Final answer:
The three main approaches to normative ethics are consequentialist, which looks at the outcomes of actions; deontological, which focuses on duties and rules; and virtue ethics, which considers the character and virtues of individuals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Normative ethics is a branch of philosophy that investigates how we ought to act morally. Of the primary approaches within normative ethics, three stand as fundamental: the consequentialist, the deontological, and the virtue ethics approaches.
Consequentialism determines the moral rightness of an action based on its consequences. Consequentialists would argue that actions are right if they produce the greatest balance of good over harm. The most famous consequentialist theory is utilitarianism, which emphasizes the maximization of happiness or general welfare.
Deontology is concerned with rules and duties. According to this approach, certain actions are morally required, forbidden, or permitted, regardless of their consequences. Deontological ethics are exemplified by Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative, which proposes that an action is morally right if it can be universally applied as a law.
Virtue ethics centers on character and the development of virtues, which are moral characteristics necessary for a good life. Virtue ethicists maintain that morally correct actions are the ones that an individual with a virtuous character would carry out in a particular situation.