Moral Theories

A detailed Summary of Moral Theories


Philosophy has for thousands of years attempted to tell us how to live morally. In this attempt there have been two major types of theories, skeptical and non-skeptical. To generalize skeptical theories conclude that ultimately we cannot compose a logical moral theory that we can apply to all situations, and expect every individual to fallow.

Most of these theories make an argument of subjectivism, claiming that humans are separated by either culture or just separated as self-interested individuals, and that this separation does not allow us to morally judge another's actions. These theories also create no resolution in terms of group or individual cross conflict. These theories can usually be dismissed quickly as being weak.

This leads us to a second group of non-skeptical theories, these say that we can develop a moral theory that we can apply to all conflict, and attempt to do so. The most consistent and realistic of these theories seams to be Social Contract Theory. Social Contract theory is centered on the concepts of individual rights, and the Principal of Nondiscrimination. Social Contract asks us to access the world from a completely uninformed personal state. That is that the party does not know thei


There are other non-skeptical theories such as Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism places importance on happiness not on personal rights. The major reasons I did not pick this theory is that it seams to ask us to relinquish to many of our personal desires for the good or wants of others. It seams to ask too much of us in many circumstances, and does not give enough value to personal rights.



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Category: Religion

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