Ethical Codes: Utilitarian, Kantian Ethics

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(Shaw, 16). The only ethical condition for judging an action as being right or wrong depends upon the moral system of the society by which the act occurs. There is no specific criteria of right and wrong that is used to judge other than the criteria that societies create (Shaw, 15). Simply put, morality’s requirements are synonymous to society. In order to support their case, those who approve ethical relativism note the apparent diversity of human morals ethical codes (Shaw, 19). Some apparently immoral principles have been implemented from our own cultural perception. Such practices as polygamy, stealing, and slavery, have been tolerated or encouraged by the moral system of societies. In light of this, ethical relativists are certain that there can be no standard that is used to evaluate actions (Shaw, 21). …show more content…

According to the utilitarian theory, every individual does not choose on the foundation of his or her pleasure or pain with the majority being dominant (Shaw, 53). Instead, we add up all of our pleasures and pains no matter how major or minor they may be and choose the act that results in the maximum amount of happiness. Utilitarians evaluate actions according to their consequences, because different actions generate varying results in different situations. Therefore, almost anything in principle may be morally right in a given circumstance (Shaw, 51). In this society, conflict- resolution would most definitely be a moral

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