Ethics Case

Understanding Ethical concepts such as virtue theory, utilitarianism and deontological is essential in society today. One would need to review the similarities and differences one to fully comprehend the importance of ethics and social responsibility and how it affects their personal and professional success. The review within this paper will describe the differences in how each theory addresses ethics and morality. It will also include a personal experience explaining the relationship between virtue, values, and moral concepts as they relate.

Understanding the similarities and differences between virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics starts with defining each theory. The virtue theory is mainly about one's character. Also known as virtue ethic, the virtue theory regards one's character as well as one's motivations and intentions (Trevino & Nelson, 2007). This theory does not consider rules or outcomes of certain actions. Virtue ethics primarily focuses on whether or not an individual acts with integrity even when he or she is not watched or seen in addition to displaying a high moral standard as a sign of good character. Working in teams is a very big part of today's work environment. People work in teams at work as well as in the home. A good team player develops skills that can lead to successful completion of projects and helps with decision-making. Putting the best interest of the team before one's personal interests is utilitarianism. According to Boylan (2009), "utilitarianism is a theory that suggests that an action is morally right when that action produces more total utility for the group than any other alternative". Finally, the deontological theory states that people should adhere to their obligations and duties when analyzing an ethical dilemma (Boylan 2009). In contrast to virtue theory, deontology heavily emphasizes on the responsibilities within actions, in observing the rules.

The three concepts can show the good in individuals, how we all strive for excellence. The primary difference between these three concepts begin with ethics and morality. Virtue theory describes a person's character, cultivating "excellence in all we do" (Boylan, p. 43, 2009). Striving for excellence can be challenging when deciding what the best choice to take in any situation. Utilitarianism describes ethical and morality issues by addressing the overall balance of good outcomes over bad ones. The morals associated with this concept advocate actions that produce a total utility for a group, this is a good description of the meaning of the statement "the greatest good for the greatest number" (Boylan, p. 153, 2009). Conversely deontological ethics have a definition of a person's dedication to the recognition of moral duty. A deontologist will always do what they say and mean what they say and will follow the law.

A personal experience that explains