Making ethical decisions

• Absolutist :

  focuses on act of stealing
• Absolutist :

  it’s always wrong to steal
• Absolutist :

  no circumstances where stealing would be considered morally right
• Relativist / situationist :

  • make ethical decisions on the situation
• Relativist / situationist :

  • eg if a mother can’t afford to buy food for her hungry child it might be considered morally right to steal rather than let them go hungry
• Divine Command:

  • For some religious people absolutes are things God has commanded - its by His Divine command
  • stealing is wrong because God states it in the 10 commandments
• virtue theory :

  • Person rather than action based
  • looks at the virtue or moral character of person
• Virtue theory:

  • provides guidance to the sort of characteristics and behaviours a good person will seek to achieve
• Virtue theory :

  • concerned with the whole of a persons life rather than particular actions
• Virtue Ethics:

  • concerned with reputation e.g. being known as patient , brave and wise person