Ethical systems can be categorized into: three groups i. e. deo ntological, teleological and ethics. The first two can be regarded as deontic theories of morality due to the fact that they focus only upon the actions of a person. Teleological theory involves the judgment of actions on morality rights depending on their consequences. With deontological ethical theory actions are judged depending on their confirmation with the set duties. The first two highlights on the question; what should one do? While the third system asks a completely different question; what sort of a person should one be?.
Virtue based ethical theory does not judge actions as right or wrong but the character of the one doing the action. Deontological moral systems sorely involves adherence to moral roles or duties. Hence so as to make the right moral choices we have to decipher our moral duties and the correct roles which are there so as to regulate the given duties. When we adhere to our duty we are morally upright and when we fail to adhere to our duties then we are not morally upright (Ben-Door Oren 2000). Teleological moral systems involve focusing on the implications which an action might cause.
As a result so as to make the right moral choices, we must decipher what will results from our choices. When we make choices which result in the right consequences are morally upright and when we make choices which bring forth negative consequences, then we are not morally upright. Virtue ethics theories have less emphasis on which roles people should adhere to and rather focus on aiding people have good character traits such as courtesy. These positive traits will then allow a person to come up with correct decisions .
Virtue theories also focus on the need for people to learn how to avert negative habits like greed. The vice makes one not to become nice person. Teleological ethics can further be classified as result-based ethics. This is because the positive or negative morals are determined by the consequences of an act e. g. telling lie is not morally right because of the terrible consequences of the lie to the liar and even to the society as whole. An example of this theory is called utilitarianism started by Jeremy Bonthan (1748-1832).
According to this theory the right role is the one that positive result to the vast number of people. Deontological theory can also be regarded as the standard based ethics. With this theory if an act is morally right it satisfies the moral standards. The famous philosopher who developed the theory was Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). The philosopher developed what he called “universal test” which could be used so as to determine whether a role is universal standard. An example is that not holding onto your promise is not a universal law that everyone can intentionally make promises without an intention of fulfilling them.
We also have a view of ethical institutionism where the role is made right or even wrong by the judgment to the common institution of a person. The institution is sometimes also referred to as one’s conscience. With ethical egoism one should know and also do what can promotes their own interests. The other part is virtue ethics focus on who is a virtuous person. According to the theory ethics is responsible for developing traits or virtues in a person and hence a person becomes morally right. Aristotle{384_322 B. C} was the exponent of the view.
He felt that virtue ethics was vital so as to achieve true happiness (Irwin, 2000). Furthermore encotivism is an ethical theory which involves the study of the language used in speech and discussion. To be even more concise teleological ethics means ethical theories from the assumption that the outcome is what makes an action right or otherwise wrong. The C. D. broad used the term teleological ethics show the difference between philosophers with contradicting views about the relationship between what is called obligations and views (Donelly, 2003).
For instance, teleologists have a believe that the action which is on the right direction is the one that which instills good state of affairs hence concluding that the rightness entirely depends ion the goodness. Hence with teleologists they base their moral theory on the intuition that an action that can cause a bad state of affairs can’t be right. A suffice example can be derived from the situation whereby if you try to do a favor to friend, but the consequences are negative, a teleologist infers that the person had acted wrongly.
This then brings us to the conclusion that those actions that are considered negative e. g. breaking promises or killing the innocent people can be taken as right actions or one can have an obligation to do them if they have positive results. To sum up it all, is the consequence of act which tends to form the basis for considering its worth. The basic consequences are the effect on the people and the basic for all values is whether something is acceptable or not.
