Final answer:
If Rick, an independent CPA, focuses on the advantages and disadvantages his decision may create for various parties, he is using Utilitarianism, a form of consequentialism that seeks the greatest good for the greatest number.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Rick, an independent CPA, is primarily focusing on whether his decision might yield advantages for some at the expense of others, he is using a form of consequentialism known as Utilitarianism.
This ethical framework evaluates the morality of an action based on its consequences, aiming to produce the greatest good for the greatest number. Unlike deontological approaches, which are based on duty and rules without regard to the outcome, utilitarianism is concerned with the balance of benefits and consequences resulting from a decision.
In the context of an audit, if Rick adopts this framework, he would aim to make a decision that maximizes overall happiness or welfare, even if it means some individuals may not benefit as much as others.
Consequentialism guides individuals to assess the potential outcomes of their actions to determine the morally right course. Utilitarianism specifically advises considering the effects on all parties involved and choosing the action that would result in the most positive consequences or happiness overall.
On the other hand, deontology holds to a set of ethical rules regardless of the consequences, while virtue ethics emphasizes the importance of moral character and the virtues that constitute a good person.