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Comparative analysis of three ethics
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Comparative analysis of three ethics
Introduction
Ethics can also be regarded as morality. It is referred to as the concept of right or wrong. Ethics are the set of guiding principles that explains what should be incorporated when acting or performing an action. However, different philosophers had been focused on the different aspects of ethics. That is why there exist multiple frameworks for defining ethics and morality. However, this paper attempts to explain the differences in three frameworks of ethics, including Nicomachean, virtue ethics and utilitarianism. Moreover, the paper is also focused on providing the comparative analysis of these three frameworks, in order to analyze the similarities and differences in all the three approaches to ethics.
Nicomachean ethics
Nicomachean ethics are regarded as the philosophical investigation regarding the life of human beings for progressing a good life. The philosophical work was pioneered by the famous philosopher Aristotle. Hence, based on his work, he explains that there is an ultimate goal in order to meet the goal, all the human actions are taken as a step forward. Moreover, the necessary goal towards which the human’s actions are directed must be continuous as well as self-sufficient. Moreover, Aristotle also considered ultimate good as implicitly or explicitly aimed at happiness also named as "eudemonia." He further explained human happiness as something that consists of the activity of soul according to the reason also specified as intellect or rationale. Based on the highest human life for having human happiness, ethics consists of contemplation of greatest goods as well as the culmination of ethics. Considering the Nicomachean ethics, Aristotle also states about the noble actions, known as virtues that are performed deliberately. Hence, the noble action or ethical virtue is a virtue that enables human to determine the mean that is specific for every different situation. Hence, Aristotle supports the doctrine that the ultimate happiness in human life can be attained by following a path that is virtuous and lead to human happiness.
Virtue ethics
Virtue ethics is regarded as a philosophy that is proposed by Aristotle as well as some other Greek philosopher. This philosophy is based on the quest of living and understanding life, like a moral character. Hence, this philosophy entails that virtue ethics is in the person as compared to the action. It views the moral or virtue character of human who tends to carry out an action than that of performing an ethical duty or a consequence of an action. Moreover, virtue ethics are not concerned with the right or wrong of an individual and his actions, but it is focused on the guidance of behaviors as well as the characteristics that a good human will tend to achieve. In other words, virtue ethics considers the person’s whole life than that of considering the particular actions. Based on the proposed philosophy of the virtue ethics, virtue theorists provided a list of virtues, which are regarded as the set of virtues that will benefit all the humans if entailed. The traditional lists of these virtues contain bravery, prudence, temperance, justice, honor, and self-care. Furthermore, the basic principles of virtues that are considered important include; a person tends to act virtuously if they possess and live the virtues.
Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism is another approach to ethics, also named as normative ethical theory. It tends to emphasize the concept of right and wrong is dependent on the choice of choosing one action over another. The major focus of this view is based on account of other's interest as compared to personal interest. Moreover, while considering this view regarding ethics, it entails the recognition of the role that pain and pleasure plays in one's life. Hence, consequences are the next thing that is important in this explanation of ethics. Also, it explains that both pain and pleasure are capable of being recorded or measured. Moreover, the principle of Utilitarianism ethics includes Act utilitarianism and Rule utilitarianism. The act utilitarianism is applied to the act of choice in the situation. Hence, considering the acting principle, right is referred to producing the best consequences. On the other hand, rule utilitarianism is applied to the validity of moral principles. According to the rule principle right and wrong are considered as following or breaking the rules.
Comparative Analysis
Considering all the three sets of ethical grounds, every philosophy highlights a different aspect based on the focus. Hence, considering the differences and similarities between these theories contains a lot of views. As ethics is based on its literal meanings it deal with morality or the identification of right or wrong related to something. However, the major crux of all these theories revolves around the concept of what is right and what is wrong, but the way this right and wrong is defined creates the line between all these theories.
The major aspect that is similar in all the theories is that ethics are of much importance for a person to attain happiness in life. However, the consequence of happiness is different in every theory. The importance of ethics can be seen from the proposed view of all the three theories whether it is Nicomachean, virtue ethics or it is utilitarianism.
Moreover, every ethic theory is based on the question that what are the major aspects:
That defines the person's moral character as good or bad?
What should be the focus of a person when making a choice based on the ethical aspect?
What should be prioritized whether a person's own self or the consequence?
However, all the major differences in the three theories are dependent on the approach that is taken towards the attempt of preference. Hence, the major difference in all the three aspect lies in the aspect that is preferred while considering the aspect of right or wrong. Moreover, this difference is evident from the distinct focus of every theory, for example; virtue theory defines the essence of right and wrong in the way of moral character that what a person should entail to contain ethical behavior and life.
However, the focus of the Nicomachean view of ethics is on the importance of a person's eternal happiness that makes him achieve his ultimate good or goal. Furthermore, the choice of ethical behavior that is the concept of right and wrong according to him tends to nurture the soul as compared to the character as supported by virtue and utilitarianism framework of ethics.
Moreover, according to Aristotle, the virtue of ethics is the source of pleasure along with the reason. In this way along with happiness, he asserts focus on the reason that tends to make soul happy and makes human to live by virtue. On the other hand, other frameworks, such as utilitarianism emphasize on maximizing the happiness of others, so that the character or moral of a human being is called ethical or moral. Also, the virtue ethical framework, stresses the traits and virtues that a person must contain to be presented as moral and ethical.
All the frameworks of ethics explained above provides some of the basic principles that tends to define the fundamental criteria for the ethical consideration of human beings. However, the major difference between the principle of all these three frameworks is based on the essence through which those principles are defined as the principles of virtue ethics focuses on the character, Nicomachean is based on the happiness of soul on the other hand, utilitarianism works through the principles of approval and consequences of actions as being wrong or right.
Every framework included shows a different aspect of ethics and moral development as well as a progression of humans in their lives. Hence, to be happy, successful and satisfied, ethics must be considered. Thus every framework be it Nicomachean, utilitarianism and virtue ethics, provides the underlying phenomena and importance of living by ethics. However, if considering the ethics along with the pleasure of the soul, the approval of work is also required when an action is performed. Because, we are living in a society and as Man is a social animal so along with one's own satisfaction and achievements, to an extent world view and consequences also consist of importance. In this way, the virtue ethics framework is preferred, as it is based on both one's own self as well as to an extent shows the importance of a setup or situation in which person is acting.
Conclusion
Different philosophers have taken a different approach towards defining and explaining the different aspects of ethics and morality. However, the focus of every philosopher is different from other. Based on these differences the frameworks are designed. This paper explained and compared three important frameworks of ethics. As based on the differences in the approach of viewing ethics, some focus happiness of the soul, some emphasize the traits and character however others focuses on the act, rule, and consequences of the person's behavior. However, every framework is important in the way of providing a distinct approach to weigh ethics. Moreover, based on this comparison the virtue ethics is preferred.
End Notes
Sandel, Michael J. Justice: What's the right thing to do?. Macmillan, 2010.
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