Ethical Decision Making

In Ethical Decision Making (EDM), there are three philosophical approaches: consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics. Consequentialism is when an individual has thought of most of the foreseeable impacts and consequences of a decision. Deontology is focused more on the actions that motivate a decision, less so on the consequences. Virtue ethics is a motivational aspect in which moral character is demonstrated by the decision maker.
For the first scenario in which the mayor of a small seaside town was to either act in favor of economic prosperity or in the defense of his elderly citizens. Based upon the three philosophical approaches in EDM and the responses in Appendix B only one approach made the most sense, consequentialism. While the other two approaches are ethical, consequentialism would be the best ethical decision in this matter.
Consequentialism, according to chapter five of the text, it states that an act is ethical if the decision’s favorable consequences outweigh the negative consequences (Brooks, 2007). This course of action seems to be the most ethical decision for the following reasons. Although the site of future development is where a nursing home and recreation center is, the new development will bring in revenue from tourism and several hundred job openings. Taking into consideration the 100 senior citizens that will be displaced and the 30 employees without a job, the community needs the economic boost. If the mayor can acquire the land necessary to rebuild the nursing and recreation center, a portion of the revenue earned from the mall and resort can pay the cost to relocate the employees and senior citizens.
The second scenario was a little easier to decide which of the three approaches was most ethical in the decision. Since Catalina is of personal interest and her co-workers will know it is her that failed to meet the requirements for the entire branch, she must disregard peer pressure. The approach that seemed to be the most... [continues]

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