Question

subject Ethics

1.Explain the Trolley problem and the differences in the ways that utilitarianism, Kantian deontology and Virtue Ethics would address the the Problem, with reference to the readings in our text and my Weekly Comments.

2.Feminist Care Ethics might be seen as a challenge to Kantian Ethics. Explain with reference to the readings in our text and my   Weekly Comments.

Answer 1

1. The famous trolley dilemma is still valid because the two major moral principles stand opposite in making a moral decision. If the person diverts the trolley, it would kill a person but save five people thus fulfilling the Utilitarian principle of saving maximum people but deontology will say if the action brings any harm on anyone, then it's wrong. Virtue ethics looks at actions that results in happiness or wellness or character traits that make it possible. It looks at both action and its consequences.

2. Almost all the theories were written in the world of men and having men in mind. When virtue ethics was written, women and children were not considered as equal to men and they were treated as slaves. When the deontological and Utilitarian ethics was written, women had no power but they were treated with respect. Again most of the theories were written with a western eye and western experience, so it's questionable in the Eastern world.
Now that women have enough power, they bring all the male dominated institutions under scrutiny. They point out few reasons why the present ethics won't hold any water for women such as, the existing theories have little concern for women, doesn't account the duties of women by saying that they are unimportant, women are not equal to men in discussing moral principles etc. Probably they are right, so the existing theories should be modified in order to make it universally appealing.