Deontology And Virtue-Based Ethical Theories

Deontological comes from the Greek word deon meaning “duty, and logos meaning “science”. (www.britannica.com) Deontological theory claims that someone acts out of duty not because it makes you feel better. In this theory the duty is defined by many sources like religion, language, metaphysics, biology, culture and psychology. Immanuel Kant’s ethical theory is deontological. He perceives moral duties as the law, unchangeable and firm. (www.pages.drexel.edu)
Teleological comes from the Greek word telos meaning “end” and logos meaning “science”. (www.britannica.com) Teleological basically describes the theory that deeds are done for an external goal or purpose. Consequences, either good or bad, always play a part. Usually people who behave by this theory ask themselves “Does the end always justify the means?” Asking yourself this always will get you thinking about the future instead of just the immediate outcome of your decision. (www.pages.drexel.edu)
Virtue based ethics’ founding fathers are Plato and Aristotle.
(plato.stanford.edu) Virtue based ethical theories focus less on the rules and regulations that people need to be following and focuses more on the why and what the person’s character development should entail. Teleological theories focus on the goals of the actions, and the deontological theories focus on acting in accordance with the moral laws. The virtue based ethical theory suggests that you act in ways that develop virtuous characteristics and after a while they become a habit. The person learns how to effectively tell the truth without being harsh or lying whenever easier.
(www.pages.drexel.edu)
I feel as though the most valid way of judging ethical conduct to me is the virtue based ethic theory. I feel like if parents were to teach this to their kids early on, then making morally sound decisions later in life would be easier for them. Some people would think that leaves the individual judgment way too open. Some people think that this will show a person’s uniqueness and individuality.
WORK CITED:
"deontological ethics". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2012
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/158162/deontological-ethics>.
. "Terms in and Types of Ethical Theory." drexel.edu. N.p.. Web. 28 Oct 2012. http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~cp28/ethterm.htm
"teleological ethics". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2012 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/585940/teleological-ethics Hursthouse, Rosalind, "Virtue Ethics", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2012 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2012/entries/ethics-virtue/