Philosophy

Ethics can be defined as norms or values of the society. Each society is governed by rules that an individual is expected to adhere to and when a person does this heshe is referred to as being ethical. Different people explain ethics in different perspective according to their point of view which included Kants deontological ethics and Mills utilitarian ethics as discussed below.
Deontological ethics determines if an action is right or wrong by analyzing the action rather than the consequence. In this, ones morality is seen through the action and the ability of a person to do something (Bencivenga, 2007). It calls for one to exercise their virtues and to do unto others what heshe expects others to do unto himher. Hence a butcher for example will be honest on the scale of measurement if he uses it right. This shows that he values honesty and do not want to steal from hisher customers. It is not because of the gain he will have on having more customers. To further elaborate this, one can liken it to cause-effect relationship. Deontological ethics therefore focuses on the cause part of it rather than the effect.
On the other hand, Mills utilitarianism is based on the consequence of the action done by an individual. This theory states that Actions are right to the degree that they tend to promote the greatest good for the greatest number (Moore, 2003). Hence the morality of an action is determined by the overall utility that it contributes. If the action elicits good response from the people it affects, then it is ethical and vice versa. For instance, a politician during a campaign can decide to give bribes to the voters so as to get their votes during the election. The question is how do the people feel about receiving un-toiled for, money The response is obviously good. Thus the action when analyzed using Mills utilitarian ethics theory is right as it promotes good or rather the consequence is good in that the people who are given the money feel happy.
    An action thus, can be interpreted differently depending on the theory under application at that time. An example of this is my own personal experience on which I picked a wallet one day while walking down the street the wallet had been unknowingly dropped by someone ahead of me. Opening the wallet, I was astonished to find fifty dollars in it. At that time, I was almost running out of money that I had been given to use during the semester. This was indeed a blessing at the right time. I decided to take the money in the wallet. By judging my actions using Deontological theory, it would not be ethical. The rule governing the theory is that one should do the right thing in every situation (Starr  Ashmore, 1994). Was my action right The answer to this question is no, because I was guided by greed and dishonesty to steal. On the other hand, utilitarianism would see the action otherwise. My taking the money would promote happiness to me. Hence it is an ethical action. Utilitarianism focuses on the consequence part of the action rather than the morals governing the action.
In summary an action can be termed as ethical by an individual and also termed as unethical by another since they are using different theories of ethics to interpret it, as exemplified. Interpretations of ethics also differ from one society to another depending on how each society view and interpret an action.