Ethics in Social Sciences

Running head: ETHICS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES
Ethics in Social Sciences
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

ETHICS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES1
Answer to Question 1
Definition of Act Utilitarianism
It is defined as the utilitarianism theory of ethics that states that the acts of the person
are morally right if it is able to produce the best possible results in the respective situation.
When it is suitable in producing the utmost good for the highest number of individuals and it
is different from Rule Utilitarianism (Halland Page 2015).
Examples along with Strengths and Weaknesses
For instance-When a Pharmaceutical Company is releasing a specific type of drug
which has been approved by the government with the different side effects that are already
known, however the respective drug will be suitable for saving the lives of different people
than are bothered by different side effects which are minor.
The main strength of the Act Utilitarianism is the fact that determination of the ethics
is to make the lives of the individuals better through increasing good things which is
contentment in world as well as lessening bad things such as sadness or pain (Lucas and
Galinsky 2015).
On the other hand, the major weaknesses of Act Utilitarianism are the fact that it is
pragmatic and it mainly focuses on the different consequences of the action. It tries to predict
the different consequences of the action which is impossible in nature (Lucas and Galinsky
2015).

ETHICS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES2
Answer to Question 2
Definition of Divine Command Theory
It is considered to be the meta-ethical type of theory that helps in proposing that the
status of the actions as ethically good which is corresponding to whether it is being demanded
by the God (Al-Attar 2015). The theory declares the main fact what is right and is
strongminded by what is commanded by the God and for the person to be moral for following
the commands.
Examples along with Strengths and Weaknesses
For instance- Charity is ethically proper and appropriate as God endorses the same,
however, murder is considered and treated as wrong as God condemns it.
From the respective example, it can be seen that the main strength of the Divine
Command Theory is there are absolute rules as the different laws on which we need to stick
are clear which includes Ten Commandments. It is metaphysical as well as objective as God
is considered to be the regulator and originator of morality (Kenny 2016).
On the other hand, the weakness is Euthyphro dilemma as it creates two problems
which is arbitrariness wherein if God wants to change the different laws whenever he wants,
in such scenarios, the morality is not based on whim.
Answer to Question 3
Definition of Nicomachean ethics
It is defined as the moralreview in the nature of decent life for the different human
beings. The Nicomachean Ethics was the name which was given to Aristotle’s best-known
work related to ethics. It mainly advances the proper understanding of the ethics known as
virtue ethics as due to the heavy reliance on virtue related concept (Faulkner 2017).