In class, we have been discussing ethical theories as well as practicing placing these theories to cases. Ethical theories are a set of principles of right conduct and a system of moral values. The field of ethics involves systematizing, defending, and deciding different concepts of right and wrong behavior. In this day, philosophers are known to separate ethical theories into either metaethics, normative ethics, or applied ethics. I’ve chosen to focus on John Stuart Mill and Aristotle’s opposing argumentative theories which help teach me to analyze the cases provided to me. During our class discussions, I’ve built a personal opinion in regards to which theory makes the most reasonable sense as well as gained enough knowledge to understand
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Mill believes that ethics are measured based on the consequences of individual deeds and also in consequentialism, or utilitarianism, which is the doctrine that decides what actions are right and if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority. Utilitarianism never really relies on ill-defined instinct or intellectual principles, but it allows philosophers as well as psychologists to determine what makes people happy and which policies promote the social “good”. In order for Utilitarianism to work appropriately, the interests of each individual is required and each individual 's interest must be thought of equally. Mill uses the “Quantity/Quality” distinction to be able to tell which pleasure is most desired. For example, Qualitative pleasure in a small amount are more important than a Quantitative pleasure in a larger amount and a small qualitative issue is more important than a large quantitative issue. According to Mill, happiness is the only thing that is desirable as an end in itself because happiness produces pleasure as well as the release of …show more content…
Aristotle’s basic view of ethics is that people do everything that they can for the sake of happiness and that the human virtues are those of the soul, not the body. His theory on virtues explores how morality, which is closely connected to our functions or purpose as human beings, involves obtaining good character traits, which create virtuous individuals. Aristotle’s virtue theory claims that activities have values and specify that it is required for humans to assign a specific character trait to activities depending on the differences of the activities to create a predetermined value. A virtue is a habit or an acquired human quality of character that allows humans to achieve personal happiness while vices are the opposite and ruin an individual 's chances and goals of achieving personal happiness. While the main motive of consideration for the utilitarian is the consequence of direct actions, the people are the primary object of consideration in the virtue theory. . The Virtue Theory claims that an action is good if it 's chosen by a person based on virtue and bad if chosen based on
Mill believes that ethics are measured based on the consequences of individual deeds and also in consequentialism, or utilitarianism, which is the doctrine that decides what actions are right and if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority. Utilitarianism never really relies on ill-defined instinct or intellectual principles, but it allows philosophers as well as psychologists to determine what makes people happy and which policies promote the social “good”. In order for Utilitarianism to work appropriately, the interests of each individual is required and each individual 's interest must be thought of equally. Mill uses the “Quantity/Quality” distinction to be able to tell which pleasure is most desired. For example, Qualitative pleasure in a small amount are more important than a Quantitative pleasure in a larger amount and a small qualitative issue is more important than a large quantitative issue. According to Mill, happiness is the only thing that is desirable as an end in itself because happiness produces pleasure as well as the release of …show more content…
Aristotle’s basic view of ethics is that people do everything that they can for the sake of happiness and that the human virtues are those of the soul, not the body. His theory on virtues explores how morality, which is closely connected to our functions or purpose as human beings, involves obtaining good character traits, which create virtuous individuals. Aristotle’s virtue theory claims that activities have values and specify that it is required for humans to assign a specific character trait to activities depending on the differences of the activities to create a predetermined value. A virtue is a habit or an acquired human quality of character that allows humans to achieve personal happiness while vices are the opposite and ruin an individual 's chances and goals of achieving personal happiness. While the main motive of consideration for the utilitarian is the consequence of direct actions, the people are the primary object of consideration in the virtue theory. . The Virtue Theory claims that an action is good if it 's chosen by a person based on virtue and bad if chosen based on