Is it more important to be a good person or to perform good acts (virtue ethics vs. action ethics)? In my opinion, virtue ethics: to be a good person and action ethics: to perform good acts are both very important characteristics an individual should have. Both virtue and action ethics are not totally separate and go hand in hand with each other. If someone were to be a good person, they most definitely would perform good acts. For example, my cousin is a very good person because she cares about bettering students within poor communities that do not get a lot of opportunities within the education atmosphere as others do. By giving back to these children, she performs action ethics. She takes action out of her own time to care for these children and give them the education that every child deserves. For example, she gives them new school supplies and a curriculum in which they can learn to better their futures. Since she takes these actions, she is performing good acts and is also being a good person/teacher. To me, these ethics are combined in value since a good person also performs good acts, and a person that performs good acts is considered a good person.

Do the ends justify the means (ends ethics vs. means ethics)? Personally, I believe that this question depends on what the means or consequences are and what ends (actions) are being used to achieve them. If the consequences are noble, and the actions that are also noble, than I believe “the ends do justify the means.” However, I do believe that too many people too often use this expression as an excuse to achieve their goals through any “ends” necessary, no matter how immortal, illegal, or horrid their “means” may be. For example, a lot of people believe that it does not matter how they get what they want, as long as they get it. If their goal is morally important enough, than any method of achieving it is acceptable to them. A real world example would be cheating on a test. If a student takes the “ends” of cheating on a test, their “means” are unacceptable and immoral, but it will help them get a better grade. Their “means” could also be horrifying if a teacher or another student caught them. In most cases however, I do believe that the “ends do not justify the means.”

 Is my own life worth more than the lives of others, the same, or less (selfishness vs. altruism)? My life is equal worth than the lives of others. Growing up, I have always been taught to be altruistic, but there is a limit in how much altruism we should practice. My parents always said, “However much altruism I give to someone is usually how much I will receive back.” Personally, I find it hard to choose how much altruism I should give to a certain person because they never give it back to me. I am always willing to try and help others with anything, but I expect it back as well. However, I do also believe that in specific scenarios, it is okay to be selfish and less willing to help others. For example, if I were in competition against a friend for a job in my dreamed professional career, I would do everything I possibly could to make her look worse and myself look better. To me, others lives are equally as valuable as mine and everyone should be altruistic to others.