Weakness of Virtue Ethics and the Process of Decision Making - Essay Example

Deontology and Virtue Ethics Introduction Many a times when going through our daily duties, we encounter a myriad of challenges. In an attempt to get hold of the prevailing situations and alter the course of events, we normally resort to different aspects of our daily lives, philosophy being one of them. Several scholars have in the past appreciated philosophy because it employs a critical and systematic approach, thereby tackling reality, reasoning, existence, knowledge, and values Philosophy is wide and broad and it is for this reason that people normally find it challenging to make sense out of it. This project aims to shed more light on deontology and virtue ethics, which are some of the principles on which philosophy is founded. Deontology The term deontology is derived from two Greek words: Deon, which means duty and logos, meaning study. Contrary to aretaic theories that normally focus on the character and personality that is instilled within us, deontology is based on the deontic theories which normally guide and asses some of the decisions that we make in our day-to-day activities. In making such decisions; nevertheless, we are expected to take into consideration the aspects of the society that are morally required, morally forbidden and are morally permitted. Concisely, we can refer to deontology as the moral aspects of our life that guides some of the decisions that we make. Deontological theories can be classified into several categories, which range from agent-centred, patent-centred, contractarian, as well as deontological theories based on Kant. The agent-centred theories hold the belief that decisions should normally be made based on objective reasoning (Burnor and Raley 426). The patent centred theories, on the other hand, argue that decisions should normally be based on the rights of various people within the society. In as much as some aspects of these theories are different, they share the ideology that choices cannot always be justified by their effects. This is to imply that no matter the moral outcome of some decisions, they should not be carried out. Strengths of Deontological theories Unlike consequentialism, which does not take into consideration some of the aspects of society, the deontological theories have largely been appreciated. It is because they provide those who are involved in the decision-making process to consider various aspects within the society including friends, family members as well as some of the projects that are being undertaken by the community. Similarly, scholars have often argued that the deontological theories are not too demanding. This is because it tries to get rid of circumstances that might make one become alienated from the society. The deontological theories have also been praised because of the fact that they provide room for supererogatory. This is to imply that the participants involved can do more than what morality demands. In like manner, the deontological theories enable the society and those within its environs to account for the aspects of morality that they consider strong as well as those that they share in common. To this effect, participants who have high moral values entrenched in them have the right to complain about those who do not live by the moral expectations of the society. Those who are found guilty of breaching the moral expectations are, therefore, expected to come clean and lay the facts on why they find it difficult to go by the expectations of the society. Weaknesses of the Deontological Theories In as much as the deontological theories appear to be the finished article, they fail to live according to the expectations on certain occasions. The main weakness is that most of the conflict associated with the theories appears to have no resolution. The conflicts that majorly exist between certain duties and rights appear to share the same ideology but have failed to meet the threshold on certain occasions (438). In like manner, some of the deontological theories can be manipulated based on various aspects. This, therefore, raises the concern that some people may manipulate the theories to satisfy his or her personal interests. Another weakness that has often been associated with the deontological theories is the paradox that they often come with. This paradox is brought about by the principles on which some of the deontological theories are founded. For example, scholars have often argued that it is uncalled for, to suggest that deontological duties should occur irrespective of the consequences that they come with. Ruling out the aspect that duties that do not satisfy deontological theories should not be carried out even if they come with consequences that add value. In as much as those who firmly believe in deontology normally hold the ideology that they have strategies that they can employ to rectify the catastrophic problems that come with certain duties founded on their theories, it is of great significance for the catastrophic consequences to be prevented altogether (445-447). Such a move ensures that the rights of the community and the projects that they are undertaking are duly respected. An example of a case study that puts the spotlight on deontological theories is a situation where a patient may have suffered from a complicated health condition for the better part of his or her life. In order to rectify the health condition, the patient may be required to go through a complicated procedure. Nevertheless, in several situations, it is not easy to convince the patients to go through such complex procedures. In as much as a section of the patients normally attests to undergo the medical procedures, some of them normally turn down such opportunities. Instead, they argue that it is better if they are left to die. Such circumstances put the medical practitioner under so much scrutiny majorly because it is their responsibility to take the patients through health procedures even though they should only do so willingly. It is hence of great significance to ensure that we make sober decisions whenever we are called upon to do so. Such decisions should majorly happen in situations where we are talking about the life of an individual. Virtue Ethics The aspect of normative ethics cannot be mentioned without recognizing the contribution of virtue ethics. Virtue ethics, which is the brainchild of great philosophers like Plato and Aristotle plays a significant role in not only driving home ethical issues, but philosophical matters at large. Unlike deontology and consequentialism that focuses on rights, duties and consequences respectively, virtue ethics goes slightly overboard, thereby focusing on some of the virtues that are associated with the morals of the society. Virtue ethics is founded on three major principles; virtue, practical wisdom and eudaimonia. Virtue ethics has the belief that a virtue such as honesty is not only an act of having no problem with doing the right thing, but is by all standards a character trait that is instilled within the individual who possesses the trait. Similarly, it holds the belief that practical wisdom is of great significance in the life of everyone who embraces it. This is majorly because it makes someone be admired and be respected by those whom they interact with on a regular basis. Eudaimonia thus refers to the aspect of an individual flourishing in all the things that they are taking part in (455). Eudaimonism believes in the ideology that for it to be felt, the individuals must have some virtues instilled within them as characters and that practical wisdom must be at hand to drive forward such an aspect. Strengths of Virtue Ethics Scholars in various fields have overtime celebrated virtue ethics majorly because in as much as it believes in its pillars such as practical wisdom, it considers reasoning. Emotion too is not taken for granted and is taken into account whenever such need arises. Another major strength of virtue ethics is the fact that its pillars are founded on various character traits that are often instilled into their possessors through training. Virtue Ethics is also advantageous in the sense that it respects the social aspects within the society. The social factors rely on the human nature of the individuals and the perception that the society holds towards such issues. It is of great significance to acknowledge the fact that the social aspects of the society always differ from one region to the other depending on how the occupants perceive the issue at hand. Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics In as much as virtue ethics is different from deontology in the fact that they are founded on various principles, they are similar in the sense that a conflict of virtues may be experienced in both ends. For example, honesty can have conflicting ideas to loyalty and this may result in the individual not knowing which virtue to take precedence. Another weakness of virtue ethics is the event that the process of decision-making is a difficult one. This is because some of the decisions that are supported by virtues may not be right. This weakness is even supported by some scholars who hold the belief that virtues without the correct principles is a blind venture and is an exercise in futility. Virtue ethics has similarly been discredited because of the fact that it is bourgeois (459). This is to mean that those who believe in it are so materialistic and that in as much as it accommodates passion and emotion, the two only come in when the participants stand to gain. On the same note, those who believe in virtue ethics do not have the desire to sacrifice themselves for the sake of others, implying that they do not practice factors such as philanthropy as well as benevolence. Virtue ethics has similarly lost ground due to the fact it takes into consideration the ideology that some actions are to be practised based on the beliefs of respective societies. The reason for raising such serious concerns is the fact that in regions where Al Qaeda is dominant, it fully believes in suicide bombing, a trait that does not go well in some regions. The fact that those who reside in Al Qaeda dominant regions are allowed to practice suicide bombing can act as an ideal case study in this section. This is because suicide bombing destroys lives and property. It is, therefore, unfortunate that certain regions are allowed to practice such. Works Cited Burnor, Richard, and Yvonne Raley. Ethical Choices: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy with Cases. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print. Read More