Utilitarianism and deontology are two moral theories that can often pull us in different direction. Utilitarianism is the ethical doctrine that virtue is based on utility‚ and that conduct should be directed toward promoting the greatest happiness of the greatest number of persons. This can be viewed as a contingent right. Contingent means something that could happen or come up depending on other occurrences. An example of a contingent right is the unexpected need for a bandage on a hike. The bandage
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Act Utilitarianism vs Rule Utilitarianism Our world is governed by rules‚ either implied or implemented‚ and early on we are taught to live by these rules. Society expects us to act in such a way that will conform to these rules in order to live happy‚ harmonious lives. We do things‚ careful not to break any of the rules that might hurt or cause harm to others. Sometimes though‚ we do things not in accordance with the rules but based on what we feel is the right thing to do. Some people believe
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The study question • Translate and/or explain the following terms: aesity‚ arêtê‚ endoxa‚ ergon‚ eudaimonia‚ peccatum‚ telos‚ virtus‚ vitium – Arêtê: Greek for virtue‚ or excellence – Virtus and vitium: Latin for virtue and vice – Endoxon (endoxa): Greek‚ reputable opinion(s) • Ergon: Greek‚ function/characteristic activity – • Eudaimonia: Greek‚ happiness‚ well being • – Peccatum: Latin‚ sin • – Telos: Greek‚ end‚ aim • Discuss and/or apply the following concepts: doctrine of
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In this essay I will discuss Utilitarianism by first explaining how Utilitarians are consequentialists who base their actions on the pleasure of pain of their consequences. Secondly‚ Jeremy Bentham will be discussed as the propagator of the Principle of Utility which determines human self-interest and voluntary action to achieve the greatest good or greatest pleasure. Thirdly‚ I will discuss John Stuart Mills and his more complex version of Utilitarianism. To clarify the Utilitarian theory I will
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Utilitarianism can be classified in two distinct ways‚ act and rule. In these ways the utility principle is applied differently. Act-Utilitarianism is concerned with treating each moral situation as unique; therefore‚ applied the utility principle to each act. The Fundamentals of Ethics states‚ “Rule-utilitarianism is the version of rule consequentialism that says that well-being is the only thing of intrinsic value” (Shafer-Landau‚ Russ G-6). This means rule-utilitarianism draws up general rules
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Essay Question #1 Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote the Nicomachean Ethics‚ portraying the significance of studying the realms of ethics and political science. In his work‚ Aristotle focuses on the theme of how human beings can attain the chief human good—happiness—at which everything aims. Aristotle argues that ethics‚ the study of moral character‚ and political science‚ the branch of knowledge and analysis of political activity and behavior‚ must be closely studied together in order
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12400 Yizhou Hu Luck‚ Virtue and Happiness The idea that non-virtuous people is possible to be better off than virtuous people like Priam seems to acknowledge that happiness is ultimately determined by luck. Indeed‚ by emphasizing that certain amount of fortune is necessary to happiness‚ Aristotle focuses on the relationship between luck‚ virtue‚ blessedness and happiness in Chapter 8 of Book 1. In the end‚ he takes a more intermediate stand toward fortune‚ claiming that virtue is the determinant of
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Utilitarianism as an ethical theory Utilitarianism is the view that an act is right if it equals the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. Utilitarians describe moral actions as actions that boost something good and lessen something that is bad. Virtue‚ knowledge‚ and goodwill are all good but they are only good if they give people a pleasurable existence. Pain is the only thing that is intrinsically bad. Utilitarians focus on the result of an act instead of the inherent
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Can Business Ethics & Capitalism coexist? The concept of business ethics has tried to change the way businesses operate over the years. Business ethics is a form of ethics that governs the actions of businesses to circumvent the affects business has on every day society. But some question its effectiveness in the application of capitalism. Several case studies have shown that this is the case; many companies place the pursuit of money in front of the pursuit of virtue. Although‚ the majority of
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Utilitarianism Utilitarianism the ethical doctrine of the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the criterion of the virtue of action. The principle that utilitarianism use in making moral decisions is a form of moral hedonism; that people should seek pleasure and avoid pain. Utilitarianism seeks to produce the greatest good for the greatest number. But‚ the problem is in determining what the greatest good is. Utilitarian define the “good” as good is what equates pleasure and reduces
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