Christian Ethics 2 .1

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ALL NATIONS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

Christian EthicsDeontology and Teleology are two ethical systems

with opposing views discuss their general views andexplain why you prefer one to the other.

6th September,2010

ANU08130206

COMPUTER SCIENCE

ELIJAH HANSON

LECTURER:SAMUEL OFORI KWAKYE


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Ethics are a system of moral principles and a branch of philosophy which defines what is good for

individuals and society1. Ethics is a well an absolute standard2 of right and wrong. It also describes

the ideal thing with what are good beneficial to individuals and the society and it is also described as

a moral philosophy. It is significantly broader than the common conception of analysing right and

wrong, it tends to pose the question How shall I act? And why? With every hour of our existence

which consciously or unconsciously are embarrassing usually. It addresses matters of public policy as

well as more personal matters. On one hand, it draws strength from our social environment,

established practices, law, religion and individual conscience. On the other hand it critically assesses

each of these sources strength (OEC-Online Ethics Center, 2006). Ethical systems3 are defined as a

whole or totality of an embodiment of absolutes-usually morals upon which a society is or are built

upon. It is upon this that moral decisions are made4. It is usually a fundamental and

guidingideologythat enables them to answer the question- what makes an (my) action right or

wrong? if posed to the as per their reaction to every situation(action).They affect how people make

decisions and lead their lives. There are several ethical systems with each giving different answers

based on the system they assume. They include Cultural Relativism, Divine Command, Legalism,

Antinomianism, Utilitarianism, Situationism, dualism, Deontologicalethics, virtue ethics and

Teleological ethics etc. (Lasley & Pickett, 1992). The two basic types of ethical systems are

Deontological systems and Teleologicalsystems; they are action-based theories because they focus

entirely upon the actions an individual performs. When actions are judged morally right based upon

their consequences we have Teleological or consequentialist ethical theory. When actions are based

1A society is group of people related to each other through persistent relations such as roles and status e.g. a

church2

The standards of ethics may be studied and developed3

Refers to clearly worked out, clear, coherent and consistent set of moral principles that tells you what to do

and also need to be4

Moral decision is based on what one considers to be right or wrong based on a particular code of conduct-

that either descriptive (authoritative) or normative and universal.


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on how well they conform to some set of duties, we have a Deontological ethical theory5

(About,

2010).

Deontological ethics or deontology (from Greek , deon, "obligation, duty"; and -, -logia)iis

an approach to ethics that judges the morality of an action based on the action's adherence to a rule

or rules. Deontologists look at rules6and duties.Thus, deontology is the "science of duty.

Deontological moral systems are characterized primarily by a focus upon adherence to independent

moral rules or duties. Thus, in order to make the correct moral choices, we simply have to

understand what our moral duties are and what correct rules exist which regulate those duties.

When we follow our duty, we are behaving morally. When we fail to follow our duty, we are

behaving immorally.

Deontological moral systems also place some stress on the reasons why certain actions are

performed. Thus, simply following the correct moral rules is often not sufficient - instead, we have to

have the correct motivations. This would allow a person to not be considered immoral even though

they have broken a moral rule, but only so long as they were motivated to adhere to some correct

moral duty.

Nevertheless, it is important to understand that in Deontological moral systems, a correct

motivation alone is never a justification for an action and cannot be used as a basis for describing an

action as morally correct. It is also not enough to simply believe that something is the correct duty to

follow. Duties and obligations must be determined objectively and absolutely, not subjectively.

Perhaps the most significant thing to understand about Deontological moral systems is that their

moral principles are completely separated from any consequences which following those principles

might have. Thus, if you have a moral duty not to lie, then lying is always wrong - even if that results

5Ethical theory as a moral system or ethics that is not material.

6Ethical theory as a moral system or ethics that is not material.


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in harm to others. For example, you would be acting immorally if you lied to Nazis about where Jews

were hiding. (Yahoo Answers, 2006)

Teleological moral systems are characterized primarily by a focus on the consequences which any

action might have (for that reason, they are often referred to as consequentialist moral systems, and

both terms are used here). Thus, in order to make correct moral choices, we have to have some

understanding of what will result from our choices. When we make choices which result in the

correct consequences, then we are acting morally; when we make choices which result in the

incorrect consequences, then we are acting immorally.

The idea that the moral worth of an action is determined by the consequences of that action is often

labelled consequentialism. Usually, the "correct consequences" are those which are most beneficial

to humanity - they may promote human happiness, human pleasure, human satisfaction, human

survival or simply the general welfare of all humans. Whatever the consequences are, it is believed

that those consequences are intrinsically good and valuable, and that is why actions which lead to

those consequences are moral while actions which lead away from them are immoral.

The various Teleological moral systems differ not only on exactly what the "correct consequences"

are, but also on how people balance the various possible consequences. After all, few choicesare

unequivocally positive, and this means it is necessary to figure out how to arrive at the correct

balance of good and bad in what we do. Note that merely being concerned with the consequences

of an action does not make a person a consequentialist - the key factor is, rather, basing the morality

of that action on the consequences instead of on something else.

The word teleology comes from the Greek roots telos, which means end, and logos, which means

science. Thus, teleology is the "science of endsii.(Yahoo Answers, 2006).


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The Deontological ethical system is one that is concerned solely with the inherent nature of the act

being judged and Teleological ethical system is where the consequences of an act are judged. Both

of these ethical systems look at an act and the judgement of that act.

Considering the scenario, for Deontological there is someone who does something that was

intended to be a good deed and the consequences of that turned out bad then the act is still good,

for Teleological, if theres someone who might have done an act that looked bad but the outcome

turned good then the act is looked upon as good. Both systems have the same outcome when it

comes to good acts, but they are looked at in unique ways. A critical look at both perspectives brings

to light one underlying factor that is the balance of happiness over unhappiness due to the fact that

each persons happiness is equally important. On a preferential scale I would have the deontological

ethical system over the teleological ethical system by the de facto points of:

Teleological ethical systems have very little or no chances of actually determining the full extent of

consequences any action might have, hence militating endeavours to evaluate the morality of an

action based on consequences. In addition there is much disagreement over how or even if different

consequences can really be quantified in terms of moral calculations to be made7(Wikipedia,

2006).Under this type of system one persons good can be anothers evil making it much harder to

predict its upshots at least accurately.

Moreover, teleological systems are simply complicated ways of the ends justify the means-thus, if it

is possible to argue that enough good result, then any outrageous and horrible actions would be

justified. Those under this system people might justify the killing of innocent deformed babies just to

save them from their worries and struggles they might have later in life.

Again, one common problem of teleological moral systems is the fact that moral duty is derived from

a set of circumstances lacking any moral component. Lets say, when a teleological system declares

that choices are moral if they enhance human happiness, it isnt argued that human happiness is

7Moral calculations as in just how much good can outweigh some evil and why?


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essentially moral itself. On the other hand, a choice which enhances that happiness is moral. The

question of whether or not we should really be committed to taking responsibility for all of the

outcomes of our action is really pressing. In spite of everything if the morality of my action is

dependent on all it of its consequences, then I am taking responsibility for all of them- but those

aftermaths will reach far and wide in ways I cannot anticipate or comprehend (Wikipedia, 2006).

Why go for a choice or do an action of unpredictable consequences whiles you could actually focus

upon the intentions and motives behind the action?

iNotes on Deontology A convenient summary of deontology with a focus on Kant

iiMod.L. teleologia meaning the study of ends or goals, teleo- from Gk. telos meaning "end", -logyfrom Gk. logos meaning "word" or as a suffix "the study of."

References

About. (2010, February 1). Ethics:Deontological,Teleological and Virtue. Retrieved September 5,

2010, from About.com:

http://www.atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/phil/blfaq_phileth_sys.htm

Lasley, J., & Pickett, I. (1992). Introduction To Types Of Ethical Systems. Retrieved September 5, 2010,

from Woodrow Wilson Biological Institute:http://www.woodrow.org/teachers/bi/1992/ethical_systems.html

OEC-Online Ethics Center. (2006, September 7). Chapter 2: Whatis Ethics?(Section I- A guide to

Teaching the Ethical Dimensions of Science. Retrieved September 5, 2010, from Online Ethics

Center:

http://www.onlineethics.org/Education/precollege.scienceclass/sectone.chapt2.aspx


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Wikipedia. (2006, July 9). Teleology. Retrieved September 4, 2010, from Wikipedia.com:

http://www.wikipedia.com/teleological_ethics.html

Yahoo Answers. (2006, September 19). Compare and Contrastdeontological & teleological ethical

systems?Retrieved September 3, 2010, from Yahoo Answers:

http://www.clk.about.com/?zi=3%2FFr&SUName=atheism&ptag=about_cb_atheism&kw=&

TopNode=2928&terms=

Christian Ethics 2 .1

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