Question

In your own words, explain the difference between following a teleological approach to ethics and a deontological approach to ethics. How does Crook’s understanding of values and duties help us make the distinction between these two ethical approaches?

Here’s a scenario:

A family is on the brink of starvation. One of the members contemplates stealing food from a local market in order to provide for the rest of the family. The question is this: Is it wrong for an individual in this circumstance to steal? What might someone following a teleological approach say? How about an deontological approach? (Note: I’m not asking if you think stealing is right or wrong in this situation; I’m asking you to tell me what a teleological assessment would be and what a deontological assessment would be.)

Answer 1