Is the rightness of an action determined by its consequences, or by the intentions of the agent behind the action? Deontological ethics, in contrast to teleological or utilitarian ethics, asserts the latter. For example, Immanuel Kant argued that the only absolutely good thing is a good will, and thus that the only means of determining the rightness of an action is the motive of the person performing that action. Thus, if a person is acting on a bad maxim (“Stealing is good”), then the action is wrong, even if it produces some good consequences (e.g., stealing from the rich and giving to the poor). However, not all deontologists are absolutists: W.D. Ross, for instance, holds that lying is sometimes the right thing to do if the results of the action are likely to be beneficial.
A criticism levied by Jeremy Bentham, a utilitarian philosopher, is that deontological ethics were merely a dressed-up version of popular morality, wherein the ostensible “universal laws” were actually merely subjective opinion. A separate critique of deontology comes from aretaic theories, which hold that it is not the good will of the agent nor the consequences of the action that determine the moral rightness of that action— rather it is the character of the person performing the action. This is by no means a new idea: the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle is considered the founder of virtue ethics, which seeks to describe the traits of an ideally virtuous person, and then posit that we should act in accordance with those traits.
1. Which of the following best describes the function of the first paragraph?(A) It poses a question to be answered.
(B) It outlines a process and contrasts it with an opposing process.
(C) In introduces a theory and indicates that variations in that theory exist.
(D) It advances an argument to be disputed later in the passage.
(E) It introduces a philosophy and attempts to reconcile it with another philosophy.
2. Which of the following can be inferred about teleological theories of ethics?(A) Unlike utilitarian theories, they are in opposition to the main idea of deontological ethics.
(B) Like utilitarian theories, they are in opposition to the main idea of deontological ethics.
(C) Unlike deontological theories, they are in opposition to the main idea of virtue ethics.
(D) Like deontological theories, they are in opposition to the main idea of utilitarian ethics.
(E) Unlike deontological theories, they are widely taught in philosophy programs.
3. According to the passage, virtue ethics:(A) suggests that individuals should behave like a person w hose character matches an ideal
(B) purports that those acting on a bad maxim can still be morally correct
(C) has been more influential in society than deontological ethics
(D) is more widespread in modern-day Greece than elsewhere
(E) contrasts with teleological ethics in its view of the human will