Eth/316 Ethics Research Paper
Ethics Essay
ETH/316
July 9, 2013
Ethics Essay Ethics are standards that differentiate right and wrong and how people should conduct themselves. Ethics refer to standards that would prevent someone from doing something wrong, like murder for example. Is it ethical to commit murder? Society has deemed murder as an unacceptable. In the same way ethics help to determine what are appropriate behavior at home, school, and the work place. How we interact with others can be considered ethical, treating others with respect, hospitality, sharing, and helping others in need would be considered good ethical behavior. Ethical standards also include virtues of honesty, compassion, and loyalty.
The Virtue Theory
The virtue theory deals with the individual, the expectation is to “cultivate excellence in all that you do and all that others do (Boylan, 2009).” It deals with the character of an individual. Qualities of a virtuous person would be considered an upstanding, trustworthy, dependable, and honest. In contrast an unethical person would be selfish, unreliable, devious, or careless. …show more content…
People are characterized as “good” or “bad” or a combination of both, it does not leave room for a good person to make a bad choice. Once a person commits an unacceptable act, he or she may be branded as a bad person even if they have high morals and ethics instead of a good person who made a bad decision. An example of this would be of a person who drinks and drives. This is bad choice and the consequences of this choice can lead to accidents and death, but does this mean that this is a bad person? More than likely there would be no negative consequence unless the person is caught or there is an accident causing physical or property damage.
The Utilitarianism Theory
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that places right and wrong on the consequence of the action that will be for “the greatest good for the greatest number” (Boylan, p.133, 2009). The utilitarianism moves from the individual’s interest and takes into account the interest of others. An example of this would be when a team member knows that another person is a better fit for a job and steps down so that person can take the lead, which would benefit the whole team in the process. An example of this that comes to mind is: during the plot to kill Jesus, John 11:49-50 “Caiaphas, being high priest that year, spoke up, you know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man should die for the people than the whole nation perish." This is an example of the sacrifice of one to benefit the whole group or nation” ("Caiaphas – High Priest Of The Jerusalem Temple").
The Deontological Theory Deontological theory questions right and wrong by action instead of consequences.
It is considered to be wrong when the action intentionally harms others. The deontological approach defines ethics as either right or wrong, there is little or no middle ground for exceptions ("Deontology Ethics," 2008). With the utilitarianism theory it is acceptable to lie if it is to prevent hurting a person, with the deontological theory it is wrong to lie because it is a lie.
Conclusion
The similarities between the ethics theories concern the idea of right and wrong, and good and bad. The differences constitute on how they interpret right from wrong, and good from bad. With the virtue theory deals with the individual, whereas the utilitarianism focus on the group where actions are right when they provide the greatest good to the largest
group.
The deontology determines rightness by actions not the consequences; deontology is more of an absolute, stealing is wrong, lying is wrong, and murder is wrong, anything that causes harm to another person. All three theories have a place in present society and are used interactively without conscious effort. From a young age people are taught right from wrong from parents, teachers, church, and other people they come in contact with.
References
Boylan, M. (2009). Basic Ethics (2nd ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix e Book Collection database.
Caiaphas – High Priest of the Jerusalem Temple. (). Retrieved from http://christianity.about.com/od/newtestamentpeople/a/Caiaphas.htm
Deontology Ethics. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Deontological_ethics
ETH/316
July 9, 2013
Ethics Essay Ethics are standards that differentiate right and wrong and how people should conduct themselves. Ethics refer to standards that would prevent someone from doing something wrong, like murder for example. Is it ethical to commit murder? Society has deemed murder as an unacceptable. In the same way ethics help to determine what are appropriate behavior at home, school, and the work place. How we interact with others can be considered ethical, treating others with respect, hospitality, sharing, and helping others in need would be considered good ethical behavior. Ethical standards also include virtues of honesty, compassion, and loyalty.
The Virtue Theory
The virtue theory deals with the individual, the expectation is to “cultivate excellence in all that you do and all that others do (Boylan, 2009).” It deals with the character of an individual. Qualities of a virtuous person would be considered an upstanding, trustworthy, dependable, and honest. In contrast an unethical person would be selfish, unreliable, devious, or careless. …show more content…
People are characterized as “good” or “bad” or a combination of both, it does not leave room for a good person to make a bad choice. Once a person commits an unacceptable act, he or she may be branded as a bad person even if they have high morals and ethics instead of a good person who made a bad decision. An example of this would be of a person who drinks and drives. This is bad choice and the consequences of this choice can lead to accidents and death, but does this mean that this is a bad person? More than likely there would be no negative consequence unless the person is caught or there is an accident causing physical or property damage.
The Utilitarianism Theory
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that places right and wrong on the consequence of the action that will be for “the greatest good for the greatest number” (Boylan, p.133, 2009). The utilitarianism moves from the individual’s interest and takes into account the interest of others. An example of this would be when a team member knows that another person is a better fit for a job and steps down so that person can take the lead, which would benefit the whole team in the process. An example of this that comes to mind is: during the plot to kill Jesus, John 11:49-50 “Caiaphas, being high priest that year, spoke up, you know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man should die for the people than the whole nation perish." This is an example of the sacrifice of one to benefit the whole group or nation” ("Caiaphas – High Priest Of The Jerusalem Temple").
The Deontological Theory Deontological theory questions right and wrong by action instead of consequences.
It is considered to be wrong when the action intentionally harms others. The deontological approach defines ethics as either right or wrong, there is little or no middle ground for exceptions ("Deontology Ethics," 2008). With the utilitarianism theory it is acceptable to lie if it is to prevent hurting a person, with the deontological theory it is wrong to lie because it is a lie.
Conclusion
The similarities between the ethics theories concern the idea of right and wrong, and good and bad. The differences constitute on how they interpret right from wrong, and good from bad. With the virtue theory deals with the individual, whereas the utilitarianism focus on the group where actions are right when they provide the greatest good to the largest
group.
The deontology determines rightness by actions not the consequences; deontology is more of an absolute, stealing is wrong, lying is wrong, and murder is wrong, anything that causes harm to another person. All three theories have a place in present society and are used interactively without conscious effort. From a young age people are taught right from wrong from parents, teachers, church, and other people they come in contact with.
References
Boylan, M. (2009). Basic Ethics (2nd ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix e Book Collection database.
Caiaphas – High Priest of the Jerusalem Temple. (). Retrieved from http://christianity.about.com/od/newtestamentpeople/a/Caiaphas.htm
Deontology Ethics. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Deontological_ethics