Four major ethical theories compared

Theory Major Theorist What is the Good? Why be moral? (What is the sanction?) Virtue Ethics Aristotle Arete (excellence) !irtue is necessar" for happiness Kantianism Kant A Good Will Utilitarianism Mill The greatest happiness for the greatest number #eason calls us &ur o$n to respect the conscience tells moral la$ us that (%ut") promoting happiness is right Caring Noddings aring relationships &ur best memories are of caring relationships' and $e naturall" see( such relationships out +" recalling our o$n experiences of caring and being cared for, and b" fulfilling the roles of one-caring or cared-for There are no rules but there is an ideal of a caring self that $e can stri*e to maintain. As an abstract principle' it has little *alue. What matter are concrete relationships. We can understand this theor" as one that promotes a single *irtue2 caring

How can we know what is good?

!irtue is to be found in the golden mean bet$een extremes of passion

)ure reason re*eals our duties

+" obser*ing that all sentient creatures desire happiness

What rules can we use to determine right action? What about justice?

#ight action follo$s naturall" from *irtue. 1ustice is a *irtue

The ategorical The )rinciple of /mperati*e in its 0tilit" ()o0) t$o forms. and the rules deri*ed from it. As autonomous indi*iduals' $e create our desert b" choosing our la$s !irtues are unimportant' $hat matters is the $ill This is a principle of great utilit"' but could be o*erruled b" the )o0. !irtues tend to promote happiness and so are *alued

What about virtue?

%e*eloping *irtue is the $hole of moralit"