Virtue Theory, Utilitarianism, and Deontological Ethics

In this essay I will be comparing the similarities and differences between virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics. I will be discussing the differences in how each theory addresses ethics and morality, and lastly explain a personal experience between virtue, values, and moral concepts, and how they relate to one of the three theories. Each ethics has things that are the same and that are different. Virtue theory emphasizes the role in moral philosophy, so instead of doing a duty to show good consequences. Utilitarianism is good actions made by a good person. When the action that is right is finalized there are always repercussions for actions that are not completed. Deontological ethics places a special emphasis on a duty and human actions. The similarities between the three are that they determine good and bad traits about a person, and with the determination of their actions, it also determines the characteristic of the person which is virtue ethics. Utilitarianism is similar that finds the good in a person. One issue is that it avoids finding the bad in a person.

With the deontological ethics the product of the action is good not bad. It holds acts that are morally obligatory for consequences made by human actions. The differences between the three ethics are, utilitarianism is an act that focuses on consequences. Virtue ethics is the character of a person not the actions of a person. Deontological ethics is a reflection of a person’s morality, which is ultimately a combination of that person’s attitude. A personal experience that I have happened to me was just recently with using the ethic utilitarianism. Over the weekend I entered myself in the Bark for a Cure, put together by the FreshPet foundation to raise money and awareness for canine cancer and research. It was a day of walking to raise money for a cure, along with games and contest to raise money for the foundation. It was not something I had to do, but felt a need to support an organization that would help benefit research to find a cure for sick animals.