Final answer:
Philosophical theories are broad concepts that address values at large, including morality, while ethical frameworks provide specific, actionable guidelines within a philosophical context to decide what is right or wrong. Philosophical theories establish foundational questions and ethical frameworks offer practical moral reasoning. Philosophical theories focus on ideals whereas ethical frameworks are designed to be actionable.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between a philosophical theory and an ethical framework lies in their focus and application. A philosophical theory is broader, encompassing not only ethics, but also social, political, religious, and aesthetic values. Philosophical theories provide the foundational structures within which specific ethical frameworks are developed, with an emphasis on overarching questions about values in general, such as morality, happiness, and beauty.
An ethical framework, on the other hand, is more specific, aiming to provide a practical guideline for moral reasoning and behavior within the context of a philosophy's broader theoretical perspective. It includes elements of metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics to analyze and justify what actions are deemed right or wrong in a given situation. Therefore, B. 'Philosophical theories are ideals and ethical frameworks are actionable' might be seen as the more accurate characterization of the two concepts.
When considering moral responsibility and human freedom, ethical theories must consider complex metaphysical foundations, such as free will. Realism in ethics refers to the philosophy that asserts ethical values are founded on objective reality, and ethical reasoning must be based on this to reach accurate conclusions about what is good or right. In contrast, ethical frameworks like utilitarianism are normative, providing a standard for behavior by aiming to maximize pleasure and minimize pain.