A Comparative Analysis of the Three Major Ethical Frameworks: Deontology, Utilitarianism, and Virtue Ethics.

Write a paper discussing the three main ethical frameworks: Deontological, Teleological, and Virtue.

1. Deontological Ethics (Duty-Based): Deontological ethics, also known as duty-based ethics, focuses on the inherent rightness or wrongness of an action, regardless of its consequences (Benlahcene et al., 2018). This approach emphasizes adherence to moral rules, principles, and duties. The most famous proponent of deontological ethics is Immanuel Kant, who introduced the concept of the “categorical imperative,” which states that we should act in ways that could become universal laws(Benlahcene et al., 2018). Deontological ethics argues that specific actions are inherently right or wrong, and we have a moral obligation to follow these rules, even if doing so leads to undesirable consequences.
2. Teleological Ethics (Consequentialist): Teleological ethics, also known as consequentialism, evaluates the morality of an action based on its consequences or outcomes (Benlahcene et al., 2018). The most prominent form of teleological ethics is utilitarianism, championed by philosophers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Utilitarianism holds that the ethical action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or well-being for the most significant number of people. This approach focuses on the result rather than the means. It allows for the possibility of engaging in actions that may be considered wrong if they ultimately lead to the best overall outcome.
3. Virtue Ethics: Virtue ethics, developed by philosophers like Aristotle, emphasizes the development of virtuous character traits, such as honesty, courage, compassion, and wisdom (Benlahcene et al., 2018). This approach argues that the moral worth of an action depends on the virtues or moral character of the person acting. Virtue ethics is concerned with cultivating good habits and becoming morally upright rather than strictly following rules or maximizing consequences. It focuses on the motivation behind actions and the person one should strive to become.

Each of these ethical frameworks offers valuable insights and perspectives on moral decision-making. Deontological ethics emphasizes the importance of adhering to moral principles and duties, teleological ethics highlights the consequences of our actions, and virtue ethics underscores the significance of character development and moral virtues. In practice, ethical decision-making often involves weighing and balancing these different considerations and considering the specific context and nuances of each situation.

Explain the central premise(s) and differentiate it from the others.

Deontological Ethics: The central premise of deontological ethics is that some actions are right or wrong in themselves, no matter the consequences. It focuses on following moral rules and duties (Benlahcene et al., 2018). For example, lying is considered wrong, even if it might help someone. This approach says we should do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, not because of the results.

Teleological Ethics: The central premise of teleological ethics is that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends on its consequences or outcomes. The most well-known form is utilitarianism, which says the right action is the one that brings the greatest happiness or well-being to the most significant number of people (Benlahcene et al., 2018). This approach is more about the ends justifying the means as long as the result is the best possible outcome.

Virtue Ethics: The central premise of virtue ethics is that being a good person with virtuous character traits like honesty, courage, and compassion is more important than following rules or looking at consequences. It is about developing good habits and becoming ethical rather than just doing ethical actions. The focus is on the motivation behind actions and the person one should strive to be.

The key differences are that deontological ethics emphasizes moral rules and duties, regardless of consequences, while teleological ethics focuses on the outcomes or consequences of actions. Virtue ethics highlights the importance of virtuous character and moral motivation (Smith et al., 2023). So deontology is about following rules, teleology is about achieving the best results, and virtue ethics is about developing good character. Each framework offers a different perspective on what makes an action right or wrong.

Note the main philosopher(s)/proponent(s) of each

If the philosophy underwent a significant refinement through the work of a philosopher, briefly discuss the difference

Deontological Ethics by Immanuel Kant. Kant believed there are specific moral rules or duties that we must follow no matter what. His big idea was the “categorical imperative,” which says we should only act in ways that could become universal laws of behavior (Smith et al., 2023). Lying would be wrong because if everyone lied, it would make lying meaningless. Kant said good intentions do not matter – an action is right or wrong based solely on the moral rule, not the consequences. So, lying to protect someone would still be wrong in Kant’s view because lying violates moral rules.

Teleological Ethics by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. These philosophers developed utilitarianism, which judges right from wrong based on the consequences of an action. The correct action is whatever creates the greatest good or happiness for the most significant number of people. If lying protects someone from harm, it would be considered ethical because it leads to a better outcome overall. Utilitarians believe good consequences can justify wrong actions as long as they maximize utility or well-being for most people.

Virtue Ethics by Aristotle. Aristotle taught that being a truly good, virtuous person is more important than just following rules or thinking about outcomes. He believed people should develop good character traits like honesty, courage, temperance, and wisdom through practice. A virtuous person will naturally do the right thing because of their strong moral character. Unlike deontology, which is rule-based, or teleology, which is results-based, Aristotle’s virtue ethics focused on the moral motivations and virtuous habits of the person taking the action.

Alasdair MacIntyre’s Refinement. The modern philosopher MacIntyre updated Aristotle’s virtue ethics, explaining that virtues are essential because they sustain moral traditions within communities over time. He said virtues like justice, courage, and honesty are essential for any coherent, meaningful moral life and moral traditions. MacIntyre emphasized that ethics is not just about individual actions but how moral character virtues shape entire communities and their moral fabric.

Explain each main criticism(s).

Deontological ethics, focusing on moral rules and duties, faces criticism for being too rigid and absolute (Smith et al., 2023). Strictly following rules without considering consequences can sometimes lead to problematic or harmful outcomes in certain situations. For example, if telling a lie could save an innocent life, deontology would still consider the lie morally wrong since lying violates the moral rule of honesty. Additionally, there can be dilemmas where moral rules conflict, making it unclear which rule should be prioritized. Moreover, different cultures have different moral rules, raising the issue of moral relativism – are any moral rules genuinely universal? So, while emphasizing moral principles, deontology needs to be more flexible.

The main criticism of teleological ethics like utilitarianism is that it needs to adequately account for other moral considerations beyond just pursuing the greatest good or happiness for the most significant number. Focusing solely on outcomes neglects principles of justice, individual rights, and moral duties (Smith et al., 2023). Additionally, quantifying and comparing happiness across different people takes much work. Moreover, perhaps most problematically, a strictly utilitarian view could potentially justify harming an innocent minority group if it maximized the happiness of the more significant majority. So, while valuable for considering consequences, utilitarianism faces objections about oversimplifying complex ethical realities.

Virtue ethics draws criticism for being too subjective and lacking firm action guidance. Determining which character traits genuinely qualify as virtues depends on individual and cultural perspectives (Darr, 2020). Virtue ethics does not prescribe clear rules for how to act in specific ethical dilemmas. It focuses more on embodying ideals like honesty and integrity rather than resolving tough ethical choices. Moreover, The expectation of developing a completely virtuous moral character may be unrealistic for most people. So, while insightful about moral character, virtue ethics needs to be more specific and practical.

Each framework offers important ethical insights while facing substantial philosophical objections about their scope and limitations in comprehensively addressing all moral quandaries. Considering the strengths and weaknesses of each approach is crucial for ethical decision-making.

Discuss an application of the philosophy in the field of public safety.

Deontological ethics, emphasizing moral duties and rules, resonates with many in public safety professions. Police officers, firefighters, and emergency responders often view adherence to protocols and procedures as paramount, even if it sometimes leads to brutal consequences. A deontological perspective meshes well with these roles’ rigid training and rule-bound nature, where following the code of conduct is seen as an inviolable duty, regardless of outcomes (Taekema, 2020). For example, an officer cannot ethically bypass proper arrest protocols, even if doing so might defuse a volatile situation more quickly.

On the other hand, a teleological or utilitarian ethical framework that focuses on maximizing the most excellent good could also justify certain public safety practices. If a particular action by law enforcement or emergency personnel, though unorthodox, ultimately saves more lives or prevents more significant harm, it could be deemed ethical under utilitarianism. The ends can justify the means if the net consequences reduce suffering. This aligns with public safety’s goal of prioritizing the community’s welfare.

Virtue ethics’ emphasis on upright moral character is relevant for public safety professionals whose work demands honesty, courage, compassion, and integrity. These roles attract individuals who want to exemplify virtuous ideals in service of others. By prioritizing virtuous habits and ethical being over rules or outcomes alone, virtue ethics guides the admirable qualities and motivations public safety roles should embody. An ethical firefighter does not just follow protocols but acts with the virtues of selflessness and bravery.

So, while each framework offers distinct ethical perspectives, they all arguably find applications across different facets of public safety work – the rule-orientation of deontology, the maximizing good consequences of utilitarianism, or the virtuous characteristics highlighted by virtue ethics. Ethically upholding public safety often requires balancing and reconciling these different moral philosophies.

References

Benlahcene , A., Zainuddin, R., Syakiran , N., & Ismail, A. Bt. (2018). A Narrative Review Of Ethics Theories: Teleological &Deontological Ethics. doi: 10.9790/0837-2307063138

Darr, R. (2020). Virtues as Qualities of Character. Journal of Religious Ethics, 48(1), 7–25. https://doi.org/10.1111/jore.12297

Smith, A. E., Zlatevska, N., Chowdhury, R. M. M. I., & Belli, A. (2023). A Meta-Analytical Assessment of Deontological and Teleological Evaluations Effect on Ethical Judgments/Intentions. Journal of Business Ethics, p. 188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-022-05311-x

Taekema, S. (2020). Methodologies of Rule of Law Research: Why Legal Philosophy Needs Empirical and Doctrinal Scholarship. Law and Philosophy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10982-020-09388-1