Normative ethics facts for kids
Normative ethics is a part of philosophy that looks at how people should act. It explores what makes actions right or wrong in a moral way. Think of it as a guide for how we ought to live our lives.
This area of ethics is different from meta-ethics, which studies what moral words mean. It's also different from descriptive ethics, which just describes what people believe about morals. Normative ethics is often called "prescriptive" because it tells us what to do, rather than just describing what is.
Most traditional moral ideas are based on rules that help us decide if an action is good or bad. Famous examples include utilitarianism and Kantianism. These ideas offer big moral rules to help solve tough moral problems.
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Understanding Ethical Theories
People have different ideas about what makes an action morally right. There are three main ways to think about how to answer moral questions. There are also mixed ideas that combine parts of these main ones.
The three main views are:
- Virtue ethics
- Deontological ethics
- Consequentialism
Virtue ethics focuses on the person doing the action. The other two, deontological ethics and consequentialism, look at the action itself or the rules behind it.
Virtue Ethics
Virtue ethics looks at a person's character rather than their specific actions. It asks: "What kind of person should I be?" For example, it focuses on developing good habits like honesty or kindness.
Aristotle was a big supporter of virtue ethics. Later, Saint Thomas Aquinas also supported some of its ideas. Many philosophers have brought back virtue ethics in recent times.
Deontological Ethics
Deontological ethics says that decisions should be made based on your duties and rights. It means some actions are right or wrong no matter what the outcome is.
Some ideas in deontological ethics include:
- Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative: This idea says that moral rules come from our ability to reason. It suggests there are certain moral laws we must always follow.
- John Rawls's contractualism: This idea suggests that moral actions are those we would all agree to if we were fair and unbiased. Imagine deciding rules without knowing your own place in society.
- Natural rights theories: Thinkers like John Locke believed that all humans have basic, natural rights. These rights should always be respected.
Consequentialism
Consequentialism argues that an action's morality depends on its result or outcome. If the outcome is good, the action is good. If the outcome is bad, the action is bad.
Different consequentialist theories focus on different good outcomes:
- Utilitarianism: This idea says an action is right if it creates the most happiness for the greatest number of people. It aims for the best overall result.
- State consequentialism: This view believes an action is right if it helps the state's well-being. This includes things like good order, lots of material wealth, and a growing population.
- Situational ethics: This approach looks at the specific situation when deciding what is ethical. For example, some Christian ideas of situational ethics say the best action is always the one that shows the most love.
- Intellectualism: This theory says the best action is one that helps and promotes knowledge.
- Welfarism: This idea argues that the best action is the one that most increases economic well-being or general welfare.
- Preference utilitarianism: This view holds that the best action is the one that satisfies the most overall preferences or desires.
Other Theories
- Ethics of care: This idea, started by feminist thinkers, says that morality comes from feelings like empathy and compassion. It highlights how important relationships and connections are for ethical goals.
- Pragmatic ethics: This view suggests that what is morally right changes and improves over time, just like other kinds of knowledge. It believes that moral rules get better as people learn more.
- Role ethics: This theory is based on the idea of family roles and duties within a community.
Why Morality Matters
Sometimes, people wonder what it means to say someone "ought to do something because it's moral." It can feel like morality has a special power that makes us behave in certain ways.
However, some philosophers, like Philippa Foot, say that morality doesn't have a magical power. She suggests that people only act morally when they are motivated by other things. For example, we might feel a sense of duty, or we might want to avoid feeling guilty. If we don't feel an obligation, morality itself might not stop us from doing something wrong.
So, the question becomes: what makes us want to act morally?
What Motivates Moral Behavior?
Some thinkers believe that if we think clearly, we will always choose to do what is moral. But others, like Philippa Foot, think that our desires are what truly motivate us. Clear thinking helps us figure out how to get what we want, but it doesn't always make us act morally.
Social structure and our own feelings can make moral rules feel very strong. This is because they make us feel like we can't escape these rules.
John Stuart Mill added that outside pressures also play a role. For example, wanting to please others can influence our "conscience" (our inner sense of right and wrong). Mill believed that we first need to figure out what is moral using our reason. Then, we should try to make our feelings match what our reason tells us. He also said that a good moral system works best when it connects to human nature. These natural feelings need to be taught and encouraged as we grow up.
Mill understood that feelings drive moral behavior. He also knew that some people, like psychopaths, might not have these feelings. He described ways societies can help people develop a strong conscience and act morally. Books like Joseph Daleiden's The Science of Morality explore how science can help us understand how to encourage people to be good.
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Feelings like shame or love can make morality feel real and important. If someone doesn't feel these emotions, they might not feel bad about acting "immorally."
See also
In Spanish: Ética normativa para niños
