Ethical theories - Research Paper Example

There is a way of classifying ethical theories. It begins by evaluating a given theory based on how it connects the right conduct with the right character. Some theories evaluate that the consequences of a given conduct is due to its right conduct. However, the theories focus less on moral character. Such theories are classified as teleological. Theories that focus more on the moral character are classified as deontological. Another way is evaluating the theories based on its consequences if they exist.

There are theories with more emphasis on the consequences. They are classified as consequentialist. Those that do not concentrate on the consequences are classified as non consequentialist. The other way is determining how many principles that guide each theory’s view concerning morality of actions. Some theories only rely on a single rule to determine the morality of an action. Such theories are classified as monistic. The theories that rely on multiple rules are classified as pluralistic, for example, the moral life of a nun.

A nun’s moral life does not match with a mother’s moral life; however, there is no measure to determine which is preferable. Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism. It deals with more with consequences of these theories. According to studies, the utilitarianism is easy to apply. Furthermore, it has specifications for what is wrong or right. It has clear-cut choices between actions. However, utilitarianism has its own disadvantages. The theory often depends on predicting the results of actions.

It is not easy to know the consequences of certain actions. Researchers argue that the calculations used to determine the right actions in this theory are time consuming and very complicated. Furthermore, the theory does not identify any individual rights violated for the sake of the great good. Due to the above disadvantages, some scholars proposed a modification to the theory. The modification will demand the behavior to be