Utilitarianism, Deontology and Virtue Ethics: Teaching Ethical Philosophy by Means of a Case Study

Susan Stos

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Utilitarianism, Deontology and Virtue Ethics: Teaching Ethical Philosophy by Means of a Case Study

Susan Stos

Johannesburg, South Africa, Susan@applyethics.com

Volume 15: 2018 pp. 315-322: ABSTRACT

The concepts behind three of the principal normative ethical theories (utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics) are evident in a real-life scenario. This case study involves videotapes recorded from inside Grootvlei Prison, Bloemfontein, South Africa in 2002. Prisoners captured sensational footage of warders selling alcohol, drugs, loaded firearms and juveniles for sex to inmates. It was footage every journalist would want to broadcast and it was for sale to the highest bidder. The country’s three flagship current affairs programs, broadcast on three different channels, were each approached to buy the footage. Each of the television channels operates under different business models: one is the public broadcaster; another a free-to-air private channel; the third is a pay channel and part of a multinational listed company. Upon analysis it is clear that each executive producer/company espoused different ethical philosophies, yet each decision was ultimately ethical. The reasoning and philosophies of three ethical theories are highlighted in business decision-making, commercial judgments as well as journalistic choices.