Comparing Utilitarianism And The Virtue Theory

590 Words3 Pages
Ethical theories are schools of thought that attempt to a provide comprehensive systems for discerning between what is “right” and “wrong” and defining what exactly constitutes morality. Two widely spread but differing systems are Utilitarianism and the Virtue Theory. The frames of thought are similar in that they both make an effort to distinguish what is ethical by taking into account what benefits the greater good. Utilitarianism, however, places value on what consequences individual actions yield, while the virtue theory concentrates on virtues and character traits. Utilitarianism are the virtue theory are ethics of conduct and ethics of character, respectively.
Utilitarianism is the idea that best moral path possible at all times is