Non Consequential Reasoning
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Nonconsequential reasoning approaches ethics through defined rules and duties rather than considering consequences of actions. There are several types of nonconsequential reasoning: 1) Act-based reasoning focuses on individual acts and situations, claiming there are no general rules and people act on intuition. However, this lacks critical thinking and different intuitions could harm others. 2) Rule-based reasoning believes in set behavioral rules that ensure morality if followed, such as divine ethics which base actions on religious doctrine, and duty ethics like Kant's which focus on universal logical rules. 3) Divine and duty ethics provide frameworks for moral rules but absolute rules ignore contingencies and different rules can conflict, making universal application challenging. Overall, non
Non Consequential Reasoning
- 2. Nonconsequential ReasoningAn umbrella term that generally describes many different ethical reasoning approaches: divine, duty and virtue ethics. Our actions are based on a set of well-defined laws, principles, and concepts that we have learned. We do not consider the consequences of our actions, instead we simply act out of the understanding that what we are doing is right – period.Also called Deontological reasoning. From the Greek: deon meaning duty, and logos meaning science.
- 3. Act- Nonconsequential ReasoningThis mode of belief states that there are not rules or absolute correct theories on correct ethics and or morals. There are only individual acts, people and situations and we cannot make any type of general rule or assumption. All decisions are based on intuition regarding the particular situation or action. We do what “feels right” or “sounds right.”We act according to our feels and “hunches.”
- 4. Problems with Act- Nonconsequential ReasoningLack of critical thinking – hunches, feelings and guesses suggest that we are not critically examining a situation before me make a decision – instead we act on instinct and our instinct might be wrong.Not everyone has the same instincts and in a community, if we are all doing what seems right or feels good, our non-consequential action could easily harm another and also cause chaos!
- 5. Rule-nonconsequential ReasoningUnlike act nonconsequential reasoning, those who follow this philosophy believe there are set, well defined rules of behavior that should be followed in order to live morally.Here, it is the rules and not the consequences that matter. By following clearly set moral rules, we will in turn be moral individuals.
- 6. Rule Nonconsequential: Divine EthicsWe base all of our actions on divine law as found in different religions and set down in different divine publications: Bible, Qur’an, Torah, and other spiritual doctrines. These are the thou shall, and thou shall nots of ethics—as such, there can be no debate, no arguments, no bargaining as to results desired or not.
- 7. Simple Example of Divine EthicsSeveral laws set down in the Ten commandments guide our ethical behavior and actions in different ways. For example: Thou shall not kill. No matter what, if I believe in divine ethics as understood by The Bible (Judaism and Christianity), I will agree not to kill. I do not think about it, I simply accept and abide by the rule.
- 8. Problems with Divine EthicsAll rules, including divine ones, tend to ignore contingent circumstances. For example, if my life is threatened, I may defined myself and in doing so, kill another. Even in the Bible, there are examples of where God “smites” his enemies (Sodom and Gomorrah)- Genesis 19:24.Certain Biblical laws allow for killing: stoning people to death (Deut. 22:13-21 and 22:23-24; Exodus 19:13 and 21:28Leviticus 24:16; Numbers 15:32-56; 1 Kings 21:10).At times, divine law conflicts with secular law – if you belong to a spiritual and secular society, which law do you follow? Which law should society follow? How can you make the determination?Example: the concept of Marriage and same-sex unions.
- 9. Rule Nonconsequential duty ethics ((Immanuel Kant 1724-1804)We act out of a sense of duty to the universal, to humanity, and to Autonomy.We make rules to guide us in this duty and we are asked to follow them without question.Example, our military institutions promote duty ethics in order to guide the actions of solders.In the Middle Ages, chivalry guided warriors as to their duty towards the tribe/kingdom, life and love.
- 10. Kant’s FormulaThe need for good will – will is defined as human’s ability to abide by moral rules.Morality is established by logic reasoning, not feelings or emotions:Moral truth must be logical.Moral truth must be universal (such as all triangles have 3 sides – never is there a time that this is not true).Categorical Imperative – an act becomes immoral if the rule that guides that act cannot be applied to all humans.Example – it’s ok to kill is immoral because it cannot be applied as a universal rule – everyone should kill everyone else – besides being impractical, it is not logical.
- 11. Problems with Duty EthicsWhat happens when one rule of duty clashes with another rule of duty? Can there really be universals? How?As a society, how can we assign duties and laws that everyone will agree with absolutely? Is this even possible – likely not.My since of duty might clash with someone else's sense of duty – Again, absolute rules tend to ignore contingent circumstances that may call for a different action
- 12. Summing it all up!Act-nonconsequential reasoning – there are no rules, only individuals and acts and we act based on our instinct alone. Rule-nonconsequential reasoning – There are set, well defined rules that lead to moral behavior – we do not concern ourselves with consequences.Rule-nonconsequential Divine Ethics – Rules defined to lead to spiritual or religious morality.Rule-nonconsequential Kant’s Duty Ethics – Good will, logic and universal rules that offer a road map for morality.
- 13. The End