Ethical Theory

Throughout my readings , I have chanced upon a wide variety of ethical theories as determined by different scholars . However , I decided to take a major consideration of Dr . Richard T . Hull 's research on classical ethical theories , which was presented in Buffalo Psychiatric Center , yet with some collaboration of information from other researches . According to Dr . Hull , ethical theory has two fundamental types - the consequentialist or teleological theory and the deontological or utilitarianist theory (1979 ,

.1

Consequentialist or teleological theory is based on the notion of choosing one 's actions

so as to maximize the value or values to be expected as consequences of those actions (Hull , 1979 ,

.1 . It means that the action itself is not to be predetermined as good or bad , but rather it is only to be said morally right by evaluating the consequences , whether the results have been good or bad . In this case if murdering another person would result to a superiority of good over evil , then the act is not to be morally prohibited . A consequentialist or teleological theory has two sub-theories namely , utilitarian theory and individualistic theory . A utilitarian theory consists of three parts - the theory of value , principle of utility

and the decision procedure (Hull , 1979 ,

.1 . In individualistic theory the only duty is to pursue an act that may exclusively be beneficial to the doer

The deontological theory is based on the notion of choosing one 's actions according to standards of duty or obligation that refer not to consequences but to the nature of actions and the motives that are held by those performing them (Hull , 1979 ,

. 1 . It relies on the belief that if the act is mandatory by the nature of duty and do not go against any other act from another duty , then it is regarded as morally right According to some theorists on this area , there may also be differences in the nature of what is morally right because it may also depend on a varying situation . Deontological theory also has two sub-theories - the act deontology and rule deontology . The act deontology provides a disparity on the appeal to creating judgments

with indifference as to what gives a better balance between good and evil . The rule deontology has precise rules - each one saying that we ought always to act in a certain way in a certain context (a positive duty , or to refrain from acting in a certain way in a certain

context (a negative duty (Hull , 1979 ,

. 5

I would say the consequentialist or teleological theory is best understood in one statement : the end justifies the means . That is why this theory is also called utilitarian theory because of how the act serves its purpose (Hull , 1979 ,

. 1 . Let me take as a specific example a case where a financially-incapacitated female student has an affair with a rich man , who is married to another woman . The said student justifies her actions since she believes the wealthy man...