Virtue Ethics

Virtue Ethics

Introduction

Virtue ethics is an approach, which emphasizes on rules, consequences and particular act, which places a significant focus on the kind of person who is acting. This virtue ethics describes the character of the moral agent through an association with ethical behavior. The major focus of virtue theory is to teach people regarding admirable character traits. This term does not try to give entire focus on the rules that people need to abide. The simplest definition of virtue is maintenance of high moral characteristics trait among individuals. Immanuel Kant's is the man who has worked a lot on developing deontological ethics. No, single idea incarcerates all of the features in virtue of which an ethical theory may deserve to be called as deontology. In absolute terms, deontology is based on the theory of duties that is something related with all the ethical theories. The term teleological has come from a Greek work “telos” means end, and logos means science. In intelligible words, theological theory means the final consequence of the moral values and ethics of an individual.

Discussion

Ethics

Ethics is the study of the general nature of morals and of the specific moral choices to be made by the individual in his relationship with others. Although Ferrell, Gresham and Fraedrich (2009) contend that the concept and definition of ethics is often vague because of the term's many nuances most definitions revolve around the determination of right and wrong, good and bad, just and unjust behavior of humans.

This determination of right and wrong is spread between many different decision situations and includes not only determination of personal behavior but also standards of behavior and judgment of the behavior of others (Gundlach, Patrick, 2003, pp. 35-46).

Sims (2002) in giving the etymological background of the term ethics states that it is from the Greek word ethos meaning character or custom. Many researchers in the business literature have taken the definition of ethics a step farther, determining a definition of business ethics. This term has been defined as the study of morality of business decisions and the determination of standards for those decisions (Hegarty, Henry, 2008, pp. 451-457).

The study of ethics can include many areas; can be very specific or very general. Ethics and ethical behavior can be studied in an isolated situation like business decisions or skilful actions; it can be studied culturally, temporally, comparatively etc. This paper will look at ethics from a distinct viewpoint; that is studying ethical principles are used by consumers in making purchase decisions and the perception of consumers about ethical purchasing.

Theological theory

John Stuart is one of the finest British economist and philosopher. He is prominent for the work done on utilitarianism. John has developed the concept of utilitarianism which was initiated by Jeremy Bentham. Mill has promoted utilitarianism, which means that any action is right which is beneficial for the majority of the people. The concept of Mill utilitarianism suggests that if any act is unacceptable by the majority, it will be subject to ...