Ethics & Society Journal 2 Andr Tajah Section 430 Alicia Christianson JRSB311 753 Words

2/6/2013 Ethical theories study the principles of what ethical decision we make and understanding why we make these choices. In the past few weeks we have looked at a variety of different ethical theories which included the divine command theory, Socrates and Plato, virtue of ethics, deontology, and teleology. These ethical theories play a major role in the choices we make in everyday life, and it is intriguing to see how and what makes society act so differently.

The first theory I am going to discuss is the divine command theory. This theory is based on the fact that ethical obligations originate from God, several gods or spirits. This is based largely on religion, and myself personally not being very religious, feel as though the divine command theory plays a very minimal role, if any, on my decisions. In the divine command theory, people make their ethical decisions, based on what God feels is the right thing to do, or what has been written out for example what the bible says is right. I have to disagree with this theory as there are many things in the bible which I dont agree with. For example take a look at homosexuals. In the bible, it says that homosexuality is a sin, which I completely disagree with, but many people feel that it is whats right and follow by those rules. Socrates and Plato look at reasoning and the healthy soul as influencing personal ethical decisions. Socrates believed that a balanced soul is what is going to make an individual make the proper decisions and if their soul is unbalanced, than it becomes easier to do unethical things. The problem that arises from Socrates theory is that it does not observe that everyone has the same self-discipline in order to act towards their own best interest. Plato was largely influenced by Socrates, and believed that when we have a healthy, balanced soul, we are happy, and which in turn allows happiness to be a determinant of ethics. Plato has a very general idea, which does not take into consideration the cultural differences around the world, and what makes individuals happy. For example what makes me happy, might not make someone else happy, and where do we draw the line in-between. The virtue of ethics is based on a virtuous person, which is someone who has idyllic character traits. The virtue of ethics suggests acting in a way in which a virtuous person would in that particular situation. This theory does not look at the people in society that need rules to live by, and I personally do not feel as though everyone is capable of doing this. I know that most people have a different understanding of what a virtuous person is, thus creating conflict of what is right and wrong. Deontology relies on the duty to do and perform an action simply because the action is the proper thing to do. Kant believed that there are universal duties or obligations that are true in every situation. Basically Kant stated that you should act in a way that you would want to be treated in that situation, and would you want the decision to be a universal law, and also to treat others as ends and not a means. This means dont use people for a means of getting something, everyone has value and they should be treated that way. I personally believe in Kants theory the most. It is the most ethical in my eyes and realistic. It applies to almost every situation and allows us to make decisions based on what is morally right in our eyes.

Lastly we will look at teleology. Teleology theories look at the end morally valued goal and that we as a society must act in a way that in which we will achieve the goal or create the greatest penalties. In this theory, the actions that we make that conflict us achieving our final goal, is what is defined as wrong. Utilitarianism is a form of teleology in which the goal of society is happiness. What is right is what provides the most happiness and the least pain. This theory looks at society as a whole and not just individually. For example, I could either spend my $300 going drinking on my own, or spend $300 and have 10 friends over for beer and food. The latter of the two is going to be what is right because it is going to provide the most amount of happiness.