Duty Based Ethics Case Study

There are various theories in ethics, which are helpful to build the appropriate fundamental principles and applicable to professional and personal demeanor of a person in his life on a daily basis. There are mainly four theories which are crucial for right action and ethical behavior. These are:

1. “Golden means” ethics (Aristotle, 384 – 322 B.C.). According to this theory, the best solution is achieved through reason and logic and is a compromise or “golden mean” between extremes of excess and deficiency. For example, in the case of the environment, the golden mean between the extremes of neglect and exploitation might be protection.

Problem: Variability from one person to another in their powers of reasoning and the difficulty in applying the theory to ethical problems.

2. “Rights – based” ethics (John Locke, 1632 – 1704). Every individual is free and has equal right and has the right to life, health, liberty and possessions (in effect prohibiting capital punishment, medical charges, jails and income taxes).

Problem: One person’s right may be in conflict with another’s rights.

3. “Duty – based” ethics (Immanuel Kant, 1724 – 1804). Each person has a duty to follow a course of action that would be universally acceptable for everyone to follow without exception. (Thus we would all be honest, kind,

The laws and customs seem to be definite, real and clear-cut. They help to reduce the endless disputes about right and wrong. Moreover, laws seem to be an objective way to approach values. The above argument is some what weak. This reason underestimates the extent to which ordinary moral reasons are sufficiently objective to make possible criticism of individual prejudice and bias. Moreover, moral reasons allow objective criticism of the given laws as morally inadequate. For example, the apartheid laws (racial segregation) in South Africa. This law violated the human rights are not given any legal protections to the majority of the blacks, but morally ought to