Interactive Normative Ethics

Normative Ethics: Theories, Intuitions, and Tests

Map major normative theories and stress-test them with classic thought experiments that shaped modern ethics.

Major Normative Families

Right action depends on outcomes; central variants include act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism.

Some actions are constrained by duties and rights regardless of aggregate outcomes.

Moral principles must be justifiable to each person; Scanlonian contractualism emphasizes reasonable rejectability.

Focuses on character, practical wisdom, and what a flourishing life requires.

Parfit's Triple Theory and related approaches seek deep convergence across major traditions.

These cases expose intuitive fault lines: harming vs allowing, aggregation, demandingness, fairness, and integrity.

Why do many allow switching a trolley but reject pushing a person? Tests doing/allowing and means/end distinctions.

Can one be killed to save five? Tests rights constraints against pure welfare aggregation.

Can many tiny complaints outweigh one person's severe burden? Tests interpersonal justification and rejectability.

Would a life of perfect simulated pleasure be enough? Tests hedonism versus authenticity and achievement.

If you can prevent severe harm at low cost, must you? Tests beneficence and demandingness.

Can maximizing outcomes violate integrity by making agents complicit in wrongdoing?

Click any theory or thought-experiment node to inspect its core idea, pressure tests, and neighboring commitments.

Theory family link Thought experiment pressure Thought experiment support Constraint / requirement

Move from normative theory mapping to live practice in CHSEB's public discourse and always-open discussion rooms.