Ethical theories are there to address and correct ethical dilemmas individuals and groups face. The virtue ethical theory, utilitarianism and deontological ethical theory employ different guidelines and suppositions about human nature to develop the best course of action when one is faced with an ethical issue. This paper compares and contrasts these three ethical theories focusing on how they reach conclusions in their efforts to address ethical and moral dilemmas.
Deontological ethics base ethical decisions on duty and obligations. It asks for an individual to follow the laws and set guidelines. Deontological ethical theory helps us in understanding our duty and obligations to friends and family (Rainbow, 2002). With deontological ethics an individual’s behavior and approach to moral issues is always consistent. Unlike deontological ethics, utilitarian ethics do not have their basis in duty.
Utilitarianism is concerned with the prediction of a course that produces the greatest satisfaction for the greatest number. Moral decisions are based on logical calculations of outcomes and how many benefit from that outcome. Unlike deontological ethics, utilitarian ethics can ignore duty if duty does not provide the greatest benefit for the greatest number. Utilitarianism if often split into two categories which are rule and act utilitarianism. Act utilitarianism bases moral actions on actions that produce the greatest benefit for the most number of people while rule utilitarianism has some similarities with deontological ethics since it brings into consideration law and fairness (Rainbow, 2002).
The problem with utilitarian ethics is that man is not that good at making predictions. When predicted outcomes tend to be different from those perceived by the utilitarian then their actions become ethical. This is different from deontological ethics where no matter the consequences actions are deemed if performed out of duty and obligation.
Virtue theory on the other hand seeks to make judgements about individuals based on that individual’s character as compared to their actions which might be out of sync with what is deemed their normal way of behaving. Virtue theory makes a consideration of a sum total of a person’s previous moral stance, their motivations and reputation in making judgements on behavior that might be deemed unethical (Penslar, 1995). Instead of saying that the law says that someone who has shot people at random is guilty like deontological ethics would say or saying that it is only fair to give the death penalty like rule utilitarian ethics, virtue ethical theory seeks to make judgements based on the sum total of an individual’s actions including how they morally behaved in the past. The problem with virtue theory is that it can be abused by individuals whose morals would have changed.
A good example of an ethical dilemma I have faced is reporting the actions of friends who told me they vandalized a neighbor’s wall by spray painting it. Using utilitarian ethics reporting them to their parents would have been best course of action since it could have stopped them from doing the same thing to another family’s wall again. With rule utilitarianism its was fair for me to report them either to the authorities or their parents. With this action I risked losing my friends whom I thought were carried away since they never acted like that. I valued their friendship more than I valued the neighbor’s wall even though the virtuous thing to do was to tell people that I knew the culprit. The three ethical theories put together can aid individuals in all kinds of settings in making the best informed, moral and virtuous decisions. They aid people in reflecting on their values.
References
Penslar, Robin L. (1995). Research Ethics: Cases and Materials. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Rainbow, Cathrine. (2002). Description of ethical theories and principles. Davidson College. Retrieved from http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/kabernd/indep/carainbow/theories.htm
