THP character-based ethics to rule-based ethics

THP character-based ethics to rule-based ethics

Date set
Jan. 23, 2026
Tournament
University of Chicago
Topics
Philosophy
Background slide

Many ethical theories (e.g. utilitarianism, deontology) define moral rightness and wrongness in terms of rules or principles. For example, an act utilitarian defines moral rightness according to what maximizes a certain good in that moment. By contrast, character-based ethics (e.g. virtue ethics) focuses on cultivating good character, rather than following specific ethical rules.