Preview

Intro To Ethics

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2258 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Intro To Ethics
Intro to ethics
My thoughts on Ethics
Friends University

Nicholas Harris

In the beginning of the class our first assignment was to read to intro to the text. This covered various terms and definitions of moral and ethical types that classify person’s beliefs. I would like to first cover a few, by briefly defining, and describing them. In case you have interest in reading the book, it’s called “Contemporary Moral Issues” Diversity and Consensus, by Lawrence M. Hinman. The first is one of the most common followed by the 2nd most common.

1. Moral Absolutism: claims that there is a single, ultimate answer to the question or problem being posed. Basically an absolutist is convinced that their truth is the only truth.

2. Moral Relativism: believe that what is good for one might not be good for another. No one is wrong; everyone is right in his or her own mind. There is no real resolution in this thought.

3. Moral Pluralism: this simply states that there are moral truths. Moral truths are real, but partial. There are many moral truths and they all conflict with each other.

On page xvi about the third paragraph the text makes a wonder point. As individuals, and a society –to forge a common ground that acknowledges the legitimacy of the conflicting insight but also establishes a minimal are of agreement so that we can live together with our differences, disagreements, compromise, and consensus are signs of vitality.
a. Morality as consequences: People, who do something for the sole purpose that their action has a positive consequence or outcome, are called consequentialists. There only fault is they each believe there consequence is correct.

4. Ethical Egoism: usually are called ethical egoists, they believe that each of us should look only at the consequences that affect us (self interest).

5. Utilitarianism: at the core of this one, utilitarianism believes that we ought to do what produces the greater good overall. Consequences for everyone, not just for

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Ethical Egoism and Utilitarianism are considered consequentialism theories because they both focus on the outcome of conduct as the primary motivation of that action and whether or not that conduct is ethical. Consequentialism is a moral theory that states that the consequences of one’s actions are the basis of any morality or judgement toward that action. The major difference between the two theories is where those acts are directed.…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ethical Perspectives

    • 1207 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Individuals that posses the Results perspectives tend to "base their ethical perspective on the results or consequences of their actions. These people also believe…

    • 1207 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Relativism is the idea that one's beliefs and values are understood in terms of one's society, culture, or even one's own individual values. You may disagree with someone and believe your view is superior, relative to you as an individual; more often, relativism is described in terms of the values of the community in which one lives. The view of ethical relativism regards values as determined by one's own ethical standards, often those provided by one's own culture and background. Rather than insisting that there are moral absolutes, moral claims must be interpreted in terms of how they reflect a person's viewpoint; moral claims are then said to be "right in a given culture" or "wrong for a given society." Perhaps one person lives in a culture where having a sexual relationship outside of marriage is regarded as one of the worst things a person can do; in this culture a person engaging in extramarital sex may be punished or even forced to leave. But another culture might have a considerably different…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Eth 316 Week One Essay

    • 537 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The utilitarianism theory of ethics focuses on weighing options for actions and the choice made depends on the course of action that has the best consequences for the individual. This approach gives little consideration to the morals as long as the outcome benefits one’s self, even at the expense of some individuals. Morality issues receive consideration if the action taken is a moral one. For example, a person may not personally believe in war, but a soldier will serve when called because he or she believes in serving his or her country (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011).…

    • 537 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The philosophical study of moral judgments- value judgments about what is virtuous or base, just or unjust and morally right or wrong, morally sound or unfair or evil, morally proper or improper.…

    • 985 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ethics Paper

    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages

    · A personal experience to explain the relationship between virtue, values, and moral concepts as they relate to one of the three theories…

    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    * A personal experience to explain the relationship between virtue, values, and moral concepts as they relate to one of the three theories…

    • 322 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    This category is most closely aligned with the Virtue theory which believes in honesty, wisdom, and integrity. I rely on people to make sound moral judgments and to be of good character. Just because people follow all the rules and do everything by the book does not guarantee they are ethical human beings. I believe that an individual would be incapable of choosing between right and wrong without already possessing good character.…

    • 812 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Personal Ethics Paper

    • 6307 Words
    • 26 Pages

    As history progressed, several ethical theories developed. These ethical theories include the Golden Rule, egoism, teleology (Utilitarianism, Consequentialism), deontology (Rights Principles, Kant’s Categorical Imperative), virtue ethics, and the Six Pillars of Character. I believe the ethical theory Utilitarianism fits me best. Utilitarianism’s ethical doctrine states, “Actions should be performed with the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people in mind.” Utilitarians consider the interests of all stakeholders affected by a decision and choose the decision that produces the “greatest good to the greatest number” of people. I consider myself a Utilitarian because I do exactly this: every decision I make that affects other people besides myself, I try to maximize the benefits while minimizing the harm. For example, if I had dinner plans with my friends, and we had trouble choosing a restaurant, instead of just…

    • 6307 Words
    • 26 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    BUS 309 Quiz 1

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages

    can be distinguished from the person's morality in a broader sense that includes his or her values, ideals, and aspirations.…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Law Assignment

    • 916 Words
    • 3 Pages

    (a) Identify the central issue in this case that has both a legal and an ethical dimension.…

    • 916 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Personal Code of Ethics

    • 2388 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Morals, values, and ethics are one of the most important characteristics of a person. These features define who we are and what we believe in. Many different factors come in to play when determining a person`s morals, values, and ethics; childhood upbringing, later life experiences, family, friends, culture, religious beliefs, race, discussions with others, and many others that have an affect a person’s beliefs (Head, 2006). There are times when a person`s beliefs do not agree with someone else’s, which does not mean that one of these people is wrong, it means that we, as individuals, do not all think the same. As a whole, most people have a good sense of right and wrong, which is to say that for the most part most people have good morals, values, and ethics.…

    • 2388 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Utilitarianism favors a course of action that facilitates happiness. It can be considered as a form of consequential processes. According to this principle of classical ethical theory, utilitarianism refers to the moral value of an action though the determination of the resultant outcomes of the action. However, considerations should be placed on actual consequences, intended consequences and foreseen consequence. A classical study of this principle can be seen in the orders the military gives out or obeys (Arrigo, 2006). Utilitarianism principles have characteristics of reductionist and quantitative approaches to ethical issues, and it can be seen as a form of naturalism. Utilitarianism can be distinguished from deontological principles because deontology does not regard consequences as a determinant to moral value. Utilitarianism can also be distinguished from virtue ethics because virtue ethics emphasis on habits and acts that lead to happiness.…

    • 2731 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ethics – beliefs about what is right or wrong, good or bad in actions that affect others…

    • 4078 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    another. In this view, the essence of human morality is to derive one’s own principles…

    • 1461 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics