伦理学开场陈述

Good evening, everyone. I want to begin by laying out my foundational argument for a deontological approach to ethical dilemmas, particularly regarding the ethics of artificial intelligence. I believe that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of their consequences.

Thank you, A. While I appreciate the clarity of a deontological framework, my position leans heavily into utilitarianism. I contend that the most ethical action is always the one that maximizes overall good or minimizes harm for the greatest number of people.

But isn't the calculus of 'greatest good' often subjective and prone to justifying actions that might violate fundamental rights? For instance, sacrificing an individual for the benefit of many could be seen as permissible under utilitarianism, which I find problematic.

That's a valid concern, A. However, purely rule-based ethics can be inflexible, leading to scenarios where adherence to a rule might result in severe negative outcomes. My framework acknowledges the complexities of real-world situations, prioritizing outcomes.

Yet, by prioritizing outcomes, you risk becoming completely consequence-dependent. Where do universal moral duties fit in, then? How do we establish the inherent moral worth of an action if it's always contingent on its results?

Universal moral duties, in my view, can be derived FROM the outcomes that generally lead to collective well-being. It's an empirical approach to ethics, rather than a purely theoretical one. We observe what actions lead to good and formulate principles from there.

So, you're suggesting that moral principles are essentially refined guidelines based on observed utility, rather than inherent truths? This seems to reduce ethics to a form of social engineering, rather than a search for objective moral truths.

Not necessarily social engineering, but a pragmatic recognition that ethics must be applicable and beneficial in practice. Ultimately, the impact on sentient beings should be our primary concern. That's the essence of the utilitarian perspective.