Moral Theories: Utilitarianism, Kantianism, Liberal Individualism and Communitarianism - Essay Example

Utilitarianism is also called a consequence-based theory because it suggests that we should always work for the maximum positive consequences of our actions. However, how does one define positive consequences? Some say they should be defined as happiness, freedom, and health, but others suggest friendship, knowledge, beauty, personal autonomy, achievement and success, and understanding should also be included.

            Kantianism theory is based on obligation and grounded in reason rather than tradition, intuition, conscience, emotion, or attitudes like sympathy. Obligation means a person acts by as well as for the sake of an obligation to do what's morally required. Acts of obligation must be able to pass the categorical imperative in which you might also will that your maxim becomes a universal law. Liberal Individualism holds that "a democratic society must carve out a certain space within which the individual may pursue personal projects." Like Kantianism, this is a rule-based theory looking at either legal rights or moral rights. Under this theory, individual rights are held to be all-important but these often come into conflict with the individual rights of others forcing rights to be trumped based on the greater good.

Communitarianism presupposes that fundamental principles in ethics stem from the values of the common good, traditional practices, and social aims. Decisions regarding good or bad acts are made based on whether the decision supports or undermines the communal values, regardless of what the individual feels. Tradition and common practice both play a role in this theory and often function in opposition to liberal individualism. The women discover the motive and nature of the crime that has been committed, but they keep it to themselves through a sense of moral justice based on individualistic principles.