A634.2.4.RB - Theories of Ethics

The relationship between consequentialist and deontologist is a comparison between the reason and the outcome. A deontologist wants to adhere to a strict moral code that often leaves no room to wiggle. To a deontologist, there is normally only one answer and that's it. To kill is wrong, to lie is wrong, and the only right thing to do is the right thing. 

I find deontology to be too strict on the decision. If someone kills in self-defense, how is that wrong? To protect yourself from harm from someone else can’t be disputed. However, in the same argument, what if someone goes too far in their defense and kills the attacker when that action wasn’t necessary. I don't think that a lot of life's decisions can be put into a defined box of right or wrong. There are too many situations that don’t conform to a right and wrong logic. 

“Consequentialists claim that we are morally obligated to act in ways that produce the best consequences” (LaFollette,2007). The decisions we are given are not always the best, sometimes we have to make hard decisions. Life puts us into uncomfortable situations. Consequentialists want to pick the best outcome, which may lead to an immoral decision. Just because the outcome is ethical or moral doesn’t mean that the pathway to get that conclusion was ethical. The outcome doesn’t outweigh how you got there. 

After reflecting on both theories, I can't say that I perfectly fit into either one. I have made a decision based on the strict rules of deontologist and have made decisions that are based on the outcome not the means in which I got there. I do tend to lean more towards the Consequentialists. I think that the outcome is what matters, the intent is what makes it ethical. There are a lot of situations that make this a bad argument but within reason. Consequentialists have good intent. I think that if we apply the Golden Rule, “You must treat others in the same way that you would want to be treated in the same situation” then we can say that Consequentialists is moral and ethical (Putnam,n.d). 

LaFollette, H. (2007). The Practice of Ethics. Malden, MO: Blackwell Publishing.

Putnam, M., (n.d.). The golden rule in business.  Global Ethics Solutions. Retrieved from: https://www.globalethicssolutions.com/articles/2016/11/28/golden-rule-business/