Ethical Egoism Essay

727 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Ethical egoism morals

Ethical egoism is a theory which is normative. The theory is based on favors, praises and motivation. The main factors considered in this theory are the actions of person that result to impact individually. People are believed to act according to their interest. The argument is that, we are bound up due to our own happiness, interests, desires and hopes. There is essence of behaving to our will, and center to things that make difference in our lives. This egoist approach says that good action is which fits for an individual, for example if one is hungry and there isn’t food and decides to eat chips, then that is good according to him and he deserves to do it. Applying this theory to the case of Delshondra who is sick we will consider what …show more content…

Morality defines what is right or wrong and still good and bad actions. The theorists of the natural law believe laws related to man are defined by morality (Moore, 277). They believe the laws can’t be defined by the government or kings who are authoritative figures. Humans are guided by these natural laws to figure out the laws and adhere to them. For example a doctor can’t be blamed if a person dies as he tries to improve her conditions of healthy. The term natural is obtained in that morality of human is natural. According to this theory the purpose of human being is to live good life and a happy one. The actions which would change this purpose of human are seen to be inhuman and immoral. The law that doesn’t have a way of creating good life is considered as an unjust law. A good law is always moral. Applying this theory to the case delshondra the doctors are supposed to care of him until the last minute he dies. Termination of one’s life is going against this …show more content…

Duty-based ethics encompasses doing what is right, fail to do wrong things and doing things because they are right ones to be done. Using this theory of ethics an action can’t be justified by showing its good results and this makes this theory to be termed as non-consequentialist (Granitz 300). This ethic is usually what people talk of when they refer to “the principle of the thing”. Actions are proved to be right, according to what they are, and people can do them regardless of whether to produce positive or negative impacts. Deontologists live in a universe where they believe in moral rules such as, it is not good to steal, wrong to kill people who are innocent and also to tell lies (McNaughton 67). A person under principles deontology will always do the right thing even if it is producing harm. For example Kant the philosopher thought it was wrong to lie in order to save a murderer. According to this duty-based theory of ethics, the life of delshondra should be preserved by all protocols because that is what is right. It’s wrong even if it may cut down expenses when his life is terminated

Show More
Related

  • Virtue Ethics: Deontological and Eudaimonist

    4530 Words  | 10 Pages

    There are two basic types of ethical judgments: deontological judgements that focus on duty and obligation and eudaimonist judgements that focus on human excellence and the nature of the good life. I contend that we must carefully distinguish these two types of judgement and not try to understand one as a special case of the other. Ethical theories may be usefully divided into two main kinds, deontological or eudaimonist, on the basis of whether they take one of the other of these types of judgement as primary. A second important contention, which this paper supports but does not attempt to justify fully, is that neither type of theory trumps the other, nor should we subsume them under some more encompassing ethical synthesis.

    Read More

  • Ethics in Nursing

    1924 Words  | 4 Pages

    Deontology is an ethical theory concerned with duties and rights. The founder of deontological ethics was a German philosopher named Immanuel Kant. Kant’s deontological perspective implies people are sensitive to moral duties that require or prohibit certain behaviors, irrespective of the consequences (Tanner, Medin, & Iliev, 2008). The main focus of deontology is duty: deontology is derived from the Greek word deon, meaning duty. A duty is morally mandated action, for instance, the duty never to lie and always to keep your word. Based on Kant, even when individuals do not want to act on duty they are ethically obligated to do so (Rich, 2008).

    Read More

  • Essay On Ethical Lens Inventory

    1718 Words  | 4 Pages

    Deontological ethics are “ethical theories that place special emphasis on the relationship between duty and the morality of human actions” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2018). This viewpoint focuses more on the action itself rather than the outcome. Per Kant’s Categorical Imperative one should “so act that you treat humanity in your own person and in the person of everyone else always at the same time as an end and never merely as means” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2018). An example of this is that killing is wrong, even if it is in self-defense. Many of the values and morals of the ELI Responsibilities Lens are based on the deontological

    Read More

  • Deontological Moral Theory

    1228 Words  | 3 Pages

    Deontological moral theory is a Non-Consequentialist moral theory. While consequentialists believe the ends always justify the means, deontologists assert that the rightness of an action is not simply dependent on maximizing the good, if that action goes against what is considered moral. It is the inherent nature of the act alone that determines its ethical standing. For example, imagine a situation where there are four critical condition patients in a hospital who each need a different organ in order to survive. Then, a healthy man comes to the doctor’s office for a routine check-up. According to consequentialism, not deontology, the doctor should and must sacrifice that one man in order to save for others. Thus, maximizing the good. However, deontological thought contests this way of thinking by contending that it is immoral to kill the innocent despite the fact one would be maximizing the good. Deontologists create concrete distinctions between what is moral right and wrong and use their morals as a guide when making choices. Deontologists generate restrictions against maximizing the good when it interferes with moral standards. Also, since deontologists place a high value on the individual, in some instances it is permissible not to maximize the good when it is detrimental to yourself. For example, one does not need to impoverish oneself to the point of worthlessness simply to satisfy one’s moral obligations. Deontology can be looked at as a generally flexible moral theory that allows for self-interpretation but like all others theories studied thus far, there are arguments one can make against its reasoning.

    Read More

  • Egoism Vs Altruism

    750 Words  | 2 Pages

    We have studied the two major theories that answer the question, “who should I be?”. These theories are egoism and altruism. In this paper, I will argue that the correct moral theory lies in-between the theories of egoism and altruism.

    Read More

  • Deontology and Utilitarianism: Ethical Theories for Nurses

    1121 Words  | 3 Pages

    German philosopher Immanuel Kant popularized the philosophy of deontology, which is described as actions that are based on obligation rather than personal gain or happiness (Rich & Butts, 2014). While developing his theory, Kant deemed two qualities that are essential for an action to be deemed an ethical. First, he believed it was never acceptable to sacrifice freedom of others to achieve a desired goal. In other words, he believed in equal respect for all humans. Each human has a right for freedom and justice, and if an action takes away the freedom of another, it is no longer ethical or morally correct. Secondly, he held that good will is most important, and that what is good is not determined by the outcome of the situation but by the action made (Johnson, 2008). In short, he simply meant that the consequences of a situation do not matter, only the intention of an action. Kant also declared that for an act to be considered morally correct, the act must be driven by duty alone. By extension, there could be no other motivation such as lo...

    Read More

  • Deontology in Jim and the Indians

    891 Words  | 2 Pages

    The deontological view would be that we should act according to a set of rules, obligations, or duties that we must fulfil, unmindful of the consequences. Kant, a popular deontological philosopher of the 19th century, wrote in his “Foundations of Metaphysics of Morals”,

    Read More

  • Utilitarianism And Kant's Ethical Theory On Duty

    1093 Words  | 3 Pages

    Deontological ethical theory focuses on duty. It is viewed that humans have a duty in doing what is ethically right in any given situation. However, the categorical imperative does not have the same ideas it does not consist of duties to us. As Kant indicates in the idea of the Kingdom of Ends that our duty lies in treating all human beings as ends in and of them instead of as a means to an end it is perceived as being an extension of us. It is based on the desires of a person on how they want to be treated and will succeed as long as the universal good is applied as well. In other words, our actions and behaviors applied in our lives, we can see others imitating. For instance, can we see a world where everyone lied willingly? It does not make sense it would defeat the purpose of being able to identify the truth there would be no meaning. The ethical duty is to be truthful.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Ethical Egoism

    728 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ethical Egoism A rear assumption is that the needs and happiness of other people will always affect our moral ethics. If we accept this assumption, we think that our moral ethics balance our self-interest against that of others. It is true, that “What is morally right or wrong depends not only on how it makes us feel, but also how it affects others”. The idea that each person ought to pursue his or her own self-interest exclusively to do in his lifetime for others is known as Ethical Egoism.

    Read More

  • Egoism And Ethical Egoism

    2219 Words  | 5 Pages

    • Once more, the ordinary science’ proves itself as the master of classification, inventing and defining the various categories of Egoism. Per example, psychological egoism, which defines doctrine that an individual is always motivated by self-interest, then rational egoism which unquestionably advocates acting in self-interest. Ethical egoism as diametrically opposite of ethical altruism which obliges a moral agent to assist the other first, even if sacrifices own interest. Also, ethical egoism differs from both rational and psychological egoism in ‘defending’ doctrine which considers all actions with contributive beneficial effects for an acting individual

    Read More

  • The Four Principles Of Morality

    839 Words  | 2 Pages

    One can say that a person’s autonomy is proof enough to decide if they choose to discontinue life saving treatment. Be that as it may, when can a medical professional decide to ignore the patient’s request? To answer this question I will be using the principlist method argue when it is necessary for a medical professional to do what is in the best interest of the patient, even if it means violating their autonomy. Autonomy, or respecting one’s actions or choices, is one of the four main principles of morality. Autonomy is a major component of informed consent and to give consent is to be competent. Thus, I will be providing information of what it means to be competent. The second principle of morality is beneficence or the obligation to help

    Read More

  • Immanuel Kant's The Quinlan Case

    1386 Words  | 3 Pages

    What is ethics? Ethics are the philosophical principles of good verses bad moral behavior. It is a guideline to help people make decisions or make a judgment calls. There are two main types of ethical principles that will be discussed in this paper, and how they are applied to the decision making process. They are Deontological and Utilitarian. Deontological ethics are based on the righteousness or wrongness of the action-taking place. It does not base itself on the bad or good consequences that come from the action. Immanuel Kant introduced deontological ethics in the 18th century. Kant believed that every decision or action made by a person had to be evaluated by his or her moral duty. He stated that humanity shouldn’t side on its

    Read More

  • Psychological and Ethical Egoism

    1876 Words  | 4 Pages

    Egoism is a teleological theory of ethics that sets the ultimate criterion of morality in some nonmoral value (i.e. happiness or welfare) that results from acts (Pojman 276). It is contrasted with altruism, which is the view that one's actions ought to further the interests or good of other people, ideally to the exclusion of one's own interests (Pojman 272). This essay will explain the relation between psychological egoism and ethical egoism. It will examine how someone who believes in psychological egoism explains the apparent instances of altruism. And it will discuss some arguments in favor of universal ethical egoism, and exam Pojman's critque of arguments for and against universal ethical egoism.

    Read More

  • The Ethical Theory Of Gender Equality

    817 Words  | 2 Pages

    A nonconsequentialist act is the deontology theory. Deontology is a moral obligation or duty to act relating to a principle or rule. Deontology requires the act of humanity. It is never the treatment as a means to an end. A rule of deontology is that one should act in a manner that maxim the act intending to develop the act as a universal law. However, deontology can obligate someone to act in a way that seems wrong and unethical (Mossier, 2013). It is a rigid theory that fails to capture the complex issues that arise. Therefore, one would need to act as everyone would act in that specific situation. When applying the deontology theory, one should focus on the will of the person acting, the person’s intention of carrying out the act, and the rule according to which the act is carried out. Deontology can impact human life within society through the application to the principal in gender equality in areas of employment, health care, and the education system. The

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Deontology

    1747 Words  | 4 Pages

    A deontologist asserts that you should do your duty even if you or others suffer as a consequence. Deontology is seen as an obligation to protect regardless of the impact it has on others, whether it be people, animals, and/or the environment and so on. “Deontology focuses on the duties and obligations one has in carrying out actions rather than on the consequences of those actions” (Mosser, 2013). According to deontologist Immanuel Kant, when doing your duty as a deontologist there are “categorical imperatives” that should be followed. In other words there are exceptions for why one is not taking action. “All imperatives command either hypothetically or categorically” (Kant,

    Read More

More about Ethical Egoism Essay

Open Document