What are different schools of ethics?

Question

Hey,

I know for the fact that there is a wide variety of schools of ethics by which people live. However, to narrow it down, what are some of the most common schools of ethics used in the world? For example, "Golden Rule" and "Utilitarianism" are certainly among the most popular ones.

Can anyone list some more?

Thanks a bunch in advance,

Peace!

Answer 1

The two main schools are:
Kantian Moral Absolutism[1]
and
Utilitarianism[2]

Actually both of these schools include "Golden Rule" but for different reasons.
A good way to explain the difference is that Moral Absolutism claims that treating humans as means is unacceptable no matter what. While Utilitarianism teaches that what matters is greatest amount of happiness for greatest amount of people.

The good question to ask is : Would you kill a baby if doing so would save the lives of a 1000 people?
An absolutists will say -- "No", because killing a baby is never right.
A Utilitarianism will say -- "Yes" because happiness of 1000 people will trump happiness of 1 baby.

Note that in both cases they will be able to say that they followed the "golden rule" -- "do onto others as you would done unto you".

Absolutist would say -- that he would not kill as they expect not to be killed.
Utilitarianist will say that if he was one of the 1000 he would expect somebody to kill that baby.[3]

P.S. Another theory is to reject morality altogether -- see for instance: [4]

Answer 2

Three Schools Of Ethics

Answer 3

How about the " three Primary schools of ethics " being listed as follows below :
1. Ends based
2. Rules based
3. Care based

Answer 4

Try the Wisdom of King Soloman - the eye for an eye guy.

Or maybe for a corporate version, try the Insider Trader act.

Answer 5

Well, it depends..