Ethics: Egoism, Utilitarianism, Care and Virtue

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Egoism
Utilitarianism
Care Ethics
Virtue Ethics
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

It needs to be said that the importance of ethics in modern society should not be disregarded. One of the most important aspects that should not be overlooked is that such knowledge is necessary for every individual to have an understanding of how to behave and what course of the actions should be taken in a particular situation. The fact that numerous theories are suggested is critical, and it is paramount for every individual to have an understanding of each one most of the time.

Egoism

It should be said that most believe that such a concept as ethical egoism cannot be justified and is often being criticized. Also, it is imperative to say that it was also not accepted by numerous philosophers (Burgess-Jackson 529). It is understandable that many individuals may be attracted to egoism as an interesting approach, but some of the actions that it supports are not reasonable. It is necessary to note that it is benign most of the time, but the issue is that such behavior may not be liked by other members of society, and it can lead to numerous conflicts and disagreements. The issue that needs to be discussed is that many believe that humans are not capable of altruism, and they are active because of selfish reasons.

For example, the fact that many want to make sure that guilt is avoided may be viewed as selfishness. However, numerous internal and external factors should be taken into account. However, this concept is still not fully understood, and there is a need for future research. It needs to be said that the interest in egoism has been increasing over the last few years. It is also interesting that many believe that there are different types of egoism, and the difference between formal and substantive forms is significant, and should not be disregarded. Individuals that prefer the second one do not seek benefits in each of their actions and have an understanding of the fact that morality should not be overlooked (Farnham 433).

Utilitarianism

Another core aspect that should be taken into account in most situations is that a consensus on such a topic as utilitarianism is currently not present, but most scientists treat it with respect. It is paramount to understand that the core concept of this theory is that one should always look for ways to maximize possible utility in a particular situation with ethical norms taken into account. The fact that different types of utilitarianism are frequently discussed is critical because certain dissimilarities between them are present. It is paramount to say that scientists argue which one is the most reasonable quite often, and the ones that are focused on ruling and acting are especially fascinating.

The number of theories that are proposed is truly astounding, and the analysis of each one allows to have a better understanding of the topic and to create new ones. One of the core problems that need to be mentioned is that this approach is criticized quite often. However, many believe that it can lead to numerous positive outcomes, and it is especially true when these concepts are applied to such areas as the business because it can be useful to create a particular connection between a company and society (Gustafson 326). However, the problem is that this approach cannot be regarded as reasonable in some situations.

Care Ethics

Care ethics are also interesting and have been actively discussed over the last few years. The core idea that is being promoted by this concept is that moral aspects are an essential part of relationships, and it is especially true when one person takes care of another. It is imperative to mention that one of the theories that have been developed by feminists. However, the issue is that some individuals that are a part of this movement do not agree with such views. It is imperative to say that this approach supports that people should be motivated and have a desire to help others.

The fact that a tremendous dissimilarity between this theory and other ones is present is also important, and should not be disregarded. However, it is necessary to note that it is frequently criticized, and many think that it has numerous disadvantages. On the other hand, it is perceived as appropriate in such areas as caring for animals, bioethics, and others. Another core aspect that needs to be discussed is that it focuses on such factors as empathy and obligation most of the time. The fact that many offer their help only because they believe that it is necessary according to the social norms is quite interesting, and it is also believed that many individuals are not capable of showing compassion.

It is necessary to mention that such topics are truly fascinating, and ethics is the study that allows having a better understanding of such subject matter. It needs to be said that one of the opinions that have been suggested is incredibly fascinating, and the author believes that care ethics should not be viewed as a theory, and rather should be a part of virtue ethics (Halwani 161). Furthermore, it is imperative to note that differences between the views of scientists are enormous most of the time, and it is not an easy task to identify what approach is the correct one in a particular situation.

Virtue Ethics

It needs to be said that virtue ethics is an interesting topic for discussion because it is perceived as one of the primary approaches that are currently used in normative ethics. It is paramount to note that the main idea that supports this concept is that the behavior of an individual is mainly determined by his or her personal qualities. It should be understood that the actions are justified based on motivation most of the time, and it should be said that particular motives are required to make decisions that are correct. It needs to be said that the weakness of other theories is that individuals often have to deal with numerous issues during the decision-making process. On the other hand, some believe that a person would take a correct course of action in all situations once he or she becomes a person that he desires to be.

It is paramount to say that this theory has been getting much more popular over the last few years because of such processes as internationalization (Slote 22). It needs to be said that individuals that support this approach believe that help that is offered would be benevolent in most situations. One of the aspects that should be noted is that it is entirely possible that virtue is closely connected to happiness most of the time, and this factor should not be disregarded. However, the way they are perceived by different societies is still not fully understood, and what interactions are necessary to make sure that morals are not overlooked (Martin 102). The core problem that virtue ethics has to deal with is that a set of rules is not clear, and there is no consensus on what this term means. Another issue that is worth mentioning is that the qualities that are valued by society vary most of the time, and such aspects as culture and traditions also should be taken into account.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is paramount to mention that it is evident that the understanding of this branch of philosophy is essential, and the knowledge that is gained can be applied to most situations. It is important to study ethics because many individuals do not understand their feelings and why they act in a particular way. It is imperative to mention that topics are viewed from different perspectives, and frequent discussions often lead to the discovery of new theories.

It needs to be said that ethical norms should be taken into account in all the environments, and the actions and behavior of an individual should change depending on the circumstances. The fact that it helps to address some of the issues that are related to human morality is also critical, and the knowledge that is gained as a result of studying can be regarded as valuable most of the time. Overall, understanding of ethics is of utmost importance for any person that wants to develop as a professional and an individual.

Works Cited

Burgess-Jackson, Keith. Taking Egoism Seriously. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 16.3 (2013): 529-542. Print.

Farnham, Daniel. A Good Kind of Egoism. The Journal of Value Inquiry 40.4 (2006): 433-450. Print.

Gustafson, Andrew. In Defense of a Utilitarian Business Ethic. Business and Society Review 118.3 (2013): 325-360. Print.

Halwani, Raja. Care Ethics and Virtue Ethics. Hypatia 18.3 (2003): 161-192. Print.

Martin, Mike W. Happiness and Virtue in Positive Psychology. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour 37.1 (2007): 89-103. Print.

Slote, Michael. On Virtue Ethics. Frontiers of Philosophy in China 8.1 (2013): 22-30. Print.

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