Teleological Ethics

Normative ethical theory can be broken down into a couple of different views based upon how moral questions are answered. The competing views are teleological, also referred to as consequentialist, and the other is the deontological view. Each of the views is based upon what is considered the source of the ethical value (Folse, n.d., n.p.).

The teleological ethical theory is defined as "a teleological theory says that the basic or ultimate criterion or standard of what is morally right, wrong, obligatory, etc... is the nonmoral value that is brought into being" (Frankena, 1973, 14). In other words, the rightness or wrongness of an act is based upon the consequences of the act. If the action brought about good consequences, then the act must have been the right thing to do. If it brought about bad consequences, then it must have been the wrong thing to do. The moral value of something is contingent upon the comparative nonmoral value. Teleological ethical systems are the opposite of deontological systems. It judges the consequences of the act rather than judging the act itself. If the results can be considered good consequences, then the act must have been good (Frankena, 1973, 14).

The phrase "the end justifies the means" that has been used many times in many different situations suggests that the end result is justified by the means that were used to achieve the outcome. This is a consequentialist type of statement. Under the teleological theory, if an end goal or objective is worth the costs of achieving the end result, then the act is deemed good or justified. That’s not to say that there will not be implications or consequences associated with the act, but if they were deemed worth the cost, then it is justifie...

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Works Cited

Folse, H. (n.d.). Some Fundamental Concepts in Ethics.

Retrieved from http://www.loyno.edu/~folse/ethics.html#deontological ethical on 4/10/14.

Frankena, W. (1973). Ethics. 2nd Ed. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc,.

Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince, translated by N.H. Thomson. Vol. XXXVI, Part 1. The Harvard Classics. New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1909-14; Retrieved from www.bartleby.com/36/1/ on 4/10/14.

Silverstein, K. (2013). Enron, Ethics and today's corporate values. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2013/05/14/enron-ethics-and-todays-corporate-values/ on 4/10/14.

"Teleological Ethics" (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teleological ethics/