Assess The Difference Between Consequentialism And Deontology
Theories of Ethical Judgment
There are three approaches related to ethical judgment for public officials. They are consequentialism/utilitarianism, deontology/Kantianism, and virtue ethics. These approaches have several differences between each other.
There are three main differences between consequentialism/utilitarianism and deontology/Kantianism. Firstly, the main principle in former approach is the maximum utility (good consequence) for all affected parties/people while the main principle in later approach is the moral standard. It means that in consequentialism approach, an action is considered to be a right or an ethical action if it creates the maximum utility for all those affected among other alternatives. In this approach, ‘evil’ means to achieve the result such as violence or manipulation, can be justified as long as they …show more content…
Meanwhile, in deontology approach, an action is considered to be a right or an ethical action if that action is in accordance with the moral standard of a right action, regardless of its consequences to affected parties/people. The moral standard of the actions are in absolute term, so they cannot be justified even if they are used to pursue worthy goals. Secondly, people/parties in consequentialism/utilitarianism approach are regarded as the means to achieve maximum utility or in other word means that the right of the few may be ignored in order to achieve larger result (utility) for all those affected, while in deontology/Kantianism approach, people/parties are regarded as the ends of the action, so the rights of everyone that is involved are considered. Lastly, situations and interests will influence the ethical judgment in consequentelism approach but they do not influence the ethical judgment in the deontology approach. Using consequentelism approach means that public officials need to analyze all alternatives and to weigh for their costs and benefits, and
There are three approaches related to ethical judgment for public officials. They are consequentialism/utilitarianism, deontology/Kantianism, and virtue ethics. These approaches have several differences between each other.
There are three main differences between consequentialism/utilitarianism and deontology/Kantianism. Firstly, the main principle in former approach is the maximum utility (good consequence) for all affected parties/people while the main principle in later approach is the moral standard. It means that in consequentialism approach, an action is considered to be a right or an ethical action if it creates the maximum utility for all those affected among other alternatives. In this approach, ‘evil’ means to achieve the result such as violence or manipulation, can be justified as long as they …show more content…
Meanwhile, in deontology approach, an action is considered to be a right or an ethical action if that action is in accordance with the moral standard of a right action, regardless of its consequences to affected parties/people. The moral standard of the actions are in absolute term, so they cannot be justified even if they are used to pursue worthy goals. Secondly, people/parties in consequentialism/utilitarianism approach are regarded as the means to achieve maximum utility or in other word means that the right of the few may be ignored in order to achieve larger result (utility) for all those affected, while in deontology/Kantianism approach, people/parties are regarded as the ends of the action, so the rights of everyone that is involved are considered. Lastly, situations and interests will influence the ethical judgment in consequentelism approach but they do not influence the ethical judgment in the deontology approach. Using consequentelism approach means that public officials need to analyze all alternatives and to weigh for their costs and benefits, and