Theories Useful in Solving Ethical Dilemmas
Ethics is a set of behavioral standards that assist us in choosing how to respond or act in a variety of situations. It is involved in making choices and providing justifications on why we made those choices. It concerns all aspects of human life including making the society more ethical creating responsible organizations and governments and acting correctly as individuals. In the corporate world, ethical dilemmas exist. Ethics dictates the working of a social system. There is an existence of useful theories in solving these ethical dilemmas. These theories include; consequentialism, utilitarianism, and deontology. The following paragraphs state and discuss the most valuable and relevant of these ethical approaches.
Deontology theory. Systems that are deontological are characterized by focusing on abiding by independent moral duties or rules that are religious. An action can be righteous in as much as in does not yield a net balance which is of the greater good to the decision maker or the society at large (Brooks & Dunn 2018). To come up with the correct moral options, understanding the ethical duties that we have and the existence of the regulatory rules is of great importance. In deontological moral systems, moral principles are separate from consequences of any kind that those particular principles might have. For instance, if one has a moral duty of not lying, then lying is forever wrong even if its consequences may cause harm to people. Here, the motivation is of more concern rather than the results.
Consequentialism theory. This theory based its arguments in the approach that the moral worth of an action is compelled by the outcomes it brings. Additionally, the actual basis for any judgment concerning the morality of any conduct lies in the consequences of one’s behaviors. The emphasis in this theory lies in the outcome or consequence of good nature in which a moral failure or right to act is based. It is more like the common saying that the end justifies the means.
Utilitarian theory. In the utilitarian approach, the argument revolves around the assumption that the worth of an action is determined by its importance in ensuring happiness and pleasure as concluded by the majority of the people. According to Jeffrey (2011), the best outcome produces the least distress and pain.
In conclusion, solving ethical dilemmas requires a lot of seriousness and sensitivity attached to the moral consequences of problems and solutions and practice. Having theoretical frameworks that address these ethical dilemmas is essential.