The Markkula Center’s article “Thinking Ethically” lays out five key approaches to ethical reasoning: utilitarian, rights, fairness/justice, common good, and virtue. Each one provides a distinct way to frame difficult choices, but the article also emphasizes that no single framework guarantees the “right” answer in every case. Instead, ethical decisions benefit from considering multiple lenses and weighing their insights together. This idea connects well with NC State’s emphasis on collaborative problem-solving, where students are encouraged to evaluate issues from different perspectives before deciding on a course of action.

For example, the utilitarian approach asks whether an action will create the greatest overall benefit, while the fairness or justice approach stresses that individuals should be treated equally unless there is a clear, relevant reason to treat them differently. These approaches overlap in real-world settings such as workplace management, where leaders must balance efficiency with fairness among employees. At the same time, the virtue approach highlights the character of the decision-maker, reminding us that ethical choices are also about who we strive to become, not just about immediate outcomes.

Taken together, these frameworks act like a compass. They may not point to a single direction every time, but they ensure that decision-making is deliberate, transparent, and grounded in widely shared values. In this way, the Markkula framework encourages both personal reflection and collective accountability in ethical reasoning.

Source:
Velasquez, Manuel, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. Meyer. “Thinking Ethically: A Framework for Moral Decision Making.” Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University, 2021, https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/thinking-ethically/