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Summary of The 4 Theories

The document compares four ethical theories: Virtue Ethics, Natural Law, Deontology, and Consequentialism. Each theory emphasizes different aspects of morality, such as character development, the role of reason and divine guidance, duty-based actions, and the consequences of actions. Key figures associated with these theories include Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, Immanuel Kant, and utilitarian thinkers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.

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43 views1 page

Summary of The 4 Theories

The document compares four ethical theories: Virtue Ethics, Natural Law, Deontology, and Consequentialism. Each theory emphasizes different aspects of morality, such as character development, the role of reason and divine guidance, duty-based actions, and the consequences of actions. Key figures associated with these theories include Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, Immanuel Kant, and utilitarian thinkers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.

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angelicamaeeve
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Comparative Summary of the Four Ethical Theories

Virtue Ethics Natural Law Deontology CONSEQUENTIALISM


(Aristotle) (St. Thomas Aquinas) (Immanuel Kant) Utilitarianism

 Virtue- the excellence of a  reconciled reason & faith  rule-based / duty-based /  Hedonism of the Ancient
thing to perform its  agreed on Aristotle’s goodwill Greeks– seeks for what is
function/purpose (telos) proposition about man’s  actions are good or bad pleasurable
 Man is a rational being (can nature according to a clear set of  Jeremy Bentham –
reason)  Man has innate ability to rules. maximization of pleasure
 The focus is on character determine right from wrong,  Categorical Imperative – the and minimization of pain.
development moral from immoral. core of Kantian Ethics. It  Felicific calculus- calculation
 Man’s nature is TO  Man’s ability to reason commands everyone to of happiness
REASON. Man’s function is comes from God. God follow regardless of the  Greatest pleasure to the
TO REASON. It is natural for expects us to be good, so He circumstance. greatest number of people
man to use his reason; equipped us to know how to  TWO PRINCIPLES:  Basis of morality is in the
unnatural for man not to be good. 1. UNIVERSALIZABILITY – act consequence or result of the
reason.  There are four kinds of law: only in a way you would want action, if the result has
 Golden Mean- the key to ETERNAL, natural, divine, everyone else in the world. Kant higher pleasure than pain.
moral behavior and human laws. said act is permissible if you are  John Stuart Mill – did not
 God gave us natural human willing for that action to be agree on felicific calculus
inclinations: self- universalized. If not, then it  Greatest pleasure to the
preservation, just dealing cannot be a moral law greatest number of people is
with others and propagation 2. Formula of HUMANITY – “Treat not applicable in all
 Right acts are those in humanity in every case or in situations.
accordance with the that of anyone else, as an end,  Rule Utilitarianism- rules
NATURAL LAW. never only as a means.” should be the basis of
morality if rules are moral
and are pleasurable to the
majority.
 Use your reason on how to
achieve the mean (balance)
to be moral in your behavior.

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