Sociology and Social Science

Running head: SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
Sociology and Social Science
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1SOCIAOLOGY AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
Question one. Define one consequentialist theory and provide an example of the theory.
What are the key strengths and weaknesses of this theory as demonstrated in the
example.
Care Ethics can be understood as a theory of morality that can be a part of but
distinct from the Kantian philosophy of morality, virtue ethics and utilitarianism. Care Ethics
is normative that focuses on the significance of how an individual responds to different
situations related to care and decide upon what is ‘just’ or ‘unjust’ and how one should
respond, and thus on the consequences of actions (as opposed to non consequentialist
philosophy) (Ho et al. 2015). It is based on the beliefs that people have different degrees have
interdependence on each other; people are affected by choice made by others, those who are
affected by other’s choice deserve consideration that is proportionate to their vulnerability.
Moreover, there are four important elements of ethical care: Attentiveness (prompts
recognition of the needs of others and acts appropriately), Responsibility (of delivering care
in appropriate way), Competence (having adequate skills and knowledge), and
Responsiveness (providing appropriate care) (Fish 2017). In healthcare, care ethics plays an
important part to ensure that the patients receive quality care supported by alertiveness,
responsibility, competence and responsiveness of the healthcare providers (Vanlaere and
Burggraeve 2016). The strength of this theory lies in the fact that it provides a framework for
ethical care, as seen in case of Ethical Practice Policies used by healthcare organizations
(such as NMBA codes) (Jefford and Jomeen 2015). One weakness of the theory is difficult to
apply in case of ethically or morally conflicting situations such as abortion or euthanasia.
Another criticism of the theory is that care ethics is a form of Slave Morality, a concept
described by Nietzsche (Forster 2017).

2SOCIAOLOGY AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
Question two. Define one Non-Consequentialist Theory and provide an example to this
theory. What are the key strengths and weaknesses of this theory as demonstrated in
example.
According to the Duty Ethics of Kant, the morality of an action depends on whether
an individual is able to fulfill his/her duty and not on the consequence of the action (as seen
in case of the consequentialist philosophy). It is a deontological moral theory that is based on
the categorical imperative that determines our moral duties and a perfect duty is one that does
not involve lies and is always true (Wood 2017). Utilization of this philosophy can also be
seen in healthcare, which binds the doctors to fulfill their duties to care for the patients as an
end in itself and not merely as the means to an end (improvement in health and wellbeing).
This philosophy thus increases the sense of duty of the physicians towards the care of the
patient and improves peer interaction, which is significantly advantageous in healthcare
organizations (Crisp 2017). The weakness of the philosophy is that it takes away focus from
the consequences of actions and puts too much emphasis on the duty on the intent of the
action. Thus any action done out of a good intent but having adverse consequences can still
be considered moral and thus can provide clinical errors a clean pass (Cohen-Almagor 2017).
Question 3. Define one virtue ethics theory and provide an example of this theory.
What are the key strengths and weaknesses of this theory demonstrated in the example?
Confucian Role Ethics is a philosophy that is similar to the virtue of ethics and is
based on the collective morality instead of an individualist morality. Thus this philosophy
focuses on the significance of family values and the roles of the family members as well as
the significant of community in the development of collective virtues. It is further implied
that the moral values of an individual serves as a form of social capital, thus highlighting its
importance in the society (Stephens 2018). An example where such philosophy can be