We have discussed the three normative ethical theories in this class. Throughout the semester, you have been asked to apply these theories to different ethical situations. In this essay, you are going to evaluate the three normative ethical theories: deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics.
You should:
- Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each theory.
- Use different ethical dilemmas to show how each theory might or might not work.
Example:
- If someone must decide whether to lie to protect a loved one or tell the truth and risk harm:
- A consequentialist (utilitarian) may lie if it produces the greatest overall good.
- A deontologist may tell the truth regardless of consequences, because it is their moral duty.
- A virtue ethicist may emphasize honesty as a virtue and tell the truth for its own sake.
Suggested dilemmas to use:
- The Privacy Dilemma: You discover that your friend is hiding important information from their partner.
That’s the full assignment description captured in text form.
Do you want me to help you draft an outline for this paper, showing how to structure the comparison of deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics around dilemmas like the privacy example?