The Meaning of Life

Chapter 16 of our textbook focuses on several different ethical theories. Ethics is the branch of philosophy that seeks to determine the ‘best life’ for human beings. There are two popular theories that seem to be at odds:

Utilitarianism (focuses on the consequences of an action, concerned with doing the most good for the most people)
Kantianism or deontology (focuses on intention, is non-consequentialist and follows the categorical imperative).
A third option is virtue ethics. This theory holds that ethics is about ‘being’ and not about ‘doing’. In other words, the focus ought to be on character and virtue.

find the cost of your paper

Sample Answer

Yes, that is a good overview of the three main ethical theories that we discussed in Chapter 16: utilitarianism, Kantianism, and virtue ethics.

Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory that holds that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its consequences. The goal of utilitarianism is to maximize the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Kantianism is a deontological theory that holds that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its conformity to moral rules or duties. Kantianism is based on the categorical imperative, which is a moral rule that states that we should act only in ways that we can will to become universal laws.

Full Answer Section

Virtue ethics is a non-consequentialist theory that holds that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by the character of the person performing the action. Virtue ethics focuses on developing and practicing moral virtues, such as courage, honesty, and compassion.

These three ethical theories are often seen as being at odds with each other because they have different conceptions of what constitutes the right thing to do. Utilitarianism focuses on the consequences of an action, Kantianism focuses on the intention of the actor, and virtue ethics focuses on the character of the actor.

However, it is important to note that these theories are not necessarily mutually exclusive. It is possible to hold a combination of these views, or to find ways to reconcile them. For example, a utilitarian might argue that the best way to maximize the greatest good is to develop and practice moral virtues.

Ultimately, the best way to choose between these ethical theories is to think carefully about what you believe is the most important thing in determining the rightness or wrongness of an action. Is it the consequences, the intention, or the character of the actor? Once you have a better understanding of your own ethical values, you can start to make more informed decisions about how to live your life.

This question has been answered.

Get Answer