Define the following: ( Give an example, each)

1. Descriptive Ethics
Comparative ethics also known as descriptive ethics is the empirical (observational) study of the
moral beliefs and practices of different peoples and cultures in various places and times. It is the
judgments about the “rightness” of “wrongness” of things in terms of people’s opinions. It aims not only
to elaborate such beliefs and practices but also to understand them insofar as they are causally
conditioned by social, economic, and geographic circumstances. Comparative ethics, in contrast to
normative ethics, is thus the proper subject matter of the social sciences (e.g., anthropology, history,
sociology, and psychology).

Example:
 “68% of respondents said they disapprove of the administration.”
 “This movie has a pretty bad rating on Rotten Tomatoes.”
 “9 out of 10 experts agree that our product is better than all the rest.

2. Normative Ethics
Normative ethics, that branch of moral philosophy, or ethics, concerned with criteria of what is
morally right and wrong. It includes the formulation of moral rules that have direct implications for what
human actions, institutions, and ways of life should be like. It is typically contrasted with theoretical
ethics, or metaethics, which is concerned with the nature rather than the content of ethical theories and
moral judgments, and applied ethics, or the application of normative ethics to practical problems.

Example:
 “Murder is wrong.”
 “Giving to charity is good, but not ethically mandatory.”
 “Conflict of interest must be handled carefully.”
 “My dad was a man of integrity.”

3. Consequentialist (Teleological) Ethics

Teleological ethics, (teleological from Greek telos, “end”; logos, “science”), theory of morality
that derives duty or moral obligation from what is good or desirable as an end to be achieved. Also known
as consequentialist ethics, it is opposed to deontological ethics (from the Greek deon, “duty”), which
holds that the basic standards for an action’s being morally right are independent of the good or evil
generated.

Example:
Suppose economists could prove that the world economy would be stronger, and that most people
would be happier, healthier, and wealthier, if we just enslaved 2% of the population. Although the
majority of people would benefit from this idea, most would never agree to it. However, when judging the
idea solely on its results, as classic consequentialism does, then “the end justifies the means.”
4. Nonconsenquentialist ( Deontological ) Ethics
A non-consequentialist theory of value judges the rightness or wrongness of an action based on
properties intrinsic to the action, not on its consequences.

5. Authoritarian Ethics
Authoritarianism, principle of blind submission to authority, as opposed to individual freedom of
thought and action. In government, authoritarianism denotes any political system that concentrates power
in the hands of a leader or small elite that is not constitutionally responsible to the body of the people.
Authoritarian leaders often exercise power arbitrarily and without regard to existing bodies of law, and
they usually cannot be replaced by citizens choosing freely among various competitors in elections. The
freedom to create opposition political parties or other alternative political groupings with which to
compete for power with the ruling group is either limited or nonexistent in authoritarian regimes.

Example:
There is no one consensus definition of authoritarianism, but several annual measurements are
attempted, including Freedom House's annual Freedom in the World report.

6. Theological Ethics
Theological ethics (which was called moral theology in the past) explores the significance of the
Christian faith for human action and endeavour in the world of today. Although its methods are based on
those employed in the philosophic, human (for example, psychology, sociology, literary criticism), and
scientific disciplines, its guiding perspective is theological. Christian faith, as it is found in the bible and
the various Christian traditions highlights the dignity of the human person; hence, the question of how we
should act in a human (and thus humane) way is intrinsically linked to the Christian faith. Theological
ethics is thus rooted in both ethical reasoning and theology, and strives for a universally valid
understanding of ethical principles, ethical criteria, and ethically appropriate problem-solving procedures.

7. Situational Ethics
Situation ethics, also called situational ethics, in ethics and theology, the position that moral
decision making is contextual or dependent on a set of circumstances. Situation ethics holds that moral
judgments must be made within the context of the entirety of a situation and that all normative features of
a situation must be viewed as a whole. The guiding framework for moral decision making is stated
variously as that of acting in the most loving way, to maximize harmony and reduce discord, or to enrich
human existence.

Example:
 A good example is killing a mass murderer before they are going to kill hundreds of people, such
as if they had them held hostage. Typically, it would not be ok morally to kill anyone, but in the
situation, it will save many more lives, so it becomes ok.
 Another one is (arguably) lying, since lying in some situations can be bad, while lying in others
may (arguably) help the individual or spare them from harm.
8. Practical Ethics
Practical Ethics is an approach in which moral theorizing starts on the ground with practical
problems and works towards solutions to those problems in situ. Moral theorizing for its own sake is
useful only insofar as it helps to understand the problem. Theories are tools that illuminate the real world
contexts in which people live. They should not be championed in isolation from the problems to which
they apply.

Example:
 Leadership obligations, which include giving clear direction and teaching fellow employees by
example.