Ethics Essay
Teresa Galindo
ETH/316
January 11, 2016
Matt Barrett

Ethics Essay
Ethical theories are sets of rules that are meant to serve as a foundation to help people find solutions when they encounter ethically-challenging situations in life. These rules are guidelines for how humans should behave when relating to one another (Panza, 2010). This essay will compare the similarities and differences between virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics. A situational example will be added to demonstrate how the utilitarian theory relates to virtue, values and morals.
Ethical Theories - Similarities
The virtue theory centers around the idea that all ethical choices are based on an individual’s morals and beliefs. The results of the decisions made by that individual are solely based on what he/she considers morally correct even if in some instances laws might be broken. The utilitarian theory is based on the idea decisions must be made to ensure the results benefit the “greater-good” not just for one person’s self-interest. The outcome should decrease suffering and increase happiness of the world. The virtue and utilitarian theories are similar in that their purpose is to reduce suffering regardless of pre-imposed laws. Deontological theory revolves around making decisions based purely on obeying pre-set rules and laws. Obeying the pre-conceived rules and laws is the correct thing to do even if the outcome could increase suffering (Manias, Monroe, & Till, 2013). Deontological theory is similar to the virtue and utilitarian theories only in the fact that each of the theories has a way of representing how morality and ethics are judged and perceived.
Ethical Theories - Differences
The differences between the virtual, utilitarian and deontological theories are that each has a different motivation behind their decisions of what the best