What is Utilitarianism?

Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that states the most moral action is the one that maximizes utility, typically defined as overall well-being or happiness for the greatest number of people.

What is Kant's Categorical Imperative?

The Categorical Imperative is the central philosophical concept in Immanuel Kant's deontological moral philosophy. It states that one should "act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law."

What is Virtue Ethics?

Virtue Ethics is an approach to ethics that emphasizes the virtues, or moral character, rather than duties, rules, or the consequences of actions. It focuses on what kind of person one should be, rather than what actions one should take.

What is Social Contract Theory?

Social Contract Theory is the view that a person's moral and political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement between them to form society. It suggests that individuals consent to surrender some of their freedoms to the authority in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.

What is Ethical Egoism?

Ethical Egoism is the normative ethical position that moral agents ought to do what is in their own self-interest. It differs from psychological egoism, which claims that people can only act in their self-interest.

What is Moral Relativism?

Moral Relativism is the view that moral judgments are true or false only relative to some particular standpoint (for instance, that of a culture or a historical period) and that no standpoint is uniquely privileged over all others.

What is the Trolley Problem?

The Trolley Problem is a thought experiment in ethics about whether to sacrifice one life to save many. It presents a scenario where a runaway trolley is headed towards five people, and the only way to save them is to divert the trolley to a track where it will kill one person instead.