We tend to prefer dichotomies, and we do not appreciate complexities. Typically, ethical decisions are not right or wrong, but rather a series of simultaneous actions that benefit the whole. Often, these actions are multifaceted, addressing a variety of different areas simultaneously. As a result, there is no such thing as a simple yes-or-no ethical decision. Instead, ethical decisions are often like pushing buttons, each addressing a different area in order to improve the whole condition.
Morality is concerned with the consequences of a particular action
The study of the consequences of a particular action is known as morality. It examines the right and wrong ways to behave, and the balance between moral and immoral behavior. Morality is a social science that examines how to live a happy, morally-sound life. People who behave morally are more likely to be happy and healthy, and the opposite is true if they don’t.
In consequentialism, the value of consequences depends on the pleasures or pains a person may experience and whether the action results in other goods. Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing the good for the most people, rather than limiting oneself to a specific group. Bentham’s hedonic calculus is more egoistic than Mill’s utilitarianism, but he doesn’t focus on the values of individual consequences.
If Don decides to feed rotten meat to his sister, the consequences of that action will be bad, even if the intended outcome is good. Moral rightness is based on the foreseeability, intended and probable consequences of a particular action. The consequences of feeding rotten meat to children are not morally wrong because Bob could have anticipated them. However, his actions could lead to a negative consequence, because he doesn’t know enough about food to know that it will make his family sick.
Although ethics and law deal with different areas of human behavior, they are often confused. For example, deontology focuses on prima facie duties, while ethics focuses on cultivating moral traits. Therefore, moral conflicts are resolved by determining which prima facie duty or alternative outcome is better for the person concerned. Ultimately, it all depends on what is most important to you. If the moral duty is the most important factor for you, ethics is the answer.
Non-consequentialism
Using consequentialism as a definition of ethics has a number of difficulties. First of all, it implies that certain actions are immoral, even if the acts themselves do not result in negative consequences. This is inconvenient for consequentialists, as they find it convoluted to judge particular acts based on the consequences of other actions. Moreover, consequentialists often believe that morality doesn’t apply to charity.
On the other hand, consequentialists reject aggregation. As a result, moral rightness depends on the consequences of an act for all other agents, sentient beings, societies, and present people. As a result, consequentialists believe that the best course of action is the one that maximizes the good for all. In addition, consequentialists claim that the consequences of an act are not the only thing that matters.
This position is controversial because consequentialism allows for the immorality of killing, beating, and depriving people of material goods. It is possible to justify any action by considering its consequences, even if the actions cause pain or harm to other people. Therefore, consequentialists are often criticized for enabling immoral actions. In addition, consequentialists often use implausible concepts like “actor-relativity,” which makes it impossible for consequentialists to define ethics.
A deontological theory based on basic principles asserts that the best ethical principles are derived from basic normative principles. Kant, for example, claimed that moral law was derived from laws of rationality. They call this the law of non-contradiction. In addition, they hold that the most basic moral principles are inferred from the laws of rationality. If one violates one of these principles, the consequences of their actions may be disastrous.
Virtue theory
A class of normative ethical theories, virtue theory and ethics place the concept of moral virtue at the center of ethical theory. Virtue theory and ethics are most commonly regarded as a conservative stance towards the idea of morality. In essence, they are concerned with how moral behavior relates to one’s character. It is also concerned with how one’s behavior may negatively affect another’s character. This article will discuss some of the problems and solutions associated with virtue ethics.
The theory of virtue originated from Aristotle. However, many contemporary discussions of virtue ethics have tended to neglect the platonic view of virtue. In his 1981 book, “After Virtue,” Sergius Hessen examines the Platonic theory of virtue and argues that it can be united with theological views of the cardinal virtues. This study is an important contribution to the discussion of virtue theory and ethics. Here, we will look at the most influential aspects of virtue theory and ethics.
Traditionally, the concept of virtue is related to cultural relativity. Because different cultures embody different virtues, v-rules will pick out the right or wrong actions according to their culture. However, some versions of virtue ethics have addressed this problem by adopting a “tu quoque” response to acknowledge this challenge. The result of such a strategy is a more conservative view of virtue. However, we should not overlook the cultural relativity of virtues.
In addition to the conflict between utilitarianism and virtue ethics, both theories struggle to develop a practical moral code. While they agree on general principles, they differ in controversial moral issues. As such, virtue ethics requires moral sensitivity to apply principles and rules. The following examples show how virtue theory and ethics can conflict with utilitarianism. Once we identify the ethical issues, we can determine which of these two views is more likely to lead to a morally better world.
Emotivism
While many people subscribe to an ethical code, they may not agree with its definition of ethical behavior. Emotionalism, which is an idea that is contrary to the ethical principle, emphasizes the importance of emotional sensitivity in moral judgment. Moral statements cannot be objectively true, but they express the speaker’s feelings about a particular issue. However, this does not mean that they cannot have an effect on other people. Emotionalism is not a new concept, however.
The basic idea behind emotivism is that an action can be deemed right or wrong based on one’s emotional response to it. It is an emotion that requires motivation. The use of emotive expressions can be considered as a form of a moral judgment if they are sincerely made. The attribution of meanings in the context of the actions is the crucial element to make the utterance sincere.
An emotivist, on the other hand, argues that moral terms have a descriptive meaning. That is, they claim that a moral judgment has a specific emotional meaning, which is not available with a conative or rationalistic definition. However, a critic will argue that these emotions cannot be distinguished from other affective states and are simply cognitive attitudes. Emotivism is not a new concept, as the argument for the value of emotions in moral judgments is argued in the context of naturalism.
An emotive view argues that moral responses are ultimately based on emotion, and not on reason. In fact, emotivists believe that the emotional element is the final basis of moral appraisal. Reason, on the other hand, examines the situation and determines which action is morally appropriate. However, this view cannot distinguish between rhetoric and moral reasoning, nor can it explain how a moral agent is able to act in such circumstances.
Business ethics
The emergence of business ethics as a discipline has brought a curious irony to the field. As the discipline has become more entrenched, it has come to be seen as a source of confusion among managers and other professionals. Yet, it can be argued that the field has evolved into an important part of business practice. There is no better example than in the world of advertising, where ethical standards are a must for any company.
There are several ways to define business ethics. Ultimately, directors must recognize and respect the general public’s view of ethics. When they depart from the public’s view, they risk creating a situation wherein they invite trouble. Therefore, business ethics must be formulated as an integrated approach that integrates legal obligations with societal needs. In this way, a business can achieve a balance between ethical principles and competitive advantage. For the latter, the board should commit to implementing a corporate social responsibility program, which will help make its directors more ethical.
Another important aspect of business ethics is that it influences employee behavior. It shapes actions and helps keep the corporate image from being tarnished. A company that possesses strong ethics is less likely to encounter problems with law enforcement, financial loss, and moral dilemmas. Without a strong ethics program, a brand may suffer a decrease in sales, reduced employee retention, and a loss of credibility. Furthermore, a business with poor ethics will also face decreased customer loyalty and lose business relationships.
The three types of business ethics are personal responsibility, corporate responsibility, and social responsibility. The basic principles are loyalty, fairness, and respect. Taking care of people and the planet are important for any business. However, unethical behavior will ultimately damage the brand’s reputation and deter future growth. However, an ethical business will treat everyone fairly and avoid problems with law enforcement. And as such, it is critical that businesses adopt a good business model.