Question

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of act-utilitarianism and virtue ethics. Which do you think is the better theory? How would you combine the two approaches to fashion a better theory?

Answer 1

Advantages of the act of utilitarianism & virtue ethics suggest that morality & self-interest are unrelated... If people have the happiness which Aristotle equated with 'the good life' outside of the context of such a 'good life', it shows that morality does not flow from self-interest., it seems that virtue ethics fails to explain how to act - can be concluded that it is concerned with character-development.The virtuous person has 'practical wisdom', that enables to judge which action is correct according to the situation. A virtuous person experiences emotions 'at the right time,Finally, virtue ethics focuses on character.Note that whereas deontology focuses on rules for action and utilitarianism focuses on consequences of action, virtue ethics focuses on our way of life. In other words, whereas deontology and consequentialism both focus on doing, virtue ethics focuses on being.