Introduction
Ethics plays a crucial role in criminal justice due to its sensitive nature and the abundance of moral dilemmas it presents. Virtue and Stoic ethics are two of the most prominent theories that can guide decision-making. While they prioritize different values and approaches, both can be highly effective at solving morally ambiguous problems. Examining these two theories in greater detail can offer valuable insights into the nature of decision-making in the criminal justice system.
Virtue Ethics
Virtue ethics emphasizes the cultivation of unique and positive character traits, enabling individuals to make informed and appropriate decisions. These characteristics include honesty, civility, benevolence, and many others, which can be nourished through practice (Banks, 2017). Utilizing these traits to inform decision-making can be effective in the criminal justice system and in promoting ethical conduct. Still, it can also cloud one’s judgment when the offender commits crimes out of necessity (Papouli, 2019). In such cases, compassion might obstruct the duty of law enforcement officers.
Stoicism
On the other hand, Stoic ethics, also known as Stoicism, entails objective, indifferent decision-making guided by a set of rules and core values (Cicchini, 2019). This theory can be highly effective for preventing bias in the field of criminal justice. The two philosophies do not necessarily contradict each other, but can lead to different decisions in some cases.
Reflection and Conclusion
Personally, I prefer virtue ethics due to its more substantial focus on humane values, such as compassion, benevolence, and civility. I know that it might not be as effective in guiding decision-making as Stoicism. Still, I believe that being impartial to people’s worries and concerns is, overall, a negative trait in the criminal justice system. The complexity of human feelings and the challenge of finding an appropriate response that balances both personal beliefs and established rules are what draw me most to virtue ethics.
However, I do feel that it might be more difficult for me to make the right decision in morally ambiguous situations due to a potential tendency toward compassion for offenders, who sometimes commit crimes out of the utmost necessity. Nevertheless, I believe that virtue ethics can help me become a more ethically oriented criminal justice professional, while not forgetting the significance of feelings and emotions. In summary, both theories can be highly effective in guiding decision-making, but personally, I prefer virtue ethics.
References
Banks, C. (2017). Criminal justice ethics: Theory and practice. Sage Publications.
Cicchini, M. D. (2019). Combating judicial misconduct: A stoic approach. Buffalo Law Review, 67(5), 1259-1327.
Papouli, E. (2019). Aristotle’s virtue ethics as a conceptual framework for the study and practice of social work in modern times. European Journal of Social Work, 22(6), 921-934.