Taxonomy (chart) of ethical theories and principles
Instructions
In this assignment, you will use the Internet, books, or any other method of research to create a taxonomy (chart) of ethical theories and principles and provide examples to apply the theory.
The taxonomy should include a minimum of 5 ethical theories or principles and include: the name of the theory or ethical principle, the author, the year/era the theory was conceptualized, and an example of the theory’s application.
Example:
| Theory | Era and Author | Definition | Example |
| EMOTIVISM . |
[S. L. Stevenson] Influenced by the growth of analytic philosophy and logical positivism logical in the 20th century |
Says moral judgments are mere expressions of emotion. |
To say, “the garden is beautiful!!” It’s a mere expression of emotion it’s not a right or wrong statement. Your interpretation of whether you feel it is or isn’t beautiful is what draws one to try and sway the others opinion to be similar. |
Step 1 – Research and select five theories or principles of ethics.
Step 2 – Open Microsoft Word and create a table
- Your table should have 4 columns and 6 rows
- Include the following columns: Theory, Era and Author, Definition, and Example
Step 3 – Add information about the theories you’ve selected to your document.
…………………Answer Preview…………………
| Theory | Era and Author | Definition | Example |
| Utilitarianism | This theory was developed by John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham. | This theory uses the consequences of an action to define its moral goodness. Particularly, the theory emphasizes on the happiness that is caused by the consequences of a given action. | If a child is for instance born with physical or mental impairments that will make the baby’s survival a burden to both its parents and the baby itself, the baby should die to alleviate the possible problems and struggles that are inevitable. |
| Autonomy | This theory came into existence in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. | The word autonomy refers to a person who gives themselves their own law. This therefore means that a person will use his/her rational capacity to make an informed choice depending on what looks right to himself or herself. | For instance, when a person who does not know how to swim finds another person drowning, he might decide to call for help rather than offer to help because this can cause double tragedy since both of them will end up drowning. |
| Deontology | The theory was authored by Frances Kamm, Immanuel Kant and Rene Descartes. The existence of the deontological theories was in the eighteenth century when these people existed. | It is the normative position which judges ethical morality depending of the performed action’s basis and adherence to the rules. The performed duty is usually bound by the rules and the theory is hence referred to as rule based ethics sometimes. | For instance in the Iraq war, the United States contributed to the current civil strife. Therefore, the American troops should help in solving the strife. |
| Kantianism | The ethical theory was authored by Immanuel Kant | This ethical theory is based mostly on duty and not end goals or emotions. Performance of every action is done according to a given principle or maxim. The maxim is then used to judge the moral value of the action. The theory is categorically imperative. | When a person loves his/her mother for absolutely nothing. Loving your mother is categorically imperative because it is obviously out of duty. However, it should be noted that obeying your mother is obligatory. |
| Teleological theories | These theories have been in existence since time immemorial and are still in existence. | Focuses majorly on goodness and moral values and not necessarily obligations or duties. | If a person fires at an innocent person and the misses him, the action is immoral because the innocent person could have died although it did not happen that way |
………
APA
422 Words
