpretations and practices of ethical conduct.

One of the central reasons ethics vary from person to person is due to differing moral frameworks, cultural backgrounds, and personal experiences that shape individual perceptions of what is considered morally acceptable or unacceptable. For example, what one culture elevates as a virtue may be considered irrelevant or even taboo in another. Additionally, individual differences, such as personal upbringing, education, and life experiences, influence moral judgments, leading to a spectrum of ethical beliefs across different people and communities.

Consequentialist theories in ethics are philosophies that assess the morality of an action based on its outcomes or consequences. The fundamental feature of consequentialist theories is that the ethical value of an action depends on the results it produces, emphasizing the importance of outcomes over intentions or inherent qualities of actions. This perspective includes various theories, such as utilitarianism and ethical egoism, which differ in their criteria for evaluating what constitutes the best or right consequences.

Utilitarianism is a prominent consequentialist theory that advocates for actions that maximize overall happiness or well-being. Key features of utilitarianism include its impartiality—each person's happiness counts equally—and its focus on aggregating benefits and harms to determine the morally correct action. Classical utilitarianism, championed by philosophers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, emphasizes the greatest happiness principle, suggesting that the right action is the one that produces the maximum amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.

Ethical egoism, another consequentialist theory, asserts that individuals should act in their own self-interest. Its core feature is that an action is morally right if it benefits oneself, and moral decisions are guided by personal advantage rather than collective welfare. Ethical egoism does not necessarily promote selfishness in a harmful sense but prioritizes self-interest as the basis for moral judgment, contrasting sharply with utilitarianism's emphasis on the collective good.

The primary differences between utilitarianism and ethical egoism reside in their scope and moral considerations. Utilitarianism considers the happiness of all affected individuals equally and seeks to maximize overall well-being, often requiring individuals to sometimes sacrifice their own interests for the sake of the greater good. Conversely, ethical egoism posits that individuals should prioritize their own interests and happiness above others', and does not insist on considering the well-being of others unless it aligns with one's self-interest. While utilitarianism promotes altruism and collective welfare, ethical egoism emphasizes personal gain as the primary moral compass.

Understanding these theories offers foundational insight into ethical decision-making and moral philosophy, encouraging individuals to reflect on the reasons behind their moral judgments and the implications of their actions—for themselves and society. Both utilitarianism and ethical egoism promote a consequentialist view but differ significantly in their scope and moral priorities, making them central to contemporary debates in ethics.

References

• Bentham, J. (1789). An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. Clarendon Press.
• Mill, J. S. (1863). Utilitarianism. Parker, Son, and Bourn.
• Rachels, J., & Rachels, S. (2019). The Elements of Moral Philosophy. McGraw-Hill Education.
• Shafer-Landau, R. (2017). The Fundamentals of Ethics. Oxford University Press.
• Singer, P. (2011). Practical Ethics. Cambridge University Press.
• Hare, R. M. (1981). Moral Thinking. Clarendon Press.
• Frankena, W. K. (1973). Ethics. Prentice Hall.
• Bradley, B. (2008). Ethical Theory: An Anthology. Blackwell Publishing.
• Foot, P. (1967). The Problem of Abortion and the Doctrine of the Double Effect. Oxford Review.
• Regan, T. (1983). The Case for Animal Rights. University of California Press.