Question

what are five theories of ethics?

Answer 1

Five theories of ethics

1) Egoism

2) Utilitarianism

3) Care ethics

4) virtue ethics

5) Deontology

■ Description of the five ethics is as follows:

1) Egoism - it deals with the self aspects and its needs

2) Utilitarianism- it has the overall concern about the overall pleasure and pain for all concerned

3) Care ethics- it always deals with the relationships, sympathy , empathy and the vulnerability

4) Virtue ethics- it is the ethical theory realted with the character

5) Deontology- It is the theory that delt with the duty of the person.

■The five theories in detail.

1) EGOISM

* Proponents: Ayan Rands and Adam Smith

* Principle: The self interest pf a person in doing is considered to be the affect of the individuals action

* Rational self interest is a very important because it acts as the component of capitalist economy and business models.

* The theory says that the individual must do a particular activity only on the basis or concern of their own individual interset and to fulfill the self need.

* This theory explains that a particular action is considered good or bad , only if  it satisfies the needs of the individual or it meets the need of the person.

2) UTILITARIANISM

* Proponents: J.S. Mill and Jeremy Bentham

* Principle: The greatest happiness principle ( it says that on person should always choose the action on the basis of attaining the maximum pleasure / happiness)

* The theory explains that the action of a person is considered to be the best , good or bad / right or wrong , if and only if the action which is done is providing the maximum pleasure or the happiness to the maximum number of people.

3) CARE ETHICS

* Proponents: Carol Gilligan, Michael Slot

* Principle : actions should be provided by giving care to the needy

* The action is considered to be the best, good/ bad , right/ wrong , is only if the care is provided to the needy.

4) VIRTUE ETHICS

* Proponents: Confucius and Aristotle

* Principle: actions reflective or productive of good or bad characters that is inherently developed skills traits and habits.

* As this theory explains , the action is said to be good or bad only if the action is based on the doing of inherent habits , traits like courage

5) DEONTOLOGY

* Proponents: W.D. Ross and Immanual Kant

* Principles: Fullfilling duties towards self or other persons

* The person should choose a particular action that comfirms to the concerned duties.

* The theory says that the action is considered to be the best, good / bad, right/ wrong , only if the person's actions is based on their recogonised duties.

*According to Kant = Reason reveals our duty

*According to Ross= Duty of non injury has priority