Approaches to Ethical decisions Ethics is a prerequisite for human existence. It is a mean of determining a sequence of action to be taken. Without ethics, individual actions would be unsystematic and purposeless. This paper analyses various theories learned in class. Besides, the writer categorizes them in hierarchy, basing on decision making within a given domain. Utilitarianism In a utilitarian system, a person portrays a tendency in fulfilling the needs of self as well as fulfilling other people’s needs. The principle in the utilitarian approach designates that; any action should involve certain principles which create happiness within oneself and others. According to Nina (2005), an action that results in the moral rectitude and content should always be viewed as very useful. Using this approach, I will try to enrich the lives of people by adding value to their lives by increasing their satisfaction levels and reducing their sadness levels. Although at a time, it is very difficult to make people happy since what I might think makes them happy, doesn’t work always, but I will try very hard to reduce their sadness. Besides, I will employ the greatest-happiness principle as a key to my interaction with other people. I will aim at considering the moral course of my actions by using the levels of mixed feelings of happiness and unhappiness present in people. For instance, I will ensure that whatever right thing I do will bring an increase the level of happiness in people. However, some action which I will employ at the end brings about the feeling of pleasure and satisfaction, then that action is morally right contrary to a situation whereby the action taken results in the wrong choice due to the feelings of pain and dissatisfaction. According to Nina (2005), any activity that provides pleasure is right and any action that provides pain is bad. This proposal seems fit since the feeling of pleasure, happiness and satisfaction is always good and right, whereas pain and displeasure always results in unhappiness. Thus, I will ensure that my choice of an instrumental value is appropriate to achieve the desired results. The correct choice of the instrumental values results also in the attainment of an intrinsic value. Kant’s moral approach This moral theory is also known as the obligatory theory (deontology). Kant’s moral theory is in contrast with the utilitarian approach and it depicts a little relationship exists between true moral thinking and the consequences of an action (Nina, 2005). The Kant’s approach observes that esteem for the ethical law must be present. Based on this approach, I will argue that whenever an action is done in a good will, the cost (whether good or bad) does not count. For instance, a situation may arise in which a passerby who notices that the oncoming vehicle might hit a pupil who is playing on the road, and shouts a warning to the pupil which frightens the pupil causing her to panic and fall on the road thus being crushed to death, might be deemed as the warning scream from the passerby was meant to save the pupil. The passerby meant good with the warning since it was an alarm to the pupil to move away from the road. The