Final answer:
The rights theory fills the blank in the question, representing the ethical concept that moral decisions should uphold the rights of those affected by them. It's part of normative ethics, and is particularly associated with deontological approaches to moral decision-making.
Step-by-step explanation:
The blank in the student's question is correctly filled by the rights theory, which is an ethical concept that suggests moral decisions should preserve the rights of the individuals affected by them. This concept is part of normative ethics, which involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior. Rights theory is closely associated with deontological ethics, which focuses on the adherence to duties or rules when determining the morality of an action. Deontologists believe that there are certain moral principles that should be followed in order to respect the rights of individuals. For example, Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative is a deontological principle that commands actions to be conducted in accordance with a universal law that respects the autonomy and dignity of all rational beings.
In contrast to deontology, utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism that considers an action moral if it results in the greatest good for the greatest number, as proposed by philosophers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Similarly, virtue ethics, another approach, emphasizes the importance of character and cultivating virtuous traits to make ethical decisions. While utilitarianism and virtue ethics are influential, the rights theory specifically underlines the maintenance of individual rights as the basis for moral decisions.