Developed by Aristotle‚ virtue ethics presents an agent-centered moral theory based on virtues and what it entails for an individual to act virtuously. Since its development‚ virtue ethics has been criticized due to its agent-centeredness and the possible lack of guidance it provides on how the agent ought to act. Robert Louden argued that virtue ethics as a moral theory should be overlooked as it is unable to fully tell individuals how they should act. The aim of this essay will be to show that
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Moral power stems from tradition and a feeling of obligation to one’s fellow community members. Durkheim describes it by writing “When a native is asked why he follows his rites‚ he replies that ancestors have always done so and that he must follow their example. [...] he feels morally obligated so to conduct himself; he feels he is obeying a sort of imperative‚ fulfilling a duty” (Durkheim 192). The moral obligation members feel for one another is the
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This theory advocates that the actions worth is determined by maximizing utility (pleasure or happiness).it looks at the consequence of an action as to whether the outcome is good to the majority of people affected by it. According to Bentham‚ utilitarianism is the greatest happiness or greatest felicity principle. There are many types of this theory which include act vs. rule‚ two level‚ motive‚ negative and average vs. total. (Clifford G.‚ John C. 2009) In act utilitarianism‚ when people have to
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UTILITARIANISM Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that holds that an action is right if it produces‚ or if it tends to produce‚ the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people affected by the action. Otherwise the action is wrong. This cost-benefit analysis is a form of utility calculation. People in business theory use utility curves to plot the results of various actions‚ choosing those that maximize whatever it is that they wish to achieve. This utility approach is not foreign
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Ethical Theory Examination Ethical Theory Examination An action can be considered ethical or unethical depending on the perspective. There are three main theories of ethics: virtue‚ utilitarianism‚ and deontology. Each theory uses different criteria to determine if an action is ethical. Although the idea of performing ethical actions is similar‚ each theory follows a different approach. The virtue theory of ethics determines what is right and wrong based upon how it will affect one’s character
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5. Relativism Many different ideas have been given the name ‘relativism’‚ and the term has been used to pillory all sorts of views (sometimes for good reasons‚ sometimes for bad ones). It is mere posturing to say that you are for or against “relativism” unless you say what you mean by the term. Here I want mainly to discuss (and to criticize) a view I have encountered among students in philosophy courses‚ who say things like this: "What anyone believes is true for that person. What you believe
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Utilitarianism‚ yet another ethical theory between right or wrong. If everyone acted in an effort to promote the greatest good for the greater number of people our universe would exist with a utilitarian state of mind. Although‚ when one looks at this statement on the surface without further analyzing it‚ most would assume that existing in a universe where everyone seeks the happiness for the greatest amount of people that it would be greater one to live in. Although‚ surface wise we can make
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to others. A good state of affairs is based off of a matter of opinion. What some consider “good” affairs; others may consider “poor”. The statement‚ there is no single objective sense of a good state of affairs holds truth. Philippa Foot’s Utilitarianism and the Virtues states‚ “ It can never be right to prefer a worse state of affairs to a better” (198). Foot is correct‚ however‚ this statement doesn’t say what specifically would be considered worse or better. If Jenny‚ the green thumbed outdoors
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Explain Utilitarianism Utilitarianism was developed in the 18th century by Hutcheson‚ who used the phrase ‘the greatest good for the greatest number’ to describe his theory. Hutcheson’s idea‚ seeks to find a rational means of assessing how best to put this promotion of happiness into practice. It is split into two types; Act Utilitarianism‚ this is the earliest form in which what is deemed right is based on the assessment of results of a particular action‚ and Rule Utilitarianism which allows
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Utilitarianism Key Features • • • Relativist Theory – – – – – – – No Absolutes Morality Depends on individual circumstances Happiness is the most important thing Quality and Quantity of Happiness need to be taken into account The Measure of Usefulness or Fittingness for purpose an action may have Teleological Ethical theories such as Utilitarianism tend to rely on the principle of utility It is the way of measuring how useful an action is in bringing about the consequences that we desire Equality
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