Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 14

Philosophy - Essay Example Consequences of an action should be important criteria for the people. Velasquez has maintained that various philosophers like Bantham had pursued the philosophy that actions, which result in maximum happiness for maximum number of people, are invariable good and therefore, the end justifies the means if it generates happiness for people. Popularised as act utilitarian theory, the actions, that are designed to benefit or have beneficial cascading effects on others, are morally and ethically right. Morality can only be defined by rationalizing about ‘whether one is inflicting evil on others’. Emmanuel Kant has been emphatic that moral obligations are imperatives and his two Rules define the categorical imperatives: Rules of Universality; and Rules of Respect. The first one makes says that people at all time must act appropriately and the second rules promotes the value of respect and says that well being al all individuals is important and therefore, one should not use others for their own vested interests. Velasquez has preferred the moderated version of Kantian philosophy and believes that people must act in the manner that minimizes harm and promotes happiness amongst maximum number of people. No, ethics are not based on virtues. Virtues can be broadly defined as highly recommending characteristics of moral principles that people aspire for but they are not mandatory code of conduct. Ethics, on the other hand are value based conduct that are needed to lead a worthy life which serves the benefit of the people at large. Therefore, a person may aspire to be generous and honest in his working, but even if he is not generous or honest but he does not harm others by his actions, he will not be considered unethical. The philosophy is part and parcel of every human being and he or she exhibit it through the wisdom and individual perspectives