Making Ethical Decicisions

• ABSOLUTIST:

  • focuses on act of stealing
• ABSOLUTIST:

  • Always wrong to steal
• ABSOLUTE:

  • Stealing = NEVER morally right
• RELATIVIST/SITUATIONALIST:

  • Make ethical decisions on the situation
• RELATIVIST/SITUATIONALIST:

  • If a mother can’t afford food for her hungry child, stealing might be considered morally right
• DIVINE COMMAND:

  • For some religious people, absolutes are things God has commanded - its by his Divine command
  • Stealing is wrong because God states so in the 10 commandments
• VIRTUE ETHICS:

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

  • Provides guidance to characteristics and behaviours a good person will seek to achieve
• VIRTUE ETHICS:

  • Concerned with whole persons life rather than particular actions
• VIRTUE ETHICS:

  • Concerned with reputation (e.g. being known as patient, brave, and wise person)