In “Thinking Ethically,” the five approaches to ethical decision-making that the authors review include what they call the utilitarian approach, which offers that the ethical action is the one that produces “the greatest balance of good over evil” (Santa Clara University). This brings to mind work situations in which the choice between reducing employee hours or laying off a small group are often had to be made. When the leadership decides to cut hours; this they consider would distribute the impact more evenly, a decision grounded on the utilitarian notion of the greatest good for the greatest number.

On a bigger scale, the Rights Approach focuses on the respect of an individual’s rights, such as that to privacy and to choose freely. It would say, “We have the right to do, believe, and say whatever we choose in our personal lives so long as we do not violate the rights of others” (Santa Clara University). It reminds me of those hot debates going on around the world about data privacy. It is an ethical question whether companies are justified in collecting and selling personal information when often people do not give their consent for everything happening with their data.

Both cases show how the ethical frameworks guide moral standpoints, both personally and globally, by considering the rights well and the impacts.