1) Consequentialism
As the name itself suggests, consequentialism is about consequences. This means action is good or bad depending on its consequences. Action is good if it results in good things. Action is bad if it results in bad things.
2) Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism is a popular type of consequentialism. It was originally based on pleasure.
Utilitarianism is based on increasing happiness and reducing suffering.
This means that action is good if it results in an increase of happiness. The best action is the one that produces greatest happiness for greatest number of people.
3) Greatest increase of human life
This position is also known as pro-natalism. The actions that are good are those that result in an increase in the amount of human life. The actions that are bad are those that result in a decrease in the amount of human life.
4) Reducing suffering
The actions that are good are those that result in the decrease of suffering. The best action is the one that decreases suffering the most.
Popular in anti-natalism, which argues that reducing human life by not having children would reduce suffering.
5) Increasing knowledge
Says that action is good if it results in an increase of total human knowledge, even at the cost of some human lives.
6) Increasing acceptance and tolerance
Says that action is good and desirable if it results in an increase of acceptance of different people and different ideas.
7) Increasing belief in God and increasing prayers
Popular in religious groups. It says that action is good if it, for example, causes more people to believe in God and to pray more.
8) Increasing Self-Defense
Says that every individual has a right to do anything to protect his own life, and that we should respect such right.
9) Increasing self-ownership
Says that individual's body and property belong to him. Individual can do anything he wants with that which he owns. Actions are bad if they harm self-ownership of others. Actions are good if they increase self-ownership.
10) Rawls's theory of justice
Says that our greatest priority is to ensure greatest equal liberty for all.
The second greatest priority is to ensure equal opportunity and same starting point for all.
The third greatest priority is to ensure that even those who benefit the least are still benefiting.
11) Egoism
Says that we should base society on self-interest of individuals. Our actions should be such that we follow our interests and consider interests of others. Every action that affects a group of people should be in line with their interests.
12) Rule consequentialism
Says that there are rules which are known to produce good outcomes, therefore those rules should be followed. If we know that being kind almost always makes the world a better place, then we should be kind.
13) Deontology
Deontology is different from consequentialism in a sense that it considers some action always wrong even if it sometimes has good outcomes.
For example, if we say it is wrong to lie, then it is always wrong to lie. Even in situation where lying can save your life, you still should not lie.
14) Kant's Categorical Imperative
Says that we should have universal rules. Rule for one is a rule for all. Act in a way you would want everyone else to act. For example, lying is bad because if everyone lied all the time, our society wouldnt function anymore. But if everyone told the truth all the time, then our society would function. Therefore, everyone should be telling the truth always. The simplest way to explain Categorical Imperative is: If you are wondering if what you are doing is really good, then just imagine if everyone else did the same as you.
15) Human Rights
Human rights say that every person has rights which should never be violated, such as right to life, right to property, right to education...ect.
16) Divine Command Theory
Divine Command Theory says that God knows more about morality than humans. Therefore, humans should listen to God. The most famous example of this is 10 Commandments.
17) Liberalism
Says that the only time you are allowed to use force on individual is only for the purpose of preventing harm to others. Individual can do anything he wants, including to harm himself, as long as he doesnt harm others.
18) The greater good
Says that there are certain priorities which come above all else. For example, being forced to defend your country in war is good even if it violates your individual freedom.
19) Increase fairness
Says that there should be universal standard that is same for all people.
20) Virtue or role-model
Very common framework. It deals with "what would a virtuous person do if he was in this situation?".
For example, "What should I do?" is answered by "That what Jesus would do if he was in your place.".
21) Increasing care - Feminist approach
Says that we should all try to be more caring about everyone and feel compassion for each person that suffers. That will help us become better.
22) Single-minded unity
Says that society works best when everyone agrees and has same opinion on plenty of things. So we should seek to create such society.
23) Moral relativism
Says that there is no absolute rule, since every situation is different.
24) Moral absolutism
Says that there are absolute rules that are true in every situation.
25) Power-based ethics
Says that those with power have a right to dictate what is right and what is wrong, and that when making decisions, we should be seeking to be in line with those in power.
26) Mutual benefit also known as common good
Says that our actions, if they affect other people, should be beneficial for everyone affected. We should only make agreements that have mutual benefit. Society should have laws that are beneficial for everyone in society.
Conclusion
There are many more frameworks, and many frameworks can be made by combining these frameworks that were mentioned. For example, "increase life+decrease pain".
Each ethical framework contains 3 categories:
1) Obligatory - that which you have to do
2) Impermissible - that which you are not allowed to do
3) Permissible - If you want to do it, you are allowed to do it. If you dont want to do it, you are allowed not to do it. There is no punishment for doing or not doing the permissible. Althought there can be reward.
