Deontological vs. Teleological Ethical Systems Essay Example

Deontological vs. Teleological Ethical Systems Paper Deontological moral systems are characterized by a focus upon adherence to independent moral rules or duties. To make the correct moral choices, we have to understand what our moral duties are and what correct rules exist to regulate those duties. When we follow our duty, we are behaving morally. When we fail to follow our duty, we are behaving immorally. Typically in any deontological system, our duties, rules, and obligations are determined by God. Being moral is thus a matter of obeying God. Deontological moral systems typically stress the reasons why certain actions are performed. Simply following the correct moral rules is often not sufficient; instead, we have to have the correct motivations. This might allow a person to not be considered immoral even though they have broken a moral rule, but only so long as they were motivated to adhere to some correct moral duty. Nevertheless, a correct motivation alone is never a justification for an action in a deontological moral system and cannot be used as a basis for describing an action as morally correct. It is also not enough to simply believe that something is the correct duty to follow. The Teleological ethical system is the opposite of the deontological system. The teleological ethical system judges the consequences of the act rather than the act itself. It believes that if the action results in what can be considered as a good consequence, than it must be good and that the end result will justify the reason that the act was committed in the first place (Pollock, 2004). Among the teleological ethical systems are utilitarianism, ethics of virtue, and ethics of care. Utilitarianism is the view that what is good is determined by the consequences of the action. We will write a custom essay sample on Deontological vs. Teleological Ethical Systems specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Deontological vs. Teleological Ethical Systems specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Deontological vs. Teleological Ethical Systems specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer If it can be shown that an action benefits the greater amount, than it is good because it outweighs the small amount of harm that the action has caused (Pollock, 2004). There are seven major ethical systems that make up Deontological and Teleological Ethical Systems. Ethical formalism is what is good is that which conforms to the categorical imperative. Ethical formalism is the doctrine that certain actions are good (ie, the right thing to do) or evil (ie, the wrong thing to do) in and of themselves, apart from any beneficial or harmful effect that they might have on individuals. Although many reasons are provided for why these actions are right or wrong, none of the reasons involves the effects that such actions have on individuals. Contemporary commentators on alternative methods of conception frequently adopt this ethical attitude. The second major ethical system is Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is a philosophical theory of morality and how one should act. It states that one should act so as to maximize the amount of happiness in the world (focuses on the CONSEQUENCES of actions). That is, you should ONLY do X if X positively contributes to the happiness in the world. So you might think of it this way: Should I steal Marys candy when shes not looking? My happiness: +200 points Marys happiness: -300 points. You must consider EVERYONES happiness EQUALLY, so clearly you should not steal the candy, because it decreases the happiness in the world (-100). The next major Ethical system is Religion. Religion is very difficult to define it seems that everyone has a different idea of what it is. Most people will simply look in the dictionary or use something else equally simplistic. Although that might be fine for everyday conversations, it isnt sufficient for the sort of discussions that appear on this site. Religion is a human creation, and as such can vary as widely as human imagination allows. Religion is a system of belief in society. A ritual is main part of religion that builds citizens of the society to trust, respect the ideology of the society. Each religion has its own inscription for its group. When number of followers grew and opted to join the group that resulted to expansion of particular religion. The next major system is Natural Law is the intelligence and infinite organizing power that silently maintains and guides the evolution of everything in the universe. The activity of every grain of creation and of every level of Nature from the tiniest sub-atomic particle to the vast galaxies is governed by Natural Law with perfect efficiency so that everything in the universe functions with perfect precision and is in perfect co-ordination with everything else. An example of natural law is same sex marriages. This would not be considered a natural law, because it’s not natural. Nature never intended for man to lay with man as they would with a woman. This act also is forbidden in the bible, which will also make this an ethical religion. Ethics of virtue is the next major ethical system. Virtue ethics is currently one of three major approaches in normative ethics. It may, initially, be identified as the one that emphasizes the virtues, or moral character, in contrast to the approach which emphasizes duties or rules (deontology) or that which emphasizes the consequences of actions (consequentialism). Suppose it is obvious that someone in need should be helped. A utilitarian will point to the fact that the consequences of doing so will maximise well-being, a deontologist to the fact that, in doing so the agent will be acting in accordance with a moral rule such as Do unto others as you would be done by and a virtue ethicist to the fact that helping the person would be charitable or benevolent (Hursthouse, 2003). Ethics of care, this is a theory about what makes actions right or wrong. It is one of a cluster of normative ethical theories that were developed by feminists in the second half of the twentieth century. While consequentialist and deontological ethical theories emphasize universal standards and impartiality, ethics of care emphasize the importance of relationships. Egoism is a teleological theory of ethics that sets as its goal the benefit, pleasure, or greatest good of oneself alone. It is contrasted with altruism, which is not strictly self-interested, but includes in its goal the interests of others as well. There are at least three different ways in which the theory of egoism can be presented. This is the claim that individuals should always to act in their own best interest. It is a normative claim. If ethical egoism is true, that appears to imply that psychological egoism is false: there would be no point to saying that we ought to do what we must do by nature (Varieties of Egoism, 1997). Reference Page Pollock, J. M. (2004). Ethics in crime and justice: Dilemmas and decisions (4th ed. ). Belmont, CA Thomson/Wadsworth Hursthouse, Rosalind (2003). Virtue Ethics. First published Fri Jul 18, 2003; substantive revision Wed Jul 18, 2007. D. Kay, Charles (1997). Varieties of Egoism. www. webs. wofford. edu/kaycd/ethics/egoism. htm.