Ethical Comparison

Ethics Comparison

Virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics are three major approaches in ethics, but differ in the way they are characterized and what they empathize.

Virtue ethics is based on someone’s personal, moral character, for instance: helping someone in need or paying it forward. It is leading a life striving towards excellence will bring fulfillment and happiness. (Manias, 2013). Virtue characteristics are honesty, generosity, wisdom, justice, respect, courage, and self-control. To be virtuous is to possess a certain mindset of developing those characteristics to achieve human excellence. Utilitarianism is a theory in ethics that morality is a matter of producing the greatest possible good for the greatest amount of people. It is based upon consequentialism, which are the results of an actions. Utilitarianism focuses on producing good outcomes. It is centered on the belief that people are driven by their interest and fears, but it is their interest that takes precedence over their fears, and their interests are carried out by how they derive the consequences (Manias, 2013). Deontological ethics is a non-consequential ethic principle. It is based on fulfilling one’s moral duties or obligations. It is a duty or obligation, with the belief that rules bind you to your obligation or duty. (Virtue Ethics, 2012)

Virtue is defined as a positive trait or quality deemed to be morally good, values are defined as a person’s absolute belief on ethics and morals. Morality is the difference of intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are "good" and those that are "bad" (Virtue, 2013). In life, we are faced with many decisions that put morals, values and virtues to the test. From simple decisions such as lying to someone, to large decision such as stealing or bringing harm to another human, people face morally challenging questions every day. A person’s