Business Law

Kantian philosophy Utilitarianism (Immanuel Kant, Germany, 1724-1804) (Jeremy Bentham, Britain, 1748-1832; John Stuart Mill, Britain, 1806-1873) . Deontological (from Greek for duty); . Teleological or goal-oriented; 'non-consequentialist' 'consequentialist' . Says: do it because it is the right thing . Actions can be judged by their to do, on principle consequences, 'ends justify means' People are ends in themselves, must not be . Goal is the common good, treated as means to ends, 'respect for persons' maximizing happiness . Motives are what counts, having a 'good will' 'The greatest good for the a sense of duty, makes an action right greatest number' Linked to Natural law (Thomas Locke, 1632- Co-history with economics, 1714); precursor to 'universal human rights' cost-benefit analysis . Egoism - another consequentialist theory Rawls' theory of justice 'Virtue ethics' (John Rawls, US, 1921 -) (Aristotle, Greece, 5th Century) Distributive justice . We become good by practising good Fair and equitable treatment of all not by following external rules based on a social contract . Human nature ethics Asks: what would you prescribe from . Aristotle's human 'potentialities' under a 'veil of ignorance'? . Actions that enhance inherent Any costs or consequences are human capacities are good secondary to this basic focus . Can be linked to theories of 'Do as you would be done by' moral development (eg Kohlberg)