Human beings face many problems throughout their lives that would force them to consider the best action to take to avoid harmful consequences. In most cases, individuals restrict their actions to take into consideration the consequences that may lead to good or bad behavior. A person's ethical and moral standards are learned from a young age based on their culture, the way they were raised, their religious origin and their social system. Scientifically, there are various ethical theories, such as virtue theory, deontological ethics, and utilitarianism (Boylan, 2009). By understanding these theories, one can compare, contrast, and discover the reasoning behind one's ethical and moral standards. Virtue theory defines what it takes to be a good person and, above all, a person's character matters the most (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2014). This theory focuses on a person's moral character rather than their duties. A virtuous person is someone who acts righteously in situations throughout their life because of their good morals (Boylan, 2009, p. 133-139). An example of a virtuous person would be a priest. A virtuous person does not act to obtain favors, but only to fulfill his duty. People who practice virtue theory think about questions such as: how to live, what is a good life, or what are good social and family values. The deontological ethical approach emphasizes each person's duty to the rules (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2014, para. 1). The morality of an action is based on respect for rules. “Rules” help morally guide individuals in decision-making. Therefore, the person must make a moral choice as long as they follow the guidelines. The third approach is utilitarianism,...... middle of paper...... theory because I knew my friend needed immediate medical attention. The fear of breaking the law by getting a ticket was no longer an issue because the outcome was for the greater good. Virtue theory, deontological ethics, and utilitarianism address ethics and morality. Each theory has different viewpoints and many similarities. When an individual is faced with the choice of making a good or bad decision, he or she must rely on these theories to make the right choice. Works Cited Boylan, M. (2009). Basic Ethics: Basic Ethics in Action (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2014). Deontological ethics. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/158162/deontological-ethicsEncyclopaedia Britannica. (2014). Virtue ethics. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1162994/virtue-ethics