Ethical Theories Review Sheet
Virtue Theory – Deontologicalism – Utilitarianism - Mill Ethical Egoism -
Aristotle Kant Rachels
Basic Ideas 1. The emphasis is on 1. Judging an action 1. The action that is 1. The action that is
judging a person’s rests on evaluating the morally correct is the morally correct is the
character (483L) motive of the person one that produces the one that produces the
2. The aim is to doing the action; the greatest amount of best long-term interest
develop habits/virtues agent controls this happiness/pleasure/ for the person (505L)
of a good person (a (488R) well-being for everyone 2. Must judge the
good action is one that 2. Consequences of affected by the action consequences of the
leads to the the action are in some (Greatest Happiness action
development of virtues) ways beyond the Principle) (497) 3. Does not consider
(483L) control of the agent, so 2. Must judge the how the action will
3. These habits strive should not be used to consequences of the affect others (506L-
for the mean between judge the action (489L) action (497, 499) 508R)
extremes (483L-484R) 3. A morally correct 3. Must consider each
action is one that is person equally and not
based on a motive that give special weight to
the person can will one’s happiness/
everyone act on in the pleasure over another
same situation (make a person’s happiness/
universal law) (489) pleasure (unless it is
more) (499)
Process 1. Identify the virtues of 1. A good will is the 1. Identify the actions 1. Identify the actions
a good person only thing that is good that could be done in a that could be done in a
2. Evaluate the action without conditions situation situation
to see if it will lead to (488L) 2. Determine how 2. Determine which
the development of a 2. A good will is acting much happiness/ action will have the
good character on a motive of a sense pleasure and how best long-term result
3. In particular of duty much unhappiness/ for the person doing
situation, what is 3. Acting on a sense of pain will result from the action
morally correct are the duty is doing some act each action 3. The action that is
actions that will lead to because it is the right 3. Total up the morally correct is the
the habits/virtues of a thing to do happiness/pleasure for one that has the
good person 4. To determine if this the net result of each greatest amount of net
motive is acting on a action happiness/pleasure or
sense of duty, must 4. The action that is least unhappiness/pain
determine if everyone morally correct is the
in the same situation one that has the
can act on that motive greatest amount of net
(that the motive can be happiness/pleasure or
a universal law) (489L) least unhappiness/pain
5. If everyone could act
on this motive, the
action based on this
motive is morally
correct
Criticisms 1. It is difficult to 1. At times 1. It is unclear how to 1. Must not consider
achieve any agreement duties/motives will measure how the actions affects
on what virtues people conflict happiness/pleasure/ others including people
ought to develop 2. Because the well-being/etc. how the person has
2. At times, virtues will evaluation is based on 2. In certain cases, this close connections to
conflict (doing one the form of the motive would seem to justify 2.It is not a theory one
action will develop one (duty is adherence to a what a person would could argue others
virtue but require not moral law), this think are immoral should adopt since
developing a different provides the structure actions doing so may not be in
virtue) of what to do and a person’s best interest
appears to advocate (508-509L)
concern with laws and
not concern for people