For example, in the case of lying, a deontologist would argue that lying is always wrong, doesn’t matter even if it holds any potential to creating a greater good. While the consequentialist would say that to lie is a wrong thing to do because it would cause negative outcomes as a result, however lying could still be allowed, knowing that it would lead to the creation of a greater good. While as for a virtue-ethicist would care less on just about lying, but focus more on what does the decision say about his/her own traits and character. So here are several features that make the theory of virtue ethics distinctive compared to the other
Explain the theory of duty in Kantian Ethics (25 marks) Kantian ethics is an absolutist theory as Kant claimed what is morally ‘good’ is constant and unchanging. Because of this, it can be a universal concept applied in different societies and cultures with the idea that an action should only be performed for duty’s sake. His approach was deontological because the idea of right or wrong was based on the action rather than the consequence, he believed that this was the only rational basis for morality and could be proven objectively, independent from emotion and opinion. As humans we have the innate ability to reason, something which we gained prior to any sensory experience in this world. This is an idea which is absolute and according to Kant, the way we decide the morality of an action.
The Similarities and Differences of Ethical Theories Mike Dyer ETH/316 November 18, 2013 Michelle Clark-Washington The Similarities and Differences of Ethical Theories There are many types of theories that coincide with virtues, values, and moral concepts to help one decide on what is right and wrong. I will be discussing the similarities and differences between three types of theories and how each theory addresses ethics and morality. These theories are virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics. Similarities Society, and we as individuals, want to achieve a common goal with ethics and morality. That goal is to do what is morally right, if it be through pleasure to avoid pain.
According to Kant, right actions are not done by following inclinations, impulses or obeying the principle of greatest happiness but are done simply and purely from the sense of duty. Kessler says that some ethical truths and norms are appropriate to everyone in the society, and therefore, people should always act morally irrespective of the outcome for their morals. In deontology ethics, actions are done for the sake of duty. The intrinsic moral feature determines the rightness or wrongness of the act taken by individuals. The duty should always be done by taking the right.
Next on the basis of James Rachel’s argument against ethical egoism will try to answer the question posed. This essay will also discuss the common sense view is the most appropriate way to act in most of the cases. Ethical Egoism is a normative theory, a theory which states how one should behave. It states that promotion of one’s own good is in accordance with morality. In other way we can state that it is always moral to promote self-interest and it is not moral not to promote it.
The weakness of Virtue Ethics outweighs its strengths – Discuss. Virtue ethics is the ethics of us as persons and argues that morality is not about duties. There are a number of arguments for and against virtue ethics, and most for, argue for the formation and growth of us via phronesis or practical wisdom, which allows us to make the right decisions by using our conscience. Virtue ethics is mainly supported by Aristotle. It is based on different virtues that a person should have, so that they can then reach Euadamonia.
Ethical language is subjective. Discuss (35) If ethical language is subjective, this means that it is very personal to the person following the ethic or moral belief. This is contrary to ethical language being objective whereby the morals that one holds are not a result of or influenced by personal opinions or feelings, rather a result of a moral theory that lays out a set of morals to act as guidance that one must follow. G. E. Moore, David Hume, R. M Hare, A. J. Ayer and Ludwig Wittgenstein would argue that ethical language is subjective, whereas normative ethicists such as Kant, Bentham, Mill and Aristotle would argue that ethical language is objective. ‘Naturalism’ is the term used to describe the attempt to arrive at a moral system based on observations of human life.
The two dominant theories of morality are relativism and absolutism. The former is the position which states that moral propositions do not reflect objective or universal moral truths but instead make claims relative to social, cultural, historical or circumstantial conditions. The latter is the ethical belief that there are absolute standards against which moral questions can be judged. The theory claims that certain actions are right or wrong regardless of the context of the act. Therefore, actions are inherently moral or immoral, regardless of the beliefs and goals of the individual, society or culture that engages in the action.
We have the capabilities to eliminate the suffering, however, we choose not to, which is morally wrong. In keeping with this thought, Singer proposes two principles; the strong Singer principle and the weak Singer principle. His strong principle states, “If it is in our power to prevent something very bad from happening without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance , we ought, we ought, morally, to do it.” In comparison, his weak principle states, “If it is in our power to prevent something very bad from happening , without sacrificing anything morally significant , we ought, morally, to do it.
This is in direct violation with David Hume’s stance on morality. Hume writes that it is desire rather than reason that governs human behavior and that, “Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions.” Kant’s conception of duty is based on the notion that all good ought to be done because they are intrinsically good. Duty for Kant is a basis of moral law. For example, one ought to preserve their own life or help feed the homeless because it is their societal duty to do so, not because they want to or that doing so makes them feel good. In fact, according to Kant, a person who hates helping others but does so anyways because they see it as their societal duty is a good moral agent.