...In today’s culture, ethical development is a vital society tool. There are various theoretical approaches; though different, some share very similar concepts. Understanding these similarities and differences provide one with a greater knowledge and appreciation of these concepts. The content of this paper will consider the differences and similarities between virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics theories, and address how each theory address ethics and morality. In addition, I will reflect on my personal experience through which I will expound on the association between virtue, values, and moral concepts as they relate to one specific of the three theories. In order to fully comprehend virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics, one must begin with a descriptive knowledge of each ethical theory. Virtue theory accepts that a person will seek excellence and encourage others to seek it as well. The teachings of Greek philosopher Aristotle suggest that virtue implicates effective moral character and promotes sound judgment in resolving moral issues (Boylan, 2009). Human beings are social creatures; the application of moral ethics is located in the framework of a particular society. In a related manner, utilitarianism mandates that individuals behave in a way that is in morally appropriate for the benefit of many; maximizing overall contentment within a society. Boylan (2009) suggest that Utilitarianism ” is a theory that suggests that an...
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...Theories of Ethics Consequentialism (Utilitarianism) Consequentialism sees the rightness or wrongness of an action in terms of the consequences brought about by that action. The most common form of consequentialism is utilitarianism. Utilitarianism holds that one should act so as to do the greatest good for the greatest number. The good as defined by J.S. Mill would be the presence of pleasure and the absence of pain. Utilitarians are concerned with the aggregate happiness of all beings capable of experiencing pleasure or pain including nonhuman animals. They consider the principle of utility to be the act, which produces the greatest balance of good over evil. Utilitarians consider both the happiness-producing and unhappiness-producing consequences of several alternative actions before deciding on one. A nineteenth century philosopher Jeremy Bentham created a checklist called the hedonic calculus. Bentham designed what he termed the hedonic calculus to enable people to measure the overall happiness- or pleasure-producing consequences of actions in terms of their duration, intensity, certainty, propinquity, fecundity, purity, and extent. This tool would not work in today’s society because happiness or pleasure as we know it would be difficult to measure on a numeric scale. There are two forms of utilitarians. Act utilitarians directly apply the principle of utility to each case as it arises. Rule utilitarians apply the principle of utility to general rules of...
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...John Stuart Mill vs. Immanuel Kant The aim of this paper is to clearly depict how John Stuart Mill’s belief to do good for all is more appropriate for our society than Immanuel Kant’s principle that it is better to do what's morally just. I will explain why Mill’s theory served as a better guide to moral behavior and differentiate between the rights and responsibilities of human beings to themselves and society. Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill are philosophers who addressed the issues of morality in terms of how moral customs are formed. Immanuel Kant presented one perspective in The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals that is founded on his belief that the worth of man is inherent in his skill to reason. John Stuart Mill holds another belief as presented in the book, Utilitarianism, which is seemingly conflicting with the thoughts of Kant. What is most unique about the ethics of morality is the idea of responsibilities to particular individuals. According to both Mill and Kant, moral obligations are not fundamentally particularistic because they are rooted in universal moral principles. Both philosophers have made great impacts in their niche areas in the field. An analysis of their theories may help develop a better understanding of them and their theories. Mill holds an empiricist theory while Kant holds a rationalist theory. Kant explains morality through forms that he believes are essential to free and sensible judgment. Mill’s utilitarian approach...
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...Part (b) ‘Natural Law as an absolutist/deontological theory cannot work in today’s society’ Natural Law was first propounded by Aristotle 4th century BC, it was a secular theory at the time of Aristotle. It was later revived in the 13th century AD by St. Thomas Aquinas, catholic theologian. In today’s society certain aspects of Natural law would be recognised as outdated and a theory that needs to be analysed. Many would agree with the statement ‘Natural law as a theory cannot work in today’s society’. Atheists would dispute the claim that God-given reason and nature provide us with the source of law. As Mel Thompson states in his book Ethical Theory, if one comes to the conclusion based on observation such as innocent suffering the world ‘is unlikely to be the product of an omnipotent or loving creator then the natural law argument loses its foundation. James Rachels also states that ‘the theory of Natural Law has gone out of fashion’. The world described by Newton, Darwin and Galileo has no place for “facts” about right or wrong. Their explanations of natural phenomena make no reference to values or purpose. ‘Perhaps no absolutist laws exist and there are no ‘right or ‘wrong’ actions as defined by a deontological approach. The problem with an absolutist and deontological approach is that it fails to consider several other factors in any moral action such as the individual, the culture, the individual’s situation or the consequences. A follower of situation...
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...Abstract Utilitarianism vs. Deontology, Should Tiger Woods have his contracts reinstated by the companies that dropped him? I will be discussing both of these theories and the positive and negative side of each. I will also tell you my thoughts and how I would answer this question. The Tiger Woods scandal brings up many questions concerning today’s society and the ethical and moral obligations that celebrities have when companies invest in you in exchange for your endorsement of their products. Although, Tiger Woods may be a great golfer his moral choices have proved to be less than desirable by the masses. According, to the Judeo-Christian values that our country was founded on (Cherry, 2007) adultery is believed to be morally unacceptable and thus makes the basis of the utilitarian approach to this discussion. The utilitarian theory is based on the greatest good for the greatest amount of people. This theory may hold true when speaking of adultery. I agree that adultery is wrong but do Tiger’s personal indiscretions warrant the abandonment of his endorsers. Was Tiger hired on the basis that he lived a moral life or because he is a great golfer? Now that Tiger Woods has made a public apology, does the belief that everyone deserves forgiveness prove to have priority over the condemnation of adultery? The utilitarian approach determines the greatest priority by the happiness level or consequences it produces. Since your happiness level is greater when influenced...
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...(Oxford Cambridge and RSA) is a leading UK awarding body, providing a wide range of qualifications to meet the needs of pupils of all ages and abilities. OCR qualifications include AS/A Levels, Diplomas, GCSEs, OCR Nationals, Functional Skills, Key Skills, Entry Level qualifications, NVQs and vocational qualifications in areas such as IT, business, languages, teaching/training, administration and secretarial skills. It is also responsible for developing new specifications to meet national requirements and the needs of students and teachers. OCR is a not-for-profit organisation; any surplus made is invested back into the establishment to help towards the development of qualifications and support which keep pace with the changing needs of today’s society. This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and students, to indicate the requirements of the examination. It shows the basis on which marks were awarded by Examiners. It does not indicate the details of the discussions which took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking commenced. All Examiners are instructed that alternative correct answers and unexpected approaches in candidates’ scripts must be given marks that fairly reflect the relevant knowledge and skills demonstrated. Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the published question papers and the Report on the Examination. OCR will not enter into any discussion or correspondence in connection with this mark scheme. © OCR 2011 Any enquiries about publications...
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...organization’s service and delivery system at all times to ensure optimal operation. Dr. DoRight has recently been hired as the president of the “Universal Human Care Hospital”. Dr. DoRight discovers that some patient in the hospital have been dying as a result of illegal procedures by the nursing and doctors, and negligent supervision and oversight on their part. In this thesis we will discuss the internal and external stakeholders that Dr. DoRight might have deal with on daily basis, compare and contrast potential conflict of interest that may exist between the internal and external stakeholders, whether Dr. DoRight has fulfilled his ethical duty by reporting the illegal procedures, describe the deontology and utilitarianism principals and apply them to the ethical dilemma Dr. DoRight faces in this case. Internal And External Stakeholders that Dr. DoRight Deals With In A Daily Basis A hospital President is responsible for attaining and maintaining patient care, safety, education and community service goals. Professionals in this position are accountable for improving health status in the community as a whole. They also ensure hospital objectives are met through the process of selection, development, organization, motivation, management, evaluation and the promotion of human resources. A hospital President manages the...
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...steal’ and ‘thy shall not kill’. These laws were giving to Moses so that people would do the right and good things. Secular principles such as Utilitarianism and laws made by the government for non-religious people to use as guidance to outline the right and wrong. Within this essay, I will examine how religion is a part of the rationing and prioritising sector when it comes to healthcare resources as well as the advantages and disadvantages when using non-secular principles when distributing resources. Beauchamp and Childress’ Four Principles of Biomedical Ethics are respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. This is one of the ethical principles that are being used by the NHS. The four principles are there to be used equally and fair when choosing the best decision for a situation of medical treatment. Autonomy means that you should respect a patient’s decision by giving them all the information they need to make their financial decision. Autonomy suggests that patients should be the ones to make their decisions and not healthcare professionals such as doctors which agree with Christian beliefs. In Galatians 3:28 it reads ‘there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all in Christ Jesus’. This gives patients the freedom to choose what they feel is appropriate because of what they think is best or what their religion believes is right when taking medical treatment. Beneficence is...
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...Gay Marriage Tina M. Keena SOC 120: Introductions to Ethics & Social Responsibility Instructor: Daniel Beteta August 31, 2012 Gay Marriage “The protection of fundamental human rights was a foundation stone in the establishment of the United States over 200 years ago. Since then, a central goal of U.S. foreign policy has been the promotion of respect for human rights, as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United States understands that the existence of human rights helps secure the peace, deter aggression, promote the rule of law, combat crime and corruption, strengthen democracies, and prevent humanitarian crises” (Bureau of Public Affairs). With this said and published why is there so much debate and argument over the rights of those in the Gay and Lesbian community being allowed to marry each other? The Bible does indicate that marriage is between a man and a woman, but the Bible was written by man as an interpretation of God’s word. This Country with many others has overcome so many obstacles within the times. Banishment of slavery, equal rights to women, and acceptance of interracial marriages has become respected and acceptable. If all of this can come full circle to where it is acceptable, the rights of those who are gay should also be accepted. Equal rights to all human beings regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation should be recognized. In 1967 there was much controversy over the interracial marriage of...
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...when we rise above the merely hu-man, Plato insisted, and enter into “the realm of the everlasting and immortal and changeless” that we achieve wisdom. Big ideas for reshaping the world are also the ultimate currency and energy for creating possibilities, value, leadership, inspiration, and unity. The “new new thing” for today’s knowledge society is, depending on who you ask, creative ideas and/or energy—moving beyond fossil fuels and nuclear...
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...Ethical Concerns of Consumer Tracking Name SOC 120: Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Instructor September 2014 Ethical Concerns of Consumer Tracking The practice of consumer tracking has become commonplace through various public avenues, but there are certain aspects of this practice that could be construed as an invasion of privacy. There are so many activities that can be monitored in today’s technologically driven society. Retail outlets and other organizations have countless reasons to track their consumer or client base. The ethical concern is determining where to draw the line when collecting data or monitoring activity. Many companies will use the classical ethical theory of utilitarianism as the basis for collecting data from their consumer or client base. Kurt Mosser describes utilitarianism as an action that is chosen because it produces the best possible results for the greatest number of people (Mosser, 2013). At the corporate level, data is often collected to strengthen the operational processes of the business. This practice is often considered harmless by the businesses involved because their intent is not to use the accumulated personal information for any reason other than to improve the business. While previously working at the corporate headquarters for a retail organization, I was able to observe the practice of consumer tracking as it evolved. This particular organization purchased precious...
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...Assignment 3: Legal and Ethical Considerations in Marketing, Product Safety, and Intellectual Property Kemal Cankaya Strayer University Law, Ethics, and Corporate Governance Prof. Augustine S Weekly December 15, 2013 1. Research three to five (3-5) ethical issues relating to marketing and advertising, intellectual property, and regulation of product safety. With the globalization in world economy, business ethics became indispensable neces- sity for companies. Business to business ethics of appropriate behaviors in the long term success of businesses in a positive direction, otherwise it has been the power to adversely affect the behavior. As a result, the collapse of ethical scandals have emerged released in the United States of America and Europe. Business, which clearly indicates the necessity and importance of business ethics ethics have valuable lessons from the collapse. Ethical issues at Marketing Nowadays, marketing ethics, ethical issues comes up with sales-related studies and sensitivity in the community. This aspect of the business from a societal perspective should insist on the importance of ethical practices. As a result of marketing activities by the community due to the high impression, often come up with moral problems in the advertising, personal selling, market research and international marketing issues are seen to be available to unethical behavior. Especially in the 1970s and 1980s, various scandals...
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...Business Ethics UGB 210 |Content |Page number | |Executive Summary |3 | |Introduction |4 | |Main Ethical Dilemmas |5 - 7 | |Dealing with Ethical Issues |8 - 10 | |Walmart ASDA Best Practice |11- 12 | |Recommendations and conclusion |13 | |Reference |14 | Executive Summary This report will outline the ethical challenges faced by Walmart Asda. It will include the previous accusations made against the company and a list of the main ethical dilemmas. The report will then develop into covering the elements that ASDA are implementing in order to overcome its main...
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...the prisoners’ rights must be analyzed. As a society, have we done all we can regarding the treatment of prisoners? Alternatively, can we say we have made prison an easy way of life that is no longer a punishment for some? Utilitarianism is the belief those moral rules should be choices made by a society to promote the happiness of its members. (Mosser, 2010). In February 2010, the House of Delegates approved a set of Criminal Justice Standards on Treatment of Prisoners. The term “prison” means a correctional facility holding primarily prisoners sentenced to a term of at least one year. In the terms of a “prisoner” means any person incarcerated in a correctional facility. The argument could be is that prisoners are being treated good, but some say that they are not being treated like prisoners. However, when you think back many years ago, prisoners did not have any rights. The wardens run the prison as they saw fit. As for the prisoners in the day, they would be taken out and beaten, whipped, and even killed. But with the the ethical treatment of prisoners today, includes a humane and healthful living conditions. It is wrong for the taxpayers to have to fork the bill to keep these prisoners in such a clean environment that they live imprisoners is safe from harm, and they are protected from punitive and excessive force and are protected from abuse by other prisoners and staff. In today’s world the prisoners get health care, and it...
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...Ethics in Nursing Practice, Values and Decision Making Name Name of College Abstract Nurses work with a wide range of patients, and each patient presents their own economic, social and cultural differences. While nurses work to provide care for the sick, injured and dying, they are always working within the boundaries of their professional codes of ethics. The nursing code of ethics is more than laws and common etiquette, and upholding the code of ethics is understood and agreed upon by people in the nursing profession. The two kinds of ethical theories discussed most in nursing are consequentialist and nonconsequentialist theories. By examining these two theories, nurses are able to evaluate the principle of confidentiality and how to apply the principle within reasonable limits. Further understanding of these normative theories gives nurses the abilities to evaluate conflict avoidance and resolution. As nurses further navigate the world of ethics, they discover how the code of ethics is influenced by a person’s culture, and they acquire a solid foundation for current ethical decision-making models used in their industry. Ethics in Nursing Practice, Values and Decision Making Nurses who take care of patients are encouraged to do so with a certain level of politeness. Other than being polite, nurses are required to be skilled, and they must follow the laws which govern them in their field of practice. Between all of the skills, politeness and laws...
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