Ethics and Its Applications

Running head: ETHICS AND ITS APPLICATIONS

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ETHICS AND ITS APPLICATIONS
Part 1: Basic principles of deontology and consequentialism
Deontology is a combination of two Greek words, the first of which is deon meaning
duty. Therefore, deontology means ethics based on duty. Deontology theory thus, explains that
people are morally bound to act as per certain principles or rules of the universe (Paquette,
Sommerfeldt and Kent). The theory, as evident, lays importance on the actions of the individual.
In contrast to this, consequentialism refers to theories of ethics that give importance to the
consequences rather than the actions. According to consequentialism, people should take into
consideration the ultimate consequence of their action, even if the action is not morally good
itself (Ahlstrom-Vij and Dunn). The theory is based on two principles. First is, the rightness and
wrongness of an act relies on the outcomes of the act. Second is, “the more good consequences
an act produces, the better or more right that act”. Therefore, as it could be seen,
consequentialism pays more attention to the consequences of an action rather than the action
itself.
The main principle of deontology is that every individual is ought to perform an
imperative that is deemed necessary by laws – the categorical imperative. It is an unconditional
and absolute requirement that human beings must obey at all circumstances. The second
principle is that morality of an action depends on the human beings following certain rules or
maxims that derive from human reason. Third, actions are always wrong if those are not in line
with the universal rules and laws even if they result in greater happiness.
Consequentialism on the other hand, boasts of the principle that states happiness or
pleasure is the sole requirement that has genuine intrinsic value. Secondly, the theory states that
actions could be considered morally right if those promote happiness and wrong if those promote

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ETHICS AND ITS APPLICATIONS
pain or displeasure. Lastly, happiness could be truly achieved when it comes for everyone and
not just a particular individual or section.
Part 2: Example demonstrating both theories
In the medical field, health practitioners, nurses and doctors are often confronted with
situations that question their morality and ethics from the perspective of both deontology and
consequentialism. For example, a person is on the verge of losing his life as he suffers from
cancer and has lost his wife recently. He hardly manages to walk and has been in the wheelchair
for weeks. He needs constant care. Now the question arises whether euthanasia is chosen as the
solution or not. From the perspective of consequentialism, euthanasia is ethical because ending
the patient’s life would mean the achievement of a greater good or pleasure for those who are
associated with the patient and for the patient himself. However, deontologists would say that
euthanasia is unethical because the action of killing is not a morally right action. Therefore,
while the consequentialists will consider the action as ethical and permissible since it minimizes
the pain and maximizes pleasure for the patient and other people, the deontologists will take it as
immoral. The reason for their view is the principle of categorical imperative. According to
deontologists, it is forbidden to kill or harm someone and hence, active voluntary euthanasia is
immoral.
Part 3: Conequentialism as the chosen theory
After analyzing both the category of theories, it is argued that consequentialism provides
a better approach to ethical-decision making. Consequentialism comprises utilitarianism as its
main theory, which if further subdivided into act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism. Act
utilitarianism takes into account, the decisions that are taken after assessing the situation of each