Comparing Virtue Theory, Utilitarianism, And Deontological Ethics
Blood Money
Jennifer Browning
ETH 316
April 2, 2015
Professor Peter Fortuna
When comparing virtue theory, utilitarianism and deontological ethics, you must look at the similarities and the differences. Each idea has many key points; virtue theory is defined as your personal behavioral characteristics. If you are a good person, your values will be good values. Utilitarianism believes that if your action is right, it will promote happiness and if it is a wrong action the reverse will occur (West, n.d.). Deontology is considered morally right because of some characteristic of the action itself, not because the product of the action is good (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica, 2015). They all are similar in that they look at your morals and values as a person and whether they are right decisions.
While each theory is very similar in relation to values and morals, there are also many differences. Virtue theory “focuses on what the individual should choose for his/her personal inward behavior (character) rather than the individual relying solely on the external laws and customs of the person’s culture, and if an individual 's character is right then so ought the person’s choices and …show more content…
I feel that I used the deontological ethics approach. I made a conscience decision to leave my group of friends regardless of the outcome. Here is the scenario: We were out at a concert, and they were behaving in a way that was not appropriate. I was raised never to cheat on a significant other while they apparently feel cheating is acceptable. So I left my group of friends at the concert after I expressed my concerns. My friends were not happy that I left, but I did not care about their concerns. I did what I felt was morally right… and that was excusing myself from the situation. The consequences of my actions were of no concern to
Jennifer Browning
ETH 316
April 2, 2015
Professor Peter Fortuna
When comparing virtue theory, utilitarianism and deontological ethics, you must look at the similarities and the differences. Each idea has many key points; virtue theory is defined as your personal behavioral characteristics. If you are a good person, your values will be good values. Utilitarianism believes that if your action is right, it will promote happiness and if it is a wrong action the reverse will occur (West, n.d.). Deontology is considered morally right because of some characteristic of the action itself, not because the product of the action is good (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica, 2015). They all are similar in that they look at your morals and values as a person and whether they are right decisions.
While each theory is very similar in relation to values and morals, there are also many differences. Virtue theory “focuses on what the individual should choose for his/her personal inward behavior (character) rather than the individual relying solely on the external laws and customs of the person’s culture, and if an individual 's character is right then so ought the person’s choices and …show more content…
I feel that I used the deontological ethics approach. I made a conscience decision to leave my group of friends regardless of the outcome. Here is the scenario: We were out at a concert, and they were behaving in a way that was not appropriate. I was raised never to cheat on a significant other while they apparently feel cheating is acceptable. So I left my group of friends at the concert after I expressed my concerns. My friends were not happy that I left, but I did not care about their concerns. I did what I felt was morally right… and that was excusing myself from the situation. The consequences of my actions were of no concern to