Similarities and Differences in Virtue Theory,...

Similarities and Differences in Virtue Theory, Utilitarianism, and Deontological Ethics When talking about ethics it is hard to distinguish between ethics and morality. It is also hard to distinguish exactly what realm of ethics contributes to my everyday decisions. Ethics can be defined as â€Å"well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues [and] ethics refers to the study and development of ones ethical standards† (Andre, Shanks, Velasquez, 2010, para. 8-9). According to Psychology Today (2013) morality is, â€Å"ethics, evil, greed, sin, and conscience† (para. 1). â€Å"Morals can vary from person to person and culture†¦show more content†¦153). In essence, utilitarianism is maximizing everyone’s happiness, which can almost be considered a universal acceptance (Boylan, 2009, p. 154). Jeremy Bentham is one of the proponents of modern utilitarianism and states, â€Å"nature has placed mankind under the governa nce of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure† (Boylan, 2009, p. 154). In business utilitarianism shares the nonmoral views that the best decision that had no moral conflict would be to maximize profit, which would be the greatest good of the company and its employees (Boylan, 2009, p. 162). Utilitarianism does not always hold true in some minds. Utilitarianism does not take into account motives of the people (Boylan, 2009, p. 165). â€Å"If one acts in accord with the general principle and its corollaries, then one is moral† (Boylan, 2009, p. 165). â€Å"Deontology is a moral theory that emphasizes one’s duty to do a particular action just because the action, itself, is inherently right and not through any other sorts of calculations – such as the consequences of the action† (Boylan, 2009, p. 171). In many aspects deontology is contrasted with utilitarianism. Deontology is based upon principle and does not calculate the consequences (Boylan, 2009, p. 171). Deontology attracts those seeking a stronger moral attraction because it refers to commanding rather than commending and commanding is a stronger structure (Boylan, 2009, p. 172). TheShow MoreRelatedEssay about Eth 316 Week 1764 Words   |  4 PagesAssignment Kevin Sprenger ETH/316 May 13, 2013 Tammy Matthews Introduction Utilitarianism, deontological, and virtue theory ethics are three normative approaches to ethics. This paper will go over the similarities and differences between virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological principles. It will include information of the variations in how each concept details ethics, morality, and it will also discuss a personal experience to describe the correlation between virtue, values, and moralRead MoreEthic Essay651 Words   |  3 Pages1 Virtue Theory, Utilitarianism, and Deontological Ethics. Judith Glowinski ETH/316 - 4/16/2013 MARY CARTER 2 When comparing the similarities and differences between virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontology we find that they all deal with how one judge’s morality and ethics. These theories all include judging in different aspects, whether it is in the moment, what happens after, or over a lifetime. The ethics and morality behind these theories all deal with what is rightRead MoreEthics and Discussion Questions2409 Words   |  10 Pages |ETH/316 Version 2 | | |Ethics and Social Responsibility | Copyright  © 2011, 2010 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course provides a foundational perspective for ethics and social responsibility in relationship to individuals