In Module 2, we move from deontological ethics to teleological – or consequentialist – ethics. In consequentialist (teleological) ethics, it is the outcome – or the consequences – of an act that determine whether that act is good or evil. Utilitarianism (the philosophy of such well-known individuals as John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham) is consequentialist in nature. Ethical egoism is also considered to be a consequentialist philosophy.

The Greek word telos is translated to mean “end” or “purpose.” Consequently, teleological ethics are concerned with the ends or purposes of an act (this in opposition to deontological ethics which, as we have learned, are concerned with the one’s duty to act or not to act).

Required Reading:

Please review the following links (from the Seven Oaks Philosophy and Professor Charles D. Kay) on teleological ethics in general and ethical egoism and utilitarianism more specifically:

http://www.sevenoaksphilosophy.org/ethics/teleology.html

http://www.sevenoaksphilosophy.org/ethics/egoism.html

http://webs.wofford.edu/kaycd/ethics/util.htm

Now, let’s read the following article from the Markkula Center of Applied Ethics:

http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/calculating.html

We are going to focus here on the Utility Test: http://ethicsops.com/UtilityTest.aspx

Note that there are several other tests as well: the Rights Test, the Justice, Test, and the Choices Test, among others. Please navigate through a few of these as well – you may do so at the following link: http://ethicsops.com/EthicsTestsLinks.aspx. You will use one of these tests in your evaluation of Module 2 Case.

For now, let’s concentrate on how the Utility Test may be operationalized by reviewing the following two examples:

http://ethicsops.com/LessSugarMarketing.aspx

http://ethicsops.com/PhantomExpenses.aspx

Optional:

Professor Wofford’s notes on ethical egoism may be found at the following site:

http://webs.wofford.edu/kaycd/ethics/egoism.htm

The following video by Dr. Thomas O’Brien of DePaul University is a very good overview of consequentialism:

http://www.viddler.com/explore/twob1961/videos/6/

This YouTube video is a particularly good overview of egoism and utilitarianism (restated, both are forms of teleological ethics):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMzODqNEfLI&feature=related

Don’t forget Part 2 Dr. Gold’s video on normative ethics – which we watched in Module 1 – and Dr. Gold’s superlative discussion of consequentialism (which begins at 4:20):

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj3TYB44OEY