Question

Explain the meaning of teleological, deontological and utilitarianism ethical principles. Use examples to support your answer.

Answer 1

Deontological theories, in contrast, argue that the action is, in itself, either right or wrong, regardless of the consequences. For example, stealing is inherently wrong, so even if you are starving, it would be immoral to steal a loaf of bread. Thus we have a duty to adhere to actions good in themselves.

Teleology is the process of explaining something through its function or purpose, rather than what caused it, or the thing itself. There are several aspects or “genres” of teleology, and I’ll try to explain a few:

Teleology is a common practice in ethics. Like the definition implies, using teleology in ethics means you consider and explain actions based on the end result. Some might consider stealing bad, but a teleological thinker may say, “but in the end, I’m stealing to feed my family, which is good, so the action is good.” In other words, an action’s “goodness” is based off the outcome.

Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that determines right from wrong by focusing on outcomes. It is a form of consequentialism.

Utilitarianism holds that the most ethical choice is the one that will produce the greatest good for the greatest number. It is the only moral framework that can be used to justify military force or war. It is also the most common approach to moral reasoning used in business because of the way in which it accounts for costs and benefits.

However, because we cannot predict the future, it’s difficult to know with certainty whether the consequences of our actions will be good or bad. This is one of the limitations of utilitarianism.