A634.2.4.RB_StevensEric

When we look at the two theories discussed in this chapter I see many instances that people have predominately chosen one theory over the other in the day to day decision making. Consequentialism and Deontology both make good points to each of their prospective theories.

 The first that I will discuss is Consequentialism which people often use this theory to decide if they should tell the truth and what will be the reaction from making this choice. I often refer to this theory in my own terms and the cause and effect. The cause would be the choice to lie or tell the truth and the effect would be what will happen if I chose this course of action. I would say without a doubt that humans use this theory many times over and this is a deciding factor on whether they will get themselves in trouble or use this theory to get out of that trouble. The changing of facts only so slightly will influence the outcome of the decision and they will be in the clear if that is the goal of the conscious rationale behind this decision.

The second is Deontology where we apply the moral standards that most of us were introduced to as we were growing up by our parents, teachers, and other adults. This is harder to deviate from than Consequentialism which is more adept to be changed by the individual. Deontology can be viewed by some that this is what society expects you to do in a moral standard environment in your decision making process.  The standards in this theory are often preached as the way someone should carry themselves and you can often see these in religious settings or internal affairs of your professional institutions that you may work at.

I can say that if you find a mix of these styles and apply them to your daily life the balance of both of these theories will greatly benefit you as a whole. The adoption of only one of these theories and the dismissal of the other is often very difficult to do. In some ways this will not be acceptable to society as a whole since they may say that is impossible to be morally correct all the time. A example of this is the Catholic church in which the priests have committed offenses against children and we as a society have been appalled by this. This is in fact that we believe the priests should be honest 100% of the time we tend to forget the human element of these priests.