Running head: Ethics Essay 1

Ethics Essay Student Name Ethics and Social Responsibility/ETH316 Date Instructor Name

Ethics Essay Ethics Essay Ethics is described as being a scientific manner of loo ing at right and !rong "#oylan$ 2%%&'( )hile there are many different ethical theories and practices the three that !ill be contrasted here are *irtue$ utilitarianism$ and deontological ethics( These three different ethics theories ha*e many differences as !ell as similarities( Deontological ethics describe ones moral duty is based upon principles of reason and action (Boylan, 2009). Essentially ones morals are based upon his or her adherence to a set of

rules. An action is right regardless of the consequences of the action. To be moral one must act right without any thought to consequence for themselves or others. There is no gray area in deontological theory either the action is right or wrong regardless of consequence. +tilitarianism is a theory that contends an action is moral or immoral depending upon the amount of total utility for a group resulting from said action "#oylan$ 2%%&'( To be *irtuous one,s decisions must be based on !hat is right for the largest group of people rather than the indi*idual( +tilitarian,s contend that the greater good is more important than the indi*idual( -ne must be selfless and do !hat is good for the ma.ority o*er !hat is good for his or herself to maintain moral standing "#oylan$ 2%%&'( /irtue ethics are based upon good being a result of pursuit of e0cellence "#oylan$ 2%%&'( This ethical theory suggests that in order to be *irtuous one should stri*e for e0cellence in e*erything he or she does as !ell as de*elop e0cellence in others "#oylan$ 2%%&'( #y continually stri*ing for perfection in ones actions he or she de*elops his or her moral 1ualities( -nes actions becoming habitually e0cellent and right is the intended end result "#oylan$ 2%%&'( The relationship bet!een *irtues$ *alues$ and moral concepts as related to deontological ethics is understood by ta ing into account this e0ample( )hile !or ing on a pro.ect a

Ethics Essay contractor !as gi*en direction to perform a tas ( The tas !as intended to be a producti*e part of the pro.ect that !ould create a better product and increase efficiency( Ho!e*er$ upon

reflection of the tas it !as found to be un!arranted and created more cost than necessary( +pon this finding management re1uested action against the contractor for completing the tas ( 2t this point 3 ad*ised that it !as my decision to complete the tas and 3 should be held completely accountable for the issues( 2s seen deontological ethics$ utilitarianism$ and *irtue ethics all ha*e many things in common( They all stri*e for e0cellence in maintaining the highest moral standard in regards to their indi*idual ethical *alues( Each theory has a !ay of defining !hat *alues are considered to be *irtuous and ho! right and !rong is determined( They may not all agree !ith e*ery situation but each has the goal to create a person !ho li*es properly and righteous(

Ethics Essay References #oylan$ 5( "2%%&'( Basic ethics: Basic ethics in action "2nd ed('( +pper Saddle Ri*er$ 67: 8earson(