What Ethical Theories Tell Us

Setting Health-Care Priorities: What Ethical Theories Tell Us

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An Exploration of the Major Ethical Theories and Their Implications for How We Live Our Lives

Ethics is the branch of philosophy that deals with what is right and wrong. It is a vast and complex subject, and there are many different ethical theories that have been proposed over the centuries. In this article, we will explore some of the major ethical theories and discuss their implications for how we live our lives.

Consequentialism

Consequentialism is a family of ethical theories that hold that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its consequences. The most common types of consequentialism are utilitarianism and hedonism.

Utilitarianism is a theory that holds that the right action is the one that produces the greatest overall happiness or well-being. Hedonism is a theory that holds that the right action is the one that produces the greatest amount of pleasure.

Consequentialism is a popular ethical theory because it is simple to understand and it seems to provide a clear way to determine the rightness or wrongness of actions. However, it also has some drawbacks. One drawback is that it can be difficult to predict the consequences of our actions. Another drawback is that it can lead to us sacrificing the interests of individuals for the sake of the greater good.

Deontology

Deontology is a family of ethical theories that hold that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its inherent moral qualities, rather than by its consequences. The most common type of deontology is Kantianism.

Kantianism is a theory that holds that the right action is the one that is in accordance with a universal moral law. This law is derived from reason and it is binding on all rational beings. Kantianism is a popular ethical theory because it is based on the idea of universal morality. However, it also has some drawbacks. One drawback is that it can be difficult to determine what the universal moral law is in all cases. Another drawback is that it can lead to us ignoring the consequences of our actions.

Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics is a family of ethical theories that hold that the right action is the one that is performed by a virtuous person. Virtues are character traits that are considered to be desirable, such as courage, honesty, and kindness. Virtue ethics is a popular ethical theory because it focuses on the importance of character development. However, it also has some drawbacks. One drawback is that it can be difficult to determine what virtues are most important. Another drawback is that it can lead to us ignoring the consequences of our actions.

The three ethical theories that we have discussed in this article are just a few of the many different ethical theories that have been proposed over the centuries. There is no one right ethical theory, and the best theory for you will depend on your own individual values and beliefs. However, by understanding the different ethical theories, you can make more informed decisions about how you live your life.

Setting Health-Care Priorities: What Ethical Theories Tell Us

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1148 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	209 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE