Navigating through Ethics to Find my Morality
Deron M. Medley
Walden University

Untitled As I reflect on what I’ve learned regarding moral theories of ethics, how do I apply it to my everyday life? What I’ve learned about the nature of morality, “as human beings living in the world we have basic duties and obligations” (Thiroux and Krasemann, 2009, p. 1). I come to realize that it is my responsibility to use the freedom I possess carefully and to understand who I am. Therefore I am a byproduct of my community whereas according to The Philosopher’s Way (20110 textbook, “we strive to become morally enlightened people, but we do so within the social context of cultural customs.” I am writing this report to show an analysis of different moral theories, explain which moral theory best align with my ethics, and explain why absolutism makes sense to me. First, as I began to learn about the different moral theories, I took an account of what my experiences have been during everyday situations. This self-analysis lead me Rule Utilitarianism, Divine Command Theory, and Ross’ Prima Facie Duties to draw a comparison to each other and to how I deal with everyday situations. It took me some time to analyze the three moral theories but in doing so I notice some similarities between the three. All three theories have a basic principle of following a certain set of rules, adhering to commands, and fulfilling ones duty or obligations. I like to think of myself as one that follow the rules, instructions, and fulfill my obligations to other. For example, I served eleven years in the United States Navy, every day was filled with following rules and taking orders to achieved the greater good for the crew. This was vital to my survival, putting the preservation of the command over everything else. Secondly, after a careful analysis of the three moral theories I chose to compare, I find myself to be more in alignment with Rule Utilitarianism. The Rule Utilitarian is not concerned with the act of causing a successful outcome but a premise that “everyone should always establish and follow that rule or those rules that will bring about the greatest good for all concerned” (Thiroux and Krasemann, 2009, p. 43). I live my life day end and day out by rules; rules either established by a higher power, laws established by our government, and personal rules I feel that are important to my happiness. According to The Big Questions textbook it states on page 288, “is that justice and the whole of society as well have been produced by a general social agreement, a social contract.” As a society we enter into this social contract freely, yet it is our responsibility to follow the rules and try through reasoning and experience. I try every day to put others before me and make a difference so that I can have a greater effect on humanity. I believe “everyone should always establish and follow that rule or those rules that will bring about the greatest good for all concerned” (Thiroux & Krasemann, 2009), because without rules we would be living in anarchy. I believe when rules are established, it creates a guideline for me to live by. Finally, ethical thinking is described by two extremes; absolutism and relativism. In deciding which of the two made the most sense to me, I had to determine which one was more in alignment with the moral