Definition. Ethics concerns not what we do, but what we ought to do, whereas theories can be identified as formal (and ideally coherent and justified) statements that explain a certain matter. Ethical theories are thus formal statements about what we ought to do, when faced with an ethical dilemma.

Here, we take a brief look at (1) utilitarianism, (2) deontology, (3) social justice and social contract theory, and (4) virtue theory.

The normative ethical theories that are briefly covered in this chapter are:

• Utilitarianism.
• Deontology.
• Virtue ethics.
• Ethics of care.
• Egoism.
• Religion or divine command theory.
• Natural Law.
• Social contract theory.

There are a number of moral theories: utilitarianism, Kantianism, virtue theory, the four principles approach and casuistry. Utilitarians think that the point of morality is to maximize the amount of happiness that we produce from every action.

There are two broad categories of ethical theories concerning the source of value: consequentialist and non-consequentialist. A consequentialist theory of value judges the rightness or wrongness of an action based on the consequences that action has.

This is the essence of the Divine Command Theory of morality: God is a legislator of morality; he decides what’s right or wrong in the same way in which the state decides what’s legal and what’s illegal.

It is simply impossible for people to be moral without religion or God. The question of whether or not morality requires religion is both topical and ancient. In the Euthyphro, Socrates famously asked whether goodness is loved by the gods because it is good, or whether goodness is good because it is loved by the gods.

Morality refers to the set of standards that enable people to live cooperatively in groups. It’s what societies determine to be “right” and “acceptable.” Sometimes, acting in a moral manner means individuals must sacrifice their own short-term interests to benefit society.

Among the reasons to be moral and integral, regardless of occupation are to: Make society better. When we help make society better, we are rewarded with also making better own lives and the lives of our families and friends. Without moral conduct, society would be a miserable place.

The definition of morals will reference ethics in a circular definition; same goes for ethics. But ethics represents an innate knowledge of right/wrong distinctions. Ethics transcends culture, religion, and time. Morality is defined as having and living per a moral code, or principles of right and wrong.