(a) When making ethical decisions about a circumstance, one might evaluate
the person who performs the action, the purpose behind the action, the action
itself, or the repercussions of the action. Explain how the ethical theories you
studied use these four features of acts. (around 40%)
(b) Assume you work for a bank that has been selling its customers needless
insurance products. Explain how you would determine whether or not to
become a whistleblower using the ethical ideas you've learned about. (60% of
total)
(a) Four elements are regarded to be morally important and relevant while making an
ethical decision; the person performing the act, their motivation for performing the
act, the act itself and the consequences of the act. These four factors line up with
four ethical theories, virtue ethics (for the person performing the act and their
motivations), Kantian ethics (for the act itself) and egoism and utilitarianism (for the
consequences of the act).
Virtue ethics works on the principle that actions are not judged by their outcomes,
but by whether or not the person carrying them out is seen to be a good person. A
virtuous person is someone who is good in their whole life and fulfils their potentials,
in virtue ethics you are judged on your entire life, not each individual actions. In
ethical decision making when considering who performs an act and their reasons for
doing so, if they are a virtuous person who lives a good, fulfilling life, the likelihood is
that the action they have done is ‘good’.
Kantian ethics use reason to determine whether an action is deemed ethical and
good, making use of Kant’s Categorical Imperative. The action itself can be defined
as proper if it passes the three stages of the Categorical Imperative, Universal Moral
Law, Treating people as ends rather than means and Kingdom of Ends. To pass all
three means the action that everyone would wish to follow and gives everyone in the
situation autonomy and treats them fully capable individuals. The Kingdom of Ends,
which requires a bit more explaining, is an imaginary state with laws that protect
individual autonomy. When considering if an act itself is ethical we can ask if in the
Kingdom of Ends the act would be moral law or not, if not it can be said the act is not
morally just.
Egoism is based on the assumption that everyone should behave in a way that is in
their best interests, as if everyone did this the whole of society would improve, hence
1
the person who performs the action, the purpose behind the action, the action
itself, or the repercussions of the action. Explain how the ethical theories you
studied use these four features of acts. (around 40%)
(b) Assume you work for a bank that has been selling its customers needless
insurance products. Explain how you would determine whether or not to
become a whistleblower using the ethical ideas you've learned about. (60% of
total)
(a) Four elements are regarded to be morally important and relevant while making an
ethical decision; the person performing the act, their motivation for performing the
act, the act itself and the consequences of the act. These four factors line up with
four ethical theories, virtue ethics (for the person performing the act and their
motivations), Kantian ethics (for the act itself) and egoism and utilitarianism (for the
consequences of the act).
Virtue ethics works on the principle that actions are not judged by their outcomes,
but by whether or not the person carrying them out is seen to be a good person. A
virtuous person is someone who is good in their whole life and fulfils their potentials,
in virtue ethics you are judged on your entire life, not each individual actions. In
ethical decision making when considering who performs an act and their reasons for
doing so, if they are a virtuous person who lives a good, fulfilling life, the likelihood is
that the action they have done is ‘good’.
Kantian ethics use reason to determine whether an action is deemed ethical and
good, making use of Kant’s Categorical Imperative. The action itself can be defined
as proper if it passes the three stages of the Categorical Imperative, Universal Moral
Law, Treating people as ends rather than means and Kingdom of Ends. To pass all
three means the action that everyone would wish to follow and gives everyone in the
situation autonomy and treats them fully capable individuals. The Kingdom of Ends,
which requires a bit more explaining, is an imaginary state with laws that protect
individual autonomy. When considering if an act itself is ethical we can ask if in the
Kingdom of Ends the act would be moral law or not, if not it can be said the act is not
morally just.
Egoism is based on the assumption that everyone should behave in a way that is in
their best interests, as if everyone did this the whole of society would improve, hence
1
