Deciding What's Right: Ethics for Daniels Scholars
Introduction What Should I Do? Utilitarian Ethics Duty Based Ethics Virtue Ethics Resources Home
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Which framework should I use?
Information on the Center for Ethical Deliberation Web site (http://ced.du.edu) suggests that the ethical framework that works best for you depends on your personality, character, and the situation. It proposes these guidelines, but also recommends you use all three to gain maximum insight into your ethical choices:

• Utilitarian ethics can be especially helpful when your actions are likely to affect a large number of people.
• Duty-based ethics may be of most value when you need to sort through conflicting obligations.
• Virtue ethics are best suited to helping you make personal decisions that reflect on the kind of person you want to be.
“Because different people are comfortable with different ethical frameworks, you also may have a greater understanding of why disagreements often arise when ethics are at issue.”
A college education is the greatest gift you can give yourself—and is the doorway to a bright future. Make the most of the opportunity you’ve earned to acquire that education as a Daniels Scholar.

By working through the information in this web site, you’ve started acquiring another education—how to use three ethical frameworks as tools to help you make decisions and take actions that reflect the kind of person you want to be and create good in the world. The news is full of stories of people and businesses that do not act ethically. Perhaps if they had the understanding you now have of utilitarian, duty-based, and virtue ethics, they would have made different, and better choices. But they are history and you are the future.

We at the Daniels Fund and the National Endowment for Financial Education believe in you and the difference you can make for good in the future. It is our great privilege to make this booklet available to you. You’ve been creating the person you want to be since birth, but your college years, more than any others, give you the opportunity to truly grow into that person. It’s an exciting time. Learn and enjoy!
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