Ethics Theories Table Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethics Theories Table - Essay Example An employee entrusted with funds by his or her corporation is dutybound to account for these funds and remit the balance, if any. Even though this honesty may deprive him of certain material comforts, i.e., the extra money if unremitted could have bought him or her a new car, duty-based ethics prescribes that he or she should return the money. The classic goal-based theory is utilitarianism. Jeremy Bentham presented one of the earliest fully developed systems of utilitarianism. Two features of his theory are noteworty. First, Bentham proposed that we tally the consequences of each action we perform and thereby determine on a case by case basis whether an action is morally right or wrong. This aspect of Bentham's theory is known as act-utilitiarianism. Second, Bentham also proposed that we tally the pleasure and pain which results from our actions. For Bentham, pleasure and pain are the only consequences that matter in determining whether our conduct is moral. This aspect of Bentham's theory is known as hedonistic utilitarianism. An employee should strive to get a promotion at all costs as this will benefit him, even at the expense of co-employees and even if there would be a violation of a moral duty in the process. For example, the moral duty to give credit where credit is due after a successful project. The most influe