Ethics and Moral Philosophy
Ethics and Moral Philosophy tests normative theories, Indian value frameworks and applied judgment. You must apply a theory to a case and show why a rival theory disagrees.
Core theories
- Consequentialism: right action maximises good outcomes; utilitarianism (Bentham, Mill) uses welfare, with act/rule and hedonistic/ideal distinctions.
- Deontology: Kant's categorical imperative-universalise the maxim; treat humanity as an end, never merely as a means.
- Virtue ethics: Aristotle's eudaimonia through habituated virtues; the mean between excess and deficiency; phronesis.
- Indian frameworks: purusharthas-dharma, artha, kama, moksha; rna (social debts); ahimsa; Nishkam Karma in the Gita-action without attachment to results.
- Metaethics: cognitivism/non-cognitivism, moral realism, relativism.
Worked example
A doctor has one dialysis slot and two patients. A utilitarian may allocate it to the patient with the best expected outcome. A Kantian asks whether the rule could be universalised and whether each patient is treated as an end; triage by medical need respects persons, whereas ability to pay does not. Virtue ethics asks what a compassionate, just physician would do.
Traps
Do not equate utilitarianism with selfishness. Do not reduce Kant to ‘follow rules’ without the universalisation test. Do not treat dharma as fixed custom; it is contextual duty. Do not confuse ahimsa with passivity.