RUNNING HEAD Ethics Essay Ethics Essay1 Ethics Essay ETH 317 Ethics Essay The similarities and differences between virtue theory utilitarianism and deontological ethics will be defined in this paper As part of the paper the description of differences of the theory in which Ethics Essay2 the theory addresses ethics and morals is given An experience to explain the relationship between virtue values and moral concepts in which relates to the theory is given as well Virtue theory is the approach to ethics in which expresses the good character a person is or is not Garett 2005 The traits in which the person presents is based on good bad or a disposition of both However traits are not something a person is born with but are acquired through life based on moral virtues The act committed uses virtue ethics to determine the right or wrong of the action based on character Garett 2005 Virtue ethics focus more on the person and not the action Garett 2005 Utilitarianism is the approach to ethics that focus on choosing the act that has the best consequences Encyclopedia Britannica 2011 The utilitarian will view all the good and bad produced by the act Encyclopedia Britannica 2011 Utilitarians do not view the difference in chosen act based as moral issues Acts are classified as morally right or wrong only if the action has consequences that has a result that has a preferred manner Encyclopedia Britannica 2011 Utilitarianism focuses on the act on the individual performing the action Utilitarianism only addresses morality if the act is the preferred action but if not morality does not play a role in basing decisions Encyclopedia Britannica 2011 Ethics is not viewed in utilitarianism as well because decisions is based on best outcome for the individual shall not kill Deontological ethics is the approach in which views the duties of wrongness in an action not the consequences it brings New World Encyclopedia 2008 Deontological ethics view of morals is based on a set of rules that show what action is forbidden New World Encyclopedia 2008 Wrong is considered when an action intentionally deceives or harms someone New World Encyclopedia 2008 Deontological ethics has either a right or wrong there is no in between New World Encyclopedia 2008 To define right and wrong through moral accounts is the use of golden principals such as thou To fully understand the theories one can view the similarities and differences Each theory is Ethics Essay3 similar to there is a right and wrong in every incident But the theories differ by deciding right or wrong Virtues ethics decision are based on the character utilitarianism is based on the act and its best consequence and deontological ethics is bases on the moral obstacle by use of defined right or wrong An experience to explain relationship between the three theories and moral concepts is established A young man was faced with a decision of whether or not to give a cashier back the excess change she gave him after a purchase Through virtue ethics the character shows that he is a truthful person that will tell the truth because it is morally right to do so By using utilitarianism the value of having good luck and keeping the money is best consequence Deontological ethics show that both moral and values state do unto others as you wish them to do to you If the cashier is short on her drawer she could lose her job So with his upbringing of morals and values he uses virtue and deontological ethics in his decision to bring back the cashier the excess change In summary the similarities and differences between virtue theory utilitarianism deontological ethics was given by description of theories With description the differences show how each theory views ethics and moral An experience was addressed to show how each theory is viewed between relationship of virtue value and morals The recognition of theories will allow reader to define his or her own chosen theory for decision making References Encyclopedia Britannica 2011 Utilitarianism Retrieved August 26 2011 from http www utilitarianism com utilitarianism html Garett J 2005 Virtue Ethics A Basic Introductory Essay Retrieved August 26 2011 from http www wku edu jan garrett ethics virtthry htm New World Encyclopedia 2008 Deontological Ethics Retrieved August 26 2011 from http www newworldencyclopedia org entry Deontological ethics Ethics Essay4