We would like to present a brief survey of these ethical theories with their various dimensions. Justice is one of the most important moral and political concepts. Application of confucian and western ethical theories in. Popular feminist books and journals frequently engage in ethical consideration of moral or public policy issuesandsometimesalso offer more general discussions of supposedly masculine and feminine value systems.
The five western theories that are addressed include virtue, natural law, utilitarian, respect for persons, and feminismfeminist ethics. These chapters provide the reader with a general sense of how these theories deal with the central issues that define these topics. Utilitarianism is the general term for all ethical theories that hold that actions should 3 be judged on the basis of their total costs and bene fits for society. For a given dilemma, even if it is not clear how one of these western philosophical principles of right and wrong action would resolve it. Metaethical theories or fimdamental ethics are the overarching principles and perspectives arising. The terms values, morals, and ethics are often used interchangeably. Businesses have been given greater corporate social responsibility by governments in terms of protecting the environment and supporting their local communities in addition to managing their own organisations, therefore customers now demand that businesses adopt. Evaluate a variety of ethical theories and approaches to use in personal and. The same cases are run through the varying theories, allowing moral insight into the width and breadth of human activity. Deontological ethical theories regard the action itself as the object of.
There is thus an urgent need for the establishment of a modernday ethic that accommodates both western ethical theories and the traditional chinese ethics. There are generally three philosophical approaches, or what may be considered the science, to ethical reasoning. Ethical egoism when we discuss modern ethics there are two theories that emerge above all others and although both are supported they are often controversial in nature. The oxford english dictionary defines the just person as one who typically does what is morally right and is disposed to giving everyone his or her due, offering the word fair as a synonym. Pdf african and western moral theories in a bioethical context. Virtue ethicists typically assert eudaimonism is a close connection between virtue and the agents own flourishing, whereas consequentialists deny. For a given dilemma, even if it is not clear how one of these western. Applied ethics are normative ethics which aim to guide conduct. Postmodern theory by douglas kellner and steven best. Adapting western research methods to indigenous ways of. Four of these goals include beneficence, least harm, respect for autonomy, and justice. Similarly western ethical philosophy contributed by aristotles virtue.
A procedural approach kindle edition by birsch, douglas. We want to introduce western ethical theories first and discuss how they may be applied to a counseling ethical dilemma. Introduction we live in a world where there is a great expectation on organisations to model ethical leadership. There are different ethical theories that can be applied to a problem to elucidate our thinking, but even so the results may not fit with our moral intuition. Utilitarianism is the general term for all ethical theories that hold that actions should.
From a chinesewestern comparative ethical perspective, this work brings chinese ethical theories, especially confucian ethics, into a contemporary context of the epidemic of hivaids, and to see how the deeplyrooted thoughts of confucius interact, compete, or integrate with concepts from western ethical traditions. Dec 04, 20 ethical theories such as relativism, utilitarianism, egoism, deontology, the divine command theory, and the virtue ethics, are all products of western understanding of what ethics are and how they are applicable to help ones decisionmaking process. Introduction to ethical theories download ebook pdf, epub. Remember that normative ethical theories are concerned with moral actions, and with how people ought to live their lives. Instantiation in science of second order principle. Ethical theories two types of ethical theories i teleological theories value based theories an act is morally right if it promotes the good or what has value. Ethics, the philosophical discipline concerned with what is morally good and bad and morally right and wrong. Theories of ethics thomas lombardo within human history and continuing into present times, we. Ethical theories are succinctly yet comprehensively described. Main features of some western ethical theories oxford scholarship. To change health inequities, researchers have recognized the need to build true partnerships with communities.
Western meta theories sit behind applied ethical approaches. Pdf african and western moral theories in a bioethical. Feb 08, 2017 ethics workshop part 1 overview of moral reasoning and ethical theory duration. What are the ethical theories of western philosophical. Buddhist ethics and western moral philosophy, william edelglass. Review questions and additional assignments only further the readers insights. Ethical perspectives and theories how does ethics differ from morals and values. Western moral philosophy has developed a number of ethical approaches.
From a chinese western comparative ethical perspective, this work brings chinese ethical theories, especially confucian ethics, into a contemporary context of the epidemic of hivaids, and to see how the deeplyrooted thoughts of confucius interact, compete, or integrate with concepts from western ethical traditions. Such theories arise in religion, spiritual traditions, philosophy, socialpoliticalhistorical systems, literature and the humanities, social. This means that the outcomes related to a persons behavior establish whether the behavior was ethical or unethical. Pdf csr, western ethics and indian philosophy researchgate. Three ethical theories are commonly used in the consideration of marketing. Ethical egoism states that we should put ourselves and our interests before those of others leading to the conclusion that if we do things that. Aug 26, 2015 ethics ought to be the essence of philosophy. On the terms ethics and morality the term ethics is technically used by philosophers to mean a philosophical study of moralitymorality understood as a set of social rules, principles, norms that guide or are intended to guide the conduct of people in a society, and as beliefs about right and wrong conduct as well as good or bad character. Remember that normative ethical theories are concerned. Introduction to moral theories and principles that inform. The word comes from the latin jus, meaning right or law.
Pdf three general theories of ethics and the integrative role of. In western history, much of what is known about formal moral. In this accessible and enlightening work, birsch introduces the main ethical theories in western philosophy using a procedural approach that enables readers to make ethical evaluations of cases and issues. These theories emphasize whether a leaders actions, behavior, andor conduct have positive outcomes. Every day, you probably make dozens or even hundreds of decisions about what could be considered. Environmental ethics is the discipline in philosophy that studies the moral relationship of human beings to, and also the value and moral status of, the environment and its nonhuman contents. However, there are some distinctions between these terms that are helpful to make. A strong case could be made that business ethics in the broadest sense should include and make sense of the following four features. Ethical theories such as relativism, utilitarianism, egoism, deontology, the divine command theory, and the virtue ethics, are all products of western understanding of what ethics are and how they are applicable to help ones decisionmaking process. What are the two main families of western modernist. Ethics and ethical theories from an islamic perspective. African and western moral theories in a bioethical context thaddeus metz keywords subsaharan africa, clinical trials, health priorities, informed consent, special obligations, animal experimentation abstract the field of bioethics is replete with applications of moral theories such as utilitarianism and kantianism. Environmental ethics stanford encyclopedia of philosophy.
Usefulness of ethical theories university of kansas. These countries are the source of the western csr theories whose applicability and limits this paper explores in the context of africa. Multidisciplinar alternatives mlliam b carlin for framing ethical dilemmas kelly c. African moral theory, and since it is apt to evaluate like in this article, my aim is to help rectify this deficiency. Main features of some western ethical theories oxford. Much of the work in feminist ethics has been done by white western women, but this is slowly. This novel treatment provides a wellrounded overview of each theoretical approach and attempts to refute the widely held opinion that there. These questions are a starting point for a brief consideration of the main traditions of western ethical thought.
Ethics is a rational management and regulation of human emotions. Ethical theory we may feel instinctively that a certain conclusion to a problem is fair or unfair, but what criteria do we use to make such judgments. Slide 3 forms of ethical theories for individuals, the ethical theory they employ for decision making guidance emphasizes aspects of an ethical dilemma important to them and leads them to the most ethically correct resolution according to the guidelines within the ethical theory itself. This chapter presents basic features of the three main families of western ethical theories.
The field of bioethics is replete with applications of moral theories such as utilitarianism and kantianism. Meta ethical theories or fimdamental ethics are the overarching principles and perspectives arising. To determine whether an action or decision is ethically carried out, ethical theories, developed mainly by western scholars, are the current theoretical framework organizations have at. What are the two main families of western modernist ethical. Pdf three general theories of ethics and the integrative. American discourse in business ethics is steeped in the traditional ethical theories of western philosophies, specifically the greek classics, kant, and the british utilitarians. These records constitute the first historical evidence of the origins of ethics.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Four broad categories of ethical theory include deontology, utilitarianism, rights, and virtues. The first ethical precepts must have been passed down by word of mouth from parents and elders, but as societies learned to use the written word, they began to set down their ethical beliefs. Tavani, ethics and technology, chapter 2, wiley, 2004. The main task is to clarify how to distinguish consequentialism in general from virtue ethics in general. While the framework for ethical decision making follows the same peas steps as the framework for critical thinking, the framework for ethical decision making asks you to assess problems in terms of ethical guidelines and theories and consider their implications for your decision.
The field of ethics or moral philosophy involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior. Notable after each description are two cases for evaluation. The discussion of how the ethical theories covered in part i apply to the moral issues and dilemmas posed by euthanasia, sexual ethics, stealing, simulated killing, lying, and animal rights is quite good. They serve as the basis for moral codes and ethical reflection. Justice, western theories of internet encyclopedia of.
Theories of ethics center for future consciousness. Ethics is an active process rather than a static condition, so some ethicists use the expression doing ethics. Its subject consists of fundamental issues of practical decision making, and its major concerns include the nature of ultimate value and the standards by which human actions can be morally evaluated. Morality and moral systems rules of conduct rules for individuals rules for social policies principles of evaluation justifying rules for moral systems religion teachings of religious leaders philosophical ethics appeals to reason law codes determined by constitutions and legislation. Philosophers today usually divide ethical theories into three general subject areas. The next section discusses these theories and how ethics is viewed from an islamic perspective.
Those theories related to consequences are called teleological theories telos being a greek word for purposes or ends. These types of theories, which are concerned with how we ought to act, belong to the branch of philosophical study called normative ethics. W e suggest that including ethical theories in ethical decision making is an essential element of the process. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading introduction to ethical theories. Introduction to ethical theories download ebook pdf. The word teleological is derived from two greek words. Such theories arise in religion, spiritual traditions, philosophy, socialpoliticalhistorical systems, literature and the humanities, social and cultural movements, and pop psychologies. An ethical theory is a systematic way of approaching ethical questions from a particular philosophical perspective. Ethical theory high level principle from which derive lower level principles do not lie. The earliest surviving writings that might be taken as ethics textbooks. In western history, much of what is known about formal moral reasoning gener. Business ethics wayne norman business ethics is a concise, but in many ways misleading, label for an interdis. When people are doing ethics, they need to support their beliefs and assertions with sound reasoning. Ethics workshop part 1 overview of moral reasoning and ethical theory duration.
592 311 1511 1290 382 416 652 1401 142 218 249 810 26 1103 749 535 223 1160 705 1243 424 1343 824 185 423 647 1373 236 1144 663 1171 1040 110 418 393 1291 183 173 780 1369 361 1251 360 923 748