Comparing Political Philosophy Theories
Associate Level Material
Ethical Theory Comparison Chart
Respond to the prompt for each of the five ethical theories listed. One section on each chart has been filled in as an example.
What is good? (1–2 sentences)
Aristotle – Virtue EthicsMill – UtilitarianismKant – DeontologyConsequentialismNodding – Care Ethicswhat would you say is our principal or highest objective by nature?
According to Aristotle, it is the attainment of happiness, for it is that alone that we seek for its own sake. Based on Aristotle assertion a woman bearing a child is good.For J.S. Mill, decreasing pain and increasing pleasure is good. However, not all pleasure is the same. Mill argues that intellectual pleasures are superior to bodily pleasures (Mill, Utilitarianism, and Chapter 2).“Act only on that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” Basically made poor decisions or ethical decision based on rational thinking.The theory that the value and especially the moral value of an action should be judged by the value of its consequences.The ethics of care is a normative ethical theory; that is, a theory about what makes actions right or wrong.
What path or rule do you follow to achieve the good? (1–2 sentences)
Aristotle – Virtue EthicsMill – UtilitarianismKant – DeontologyConsequentialismNodding – Care EthicsFor Aristotle, virtue is the way to achieve the good. Moral virtue is a state of character and can only be acquired by habit. In other words, we need to practice being morally virtuous in order to be virtuous. Aristotle describes moral virtue as a mean. We act morally, if we do the right thing, at the right time, “with reference to the right objects, towards the right people, with the right motive and in the right way” (Nicomachean Ethics, Book II, 1 and 6; see also Moore and Bruder, 2011, p. 265).Utilitarianism advocates maximizing utilities and moral evaluations of public policies. It helps
Ethical Theory Comparison Chart
Respond to the prompt for each of the five ethical theories listed. One section on each chart has been filled in as an example.
What is good? (1–2 sentences)
Aristotle – Virtue EthicsMill – UtilitarianismKant – DeontologyConsequentialismNodding – Care Ethicswhat would you say is our principal or highest objective by nature?
According to Aristotle, it is the attainment of happiness, for it is that alone that we seek for its own sake. Based on Aristotle assertion a woman bearing a child is good.For J.S. Mill, decreasing pain and increasing pleasure is good. However, not all pleasure is the same. Mill argues that intellectual pleasures are superior to bodily pleasures (Mill, Utilitarianism, and Chapter 2).“Act only on that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” Basically made poor decisions or ethical decision based on rational thinking.The theory that the value and especially the moral value of an action should be judged by the value of its consequences.The ethics of care is a normative ethical theory; that is, a theory about what makes actions right or wrong.
What path or rule do you follow to achieve the good? (1–2 sentences)
Aristotle – Virtue EthicsMill – UtilitarianismKant – DeontologyConsequentialismNodding – Care EthicsFor Aristotle, virtue is the way to achieve the good. Moral virtue is a state of character and can only be acquired by habit. In other words, we need to practice being morally virtuous in order to be virtuous. Aristotle describes moral virtue as a mean. We act morally, if we do the right thing, at the right time, “with reference to the right objects, towards the right people, with the right motive and in the right way” (Nicomachean Ethics, Book II, 1 and 6; see also Moore and Bruder, 2011, p. 265).Utilitarianism advocates maximizing utilities and moral evaluations of public policies. It helps
Cited: Moore, B. N., & Bruder, K. (2011) Philosophy: The power of ideas. (8th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.