Ethical Theories Comparison Chart
Utilitarianism Ethical Egoism Ethics of Care Kantianism Prima Facie Duties Divine Command Theory Virtue Theory
How is “good” Determined
Most Noted Philosopher(s)
Major Strengths
Major Weaknesses
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How is “good” Determined | Most Noted Philosopher(s) | Major Strengths | Major Weaknesses | |
Utilitarianism | Utilitarianism argues that good has | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | looking at consequences as compared to intention and logic | Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | good must be maximized | It is pragmatic and | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | consequences of an action | It tends to predict the implications of an action which may not be possible. |
Ethical egoism | Good has to be determined based on morality | Henry Sidgwick who argued | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | maximizing individual pleasure | Helps promote oneself development | It focuses too much on self and fails to explore other perspectives |
Ethics of care | It defines good as a moral action | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | nal relationships (Newton, 2017) | Nel Noddings, Virginia Held | It helps protect relatio | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | e in the society | It promotes hypocrisy as a way of maintaining relationships |
Kantianism | Good is determined by the people’s moral worth. | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | , good and moral worthiness is determined by motivation | Immanuel Kant | It is simple to understand and | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | . It is also rational as it isn’t swayed by emotions (Jackson, 2017). | It is | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | and also has conflicting duty |
Prima Facie Duties | Good is defined based on justice, | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | , beneficence, self-improvement and fidelity | William | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | Ross | It is binding and obligatory and | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | other things as equal | It is based on intuition which is often unreliable |
Divine Command Theory | It states good actions have to be | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | good as commanded by God | William of Ockham, St | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | , Duns Scotus, and John Calvin | It helps | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | morality in the society as God is the author of all moral aspects of humanity. | Some biblical concepts are ancient and | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | not be used to solve emerging challenges in the modern society |
Virtue Theory | Good is defined by the right | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | and reason | Aristotle and other ancient | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | | It motivates us to work on | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | . This is unlike other theories which openly state what one has to do when faced with an ethical dilemma. Secondly, it avoids impartiality | It doesn’t provide a single | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | definitive answer on what is to be done when in moral dilemma |
References
Jackson, B. T. (2017). Persistent Problems In Modified Divine Command Theory (Doctoral dissertation, University of Mississippi).
Newton, M. T. (2017). A Comparison of Ethical Theories.