Ethics: Analysis of Virtue, Utilitarian, and Deontological Frameworks

This essay provides a detailed exploration of three key ethical frameworks: virtue ethics, utilitarian ethics, and deontological ethics. It examines each framework's core principles, including virtue ethics' focus on character and emotions, deontological ethics' emphasis on moral duties, and utilitarian ethics' concern with consequences and overall well-being. The essay contrasts the different approaches, highlighting the individual-centric nature of virtue and deontological ethics versus the outcome-oriented nature of utilitarian ethics. It also discusses the application of these theories in various fields such as leadership, psychology, business, and computer ethics, particularly in the context of cyberspace and ethical computing practices. The essay further provides critiques of each ethical framework, addressing potential limitations and challenges in real-world application. It demonstrates how these ethical lenses offer clear perspectives on ethical decision-making and the practical use of technical knowledge.

Running Head: ETHICS
Ethics
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Article’s Thesis
The main thesis of the paper revolves around the three framework of ethics which are
virtue, utilitarian and deontological ethics. The frameworks provide a perspective to take
effective decision in the daily life. The effectiveness of the ethical models are observed in several
fields such as in leadership, psychology, business, economics, etc. This helps is taking decision
by the utilization of creating various models. One instance given in the paper is about asking
question related to cyber security with the help of decision making models; those are virtue,
utilitarian and deontological ethics. These three have their different approaches towards the
concepts. The use of the model in the field of computer is also explored. Hence the three lenses
are providing the clear thinking capability about the ethical decisions. The virtue ethics
represents the people’s emotions and psychology. It allows people to act while keeping the
original nature of human emotions. The modern day virtue ethics contrasts with the earlier one.
In modern times the people thinks first about themselves in taking any decision and then about
the outcome. The next one is the deontological ethics that is more focused on the moral duties,
behaviours of the humans. The last lens is utilitarian ethics that deals with the consequences that
obtains from taking the ethical decisions. Hence the article revolves around these three lenses
only and their various aspects.
Argumentation mode
The mode of argument that was observed in this paper is are the contrasting nature of the
three lenses. The virtue ethics is about the individuals that think for the societal development.
Whereas the deontological ethics arguments about the betterment of the personal aspect more
than for all. It shows that the differentiation is made between the top and bottom people. The

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actions of the people are more centric toward them, however in the long run those appeared to be
beneficial. The utilitarian ethics argues to provide the end point of any decision rather than the
journey the person has taken.
Ethical theories applied
The three ethical theories applied in the paper are as follows:
 Virtue Ethics- It deals with the virtue of mind, honesty and character of a person. This
theory tells about the aspects of acquiring virtue, application in real life and it root
attached to the nature of every individual human being. The virtue ethicist does any work
out of morality. The requirement of this theory is the practical and central wisdom. It
consist of three standards those are eudaimonism, ethics of care and agent based.
 Deontological Ethics- This theory focuses on the relationship of morality and duty of the
actions that the human shows. Those actions are considered to be good because of the
features that the actions have and not the obtained product out of that action. The
consequences are the basis of this ethics irrespective of the human consequences. Hence,
the integration of morality with the action to give an overall consequence of the obtained
product is deontology.
 Utilitarian Ethics- This theory is about the happiness and well-being of the actions that
an individual perform. This will affect the individual as well as the people attached to the
action. This theory contains that the act must be right even if the motive is not right. The
theory states that the person that is doing the action must act as to get the right
consequence at the end of it.

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Critique
The virtue of ethics have three different critiques; the first is that ethical decisions are not
always followed as peer pressure may change the decision in the real world. The next one is the
thinking of the people is not for the individual level and other have contrasted to be for the
societal level. The last one is that an individual is incapable of always reflecting actions that are
out of morality as it is always changing.
The critique about the deontological ethics is that it is too much idealistic and ultimately
unachievable. The lying to an action for the good of other is reflected by several authors. Some
have also commented of being the actions to be just and must provide solutions that benefits all
and not a single person. The right of individual are persuaded by several authors and all the
actions performed by the individual is dependent on the environment they grow up.
Several authors critiqued about the ethics that the individual perform practically in the
situation which demands for the good of the individual rather that the benefit of the overall
society. Another aspect of the critique that has been obtained that utility is provided to those
having the sacrifice the individual’s need.
Application of the technical knowledge, theories and perspectives
The ethical theories that have been discussed are in the technical feed such as in the area
of computer ethics. Where, cyberspace is a part of computer studies and ethical practices are
highly demanded in this field. The various disciplinary of computer that have the practices of
computing with following of the guidelines of ethical standards. The ethical practices of
computing or in the cyberspace will be the right use of the technical knowledge for overcoming
the constraints that comes in the ways of computing. Then the follow up of the mitigation
techniques can be carried out.