Final answer:
The Golden Mean is the concept that the most ethical action is the midpoint between two extremes, a view attributed to Aristotle's virtue ethics. Other ethical frameworks such as utilitarianism and deontology offer different criteria for moral decision-making, with utilitarianism focusing on outcomes and deontology on moral duties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Golden Mean, as articulated by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle in his ethical framework of virtue ethics, assumes that the most ethical action is the midpoint between two extremes. This concept signifies that moral virtues reside in moderation and find a balance between excess and deficiency. For Aristotle, virtues like courage, for instance, are a middle ground between recklessness and cowardice.
In contrast to Aristotle's virtue-based approach, other ethical frameworks such as utilitarianism and deontology provide different methods for ethical decision-making. Utilitarianism, the consequentialist approach, determines the morality of an action by its outcomes, aiming for the greatest good for the greatest number. Deontology focuses on adherence to moral duties or rules, asserting that certain actions are inherently right or wrong regardless of their consequences.
Philosophers like John Rawls and John Stuart Mill provided further development of these ethical theories. Rawls introduced the 'maximum-minimum principle' focused on justice and fairness, while Mill expanded upon Bentham's utilitarianism, stressing the importance of individual freedom while avoiding harm to others.