Philosophical Ethical Theories

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Philosophical Ethical Theories As we know, philosophers divide ethical theories into three major

classes. They are Metaethics(descriptive), Conceptual(applied), and

Normative(prescriptive).

Metaethics basically takes the scientific approach to concocting where

exactly our ethical principals and philosophies come from (Feiser,

2005). Descriptions and explanations of moral behaviors and beliefs

are provided on the basis of facts studied by such specialists of

anthropology, sociology and history (Beauchamp & Bowie, 2005).

Conceptual ethics covers huge controversial issues on the basis of

what is right, good, and established by justice, virtues,

responsibilities and obligations. These credited terms are examples

submitted by Beauchamp and Bowie on page 6 of our text. James Feiser

explains that issues such as abortion, animal rights, capital

punishment, nuclear war, etc. would fall under conceptual ethics.

Normative ethics distinguishes the differences between what is right

and wrong (Feiser, 2005); what mom and dad taught us growing up. It is

defined by what is accepted as the societal “norm” (Beauchamp & Bowie,

2005). Is killing someone ok? No. Is saving a life ok? Yes. Is

defending your life ok? Yes. If either the attacker or defendant dies

in an act of self-defense for one’s life, who’s to blame? In our

society, what is established as the norm is if the attacker dies, the

defendant is not held responsible because they acted in self-defen...

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...of contact, so

to help stop them, you are acting forthright, emphasis on right, and

just.

Normative- Management in a company that started small but has

exponentially grown since decides that a Human Resources department

needs to be implemented into the workplace to create a balanced

environment. They are the parents of the employees, while they’re at

work anyway.

In each scenario, all philosophies can be applied.

Beauchamp, Tom L. & Bowie, Norman E. (2005). Ethical Theory and

Business, a Custom Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson

Custom Publishing.

Feiser, James. (2005). Ethics. Retrieved August 23, 2005 from the

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy website:

http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/e/ethics.htm#SSH2c.i

Exodus 20:13. (1999). The King James Slimline Bible. USA: Thomas

Nelson.

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