Ethics philosophy is a branch of moral philosophy. It involves the systematization, defense, and recommendation of concepts that determine right and wrong behavior. Its focus is on matters of value. In this article, we look at four prominent schools of ethics philosophy. To better understand each of these, let us first define ethical theories. We will also discuss what they mean for people’s behavior. In addition to the theory of right and wrong, ethics also includes axiology.
Eudaimonist
The eudaimonist account of virtue ethics reverses the relationship between virtue and rightness. For utilitarians, kindness is justified based on its effects on others, while eudaimonists justify kindness based on eudaimonia, or human flourishing. This philosophy also argues that human flourishing is a fundamental goal of ethical behavior. Despite its shortcomings, eudaimonists still recognize that the aims and goals of life are the same, namely to advance the common good.
The eudaimonist view of morality is rooted in ancient Greek philosophy. It defines eudaimonia, a term which has come to mean “well-being” or “the good life,” as a morally superior state. Ultimately, eudaimonia refers to a life that is objectively desirable and free of adversity. While it can lead to considerable disagreement between individuals with different views on life, such issues cannot be resolved by referring to an external standard.
The eudaimonist ethics philosophy advocates the exercising of virtues in everyday life. However, there are instances when an virtuous agent is compelled to risk her life for a worthy goal. For example, she may be driven to speak out in defense of another human being or refuse to disclose the identities of her comrades, risking starvation. These instances are just a few examples of how courage can be applied to ethical dilemmas.
Deontologist
A philosopher may adopt a different philosophical perspective on morality from another. Deontological ethics is a common example of a normative ethical theory. This type of philosophy bases morality on the nature of action and its consequences. Morality arises as a result of the actions themselves and can only be justified if they are based on the highest standards. This theory has its strengths and its own set of flaws.
Deontologists view a situation as good or bad depending on the actions we choose. The “right” choice is the one that conforms to a moral norm. This means that Right is more important than Good. This makes killing a person on an unsuitable piece of land an ethically wrong choice. Consequentialists, on the other hand, argue that the drastic action justified the end result. Thus, the Paradox of Deontology is a major flaw in the philosophy of ethics.
Kant divided his deontological beliefs into categorical and hypothetical imperatives. The former focused on categorical imperatives and a prioriizing system of moral values. In medical settings, Kant’s categorical imperative is applicable. This dictates that a physician must consider the morality of their patients when rendering care. The latter views are often considered more lenient than deontologist ethics, but both types of ethics emphasize the importance of moral consideration.
Utilitarian
The utilitarian ethics philosophy is one of many normative ethical theories. Its basic premise is that we should act in ways that maximize our happiness and well-being. This is the opposite of amoral behavior, which is against the philosophy. The basic tenet of utilitarianism is that we should maximize our happiness by avoiding harm. This is an extremely difficult concept to apply to the real world.
A common example of utilitarian behavior is when an individual makes a decision that benefits him or herself in a way that benefits other people. In such a situation, the utilitarian is merely concerned with their own interests, not those of others. As such, the actions of a rich person are more beneficial than those of a poor person. While this may sound like a paradox, utilitarians are generally on the right track.
Another example of a utilitarian act is telling the truth. In this case, the person’s pain is weighed against the pleasure they will gain. However, this does not mean that the person will be entirely happy, since they are also affecting the doctor and his staff. This is why many utilitarians talk about happiness. However, if you consider all the negative effects of lying and that the patient has suffered greatly, it might be better to lie than suffer.
Moral fitness
The moral fitness philosophy focuses on a physical order as an important reflection of the intelligible moral order. Physical order discourages contrary inclinations such as softness and dissipation. Adventure sports and physical activity, for example, harden the individual to the fatigue, danger, and efficiency of extreme activities. People who are physically fit tend to avoid engaging in harmful habits such as drug addiction and alcoholism. These are some of the main reasons for the existence of moral fitness.
The importance of physical activity to human health and moral development is well established in philosophy. The law of nature outlines the essential requirements of fully moral agents. Plato argued that physical engagement was essential to the moral development of spirited agents. As such, it is not surprising that rule-governed team sports help develop cooperation and a sense of fair play. But what about the other benefits of physical activity? What are the pros and cons of engaging in this type of physical activity?
The main advantage of moral fitness lies in its simplicity. Instead of praise and blame, this philosophy focuses on the reward and punishment systems. This approach also explains what actions are appropriate. It also lays out social norms for behavior. For example, if an action is praised by a fellow person, that is a supererogatory action. A similar argument can be made for ignoring social norms based on the value of the action.
Alternatives to neo-Aristotelian
There are many alternative views to Neo-Aristotelian ethics philosophy. This philosophy shares central concerns with practical rationality and human agency, but rejects the notion that virtue necessarily promotes good consequences. In doing so, Aristotle is not offering a completely new normative theory, but rather a framework for the dominant approaches. In this article, we outline some of the key differences between Neo-Aristotelian ethics philosophy and other approaches.
For example, the premise that action should be chosen for its own sake affects the agent and the action itself. Whether or not a person is motivated to take a certain action, it is important to determine its morality. Those who believe in a moral duty are bound to live up to their duty. This principle is a crucial part of ethical practice, and it is a major obstacle to contemporary ethics philosophy.
Another alternative to Neo-Aristotelian ethics philosophy is virtue ethics. Virtue ethics advocates define virtuous action as any action that promotes a person’s flourishing. Virtue ethicists can also define other normative qualities in terms of virtuous traits, though this need not necessarily be true. These differences may result in a variety of different approaches.
Egalitarian
In their ethical philosophy, egalitarians claim that people of different social castes should be treated equally. Egalitarians also believe that people with better traits and abilities should count more than others. In essence, they hold that treating people fairly is the core ideal of human rights. Egalitarians disagree over what classes of beings should be treated equally, but the latter group believes that all beings are created equal. In either case, the goal is the same: achieving equality.
There are two different kinds of equality. Firstly, equality of income and wealth is important. The idea that all humans should be treated equally is based on the Christian concept that all souls are equally important and deserve equal treatment. Thus, equality in income and wealth is the ultimate goal of egalitarian ethics philosophy. Secondly, equality can be valued unconditionally or conditionally. Egalitarian ethics philosophy supports a number of other values.
The second principle is respect for persons. This principle involves valuing each person as a separate person and not as a mere means to an end. When it comes to treating others, this principle prevents the exchange of a person for something else, even if that is good. This principle of respect is particularly important in the ethical philosophy of egalitarianism. Its principles apply to all kinds of social issues, from rape and abortion to human rights.