Question

Apply/describe each of the theories/principles:

·       Utilitarianism

·       Kantian theory

·       Principlism (which includes respect for autonomy, malfeasance, beneficence and justice)

Answer 1

1. Utilitarianism is a theoryof morality, which advocates actions that foster happiness or pleasure and opposes actions that cause unhappiness or harm.Utilitarianism would say that an action is right if it results in the happiness of the greatest number of people in a society or a group.Utilitarianism is one of the best known and most influential moral theories. Like other forms of consequentialism, its core idea is that whether actions are morally right or wrong depends on their effects. More specifically, the only effects of actions that are relevant are the good and bad results that they produce.
2. Kantian ethics refers to a deontological ethical theorydeveloped by German philosopher Immanuel Kant that is based on the notion that: "It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will."Immanuel Kant's ethics are organized around the notion of a “categorical imperative,” which is a universal ethical principle stating that one should always respect the humanity in others, and that one should only act in accordance with rules that could hold for everyone.Kant expresses the principle of humanity (PH) as follows: “Act in such a way that you treathumanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never merely as a means, but always at the same time as an end”.
3. The Principle of Respect for autonomy.
Autonomy is Latin for "self-rule" We have an obligation to respect the autonomy of other persons, which is to respect the decisions made by other people concerning their own lives. This is also called the principle of human dignity.
The Principles of Beneficence

The well-being or benefit of the individual ought to be promoted.The Principle of Non-malfeasance. One ought to do no harm.Consequentialist justification of the Principles of Beneficence and Non-malfeasance.
The principle of justice could be described as the moral obligation to act on the basis of fair adjudication between competing claims. As such, it is linked to fairness, entitlement and equality.Contemporary reviews of the psychology of distributive justice have tended to emphasize three main allocation principles, equity,equality, and need, and to propose that each operates within a specific sphere of influence.