Imagine a scenario where there has been a serious crime in a town, and the Sheriff is trying to prevent serious rioting. He knows this rioting will likely bring destruction, injury, and maybe even death. He has no leads; he does not know who committed the crime. However, he can prevent these riots by lying to the town and framing an innocent man. No one will miss the man, who is hated in the town. If he frames and jails this innocent man, convincing people to believe that this man committed the crime, then the town will be placated, and people will not riot.
Respond to one of the following:
- Contrast what a virtue ethicist would say according to its core principles of telos, virtue, eudaimonia, and practical wisdom with what a utilitarian would say using its core principles of welfare, impartiality, sum-ranking, and consequences. Use appropriate textual evidence to back up your claim. Which of the ethical theories you discussed do you believe provides the best account of what the morally correct action to take is and why? (USLOs 10.1, 10.2, 10.3)
- Contrast what a virtue ethicist would say according to its core principles of telos, virtue, eudaimonia, and practical wisdom with what a Kantian would say according to its core principles of universalizability, duty, impartiality, and reciprocity. Explain how one of these theories supports your answer. Use appropriate textual evidence to back up your claim. Which of the ethical theories you discussed do you believe provides the best account of what the morally correct action to take is and why? (USLOs 10.1, 10.2, 10.3)
