Ethical Theories

Ethical theories can be divided into the following two groups: teleological and deontological. Ethics have long been debated based on the individual explanations of these two theories. Though commonly thought to contradict each other, both theories revolve around ethical intentions. One theory focuses on the means used to achieve a result and the other focuses simply on the result itself, regardless of the means. In order to understand ethical intent, these theories look at the actions performed and the desired effect. The morality of any given action can be judged by the means used versus the achieved result.
            Deontological theories are based on the idea of actions based upon motivated intent. All actions have a basis for their performance. In a ‘Deontological’ system of ethics the consequences of an action are generally secondary to a moral assessment of the actions taken to achieve the results. Are individuals actions being performed based on instincts, or necessity, or a sense of duty?  The ethical nature of each action can be decided by looking at the motivated intent. The result of these actions is not considered as important. The idea here is that you can not do morally questionable things even if you are attempting to create positive results. Stealing is still wrong even if its stealing to eat or feed the less fortunate, and killing is still killing even if its to save one own life or the life of another. It is generally thought that immoral actions cannot achieve moral results or as we commonly say “two wrongs don’t make a right.”

Teleological theories revolve around the idea that focus should be placed solely upon the consequences of what any given action may have. Utilitarianism is the most commonly accepted form of Teleological theories. Utilitarianism, or the “consequential” system of ethics, is judged not upon the action but what happens due to the action, or where the action leads an individual. It is often described as a basis to decide what one ought to do with themselves, and to stimulate the reaction of doing what is best for everyone involved. The individual needs a basic concept of what consequences will result from any given action in order to determine the morally “right” course of action. This will be used as a basis for making ethical decisions. When a person makes decisions that result in positive consequences, that person is deemed to be acting “morally”. If a person makes decisions that result in negative consequences, then the action is deemed to have been immoral.