HU4640 Project Part1

Project Part 1
An Introduction to Ethical Theories

ITT Technical Institute, Hanover MD
Mathew Leetch
HU4640
Ethics
July 22, 2015
An Introduction to Ethical Theories
Abstract
This paper is going to discuss Ethics and Ethical Theories. It will include an introduction to ethical theories, virtue ethics, and care ethics. There will be sections discussing absolutism versus relativism, consequentialism versus deontological ethics, and lastly, free will versus determinism. It will also include a discussion about the study of morality and identify which of the approaches (Scientific, Philosophical, or Theological/Religious) are closest to my own personal beliefs. There will be a discussion regarding the three sources of ethics and what they are based on (Reason, Emotion, and Intuitionism).
Keywords: Virtue Ethics, Care Ethics, Absolutism, Relativism, Consequentialism, Deontological Ethics, Intuitionism, Determinism, Free Will.
Introduction
According to TEXTBOOK the definition of ethics is: The study of moral value of human conduct and of the rules and principles that ought to govern (THIROUX). A separate definition showed that it is a social, religious, or civil code of behavior that is considered correct (KAVALSKI). In my opinion, the definition of ethics is simple, Do the morally right thing.
In general the study of morality is broken up into three different approaches. The first approach is Scientific (DAGMAR). It is most often used in the social sciences and deals with human behavior and conduct. It uses empirical data about human behavior that is observed and collected by social scientists and is used to draw a conclusion. The second approach is the Philosophical and it is further broken down into two parts. The first deals with standards (norms) and prescriptions and the second is the philosophical approach to the study of ethics which is commonly referred to as analytic ethics (DAGMAR). The third and final approach is

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