The potential to be a good person is the core of Aristotelian ethics, which also posits that individuals should make decisions based on their desire to do good and their potential to do good. Virtue ethics is not based either on consequences or on absolute moral values and can thus provide a solid middle ground for basing any ethical economics theory. Unlike deontology, virtue ethics does not rely on authorities for enforcement. Instead, virtue ethics depends on internal issues like trust.

Neither deontology nor virtue ethics alone can create a substantial theory of ethical economics. Van Staveren thoroughly addresses situational variables that might constrict the application of either ethical theory to real-world economics. Her analysis is based on sound examples and reasoning. Deontology is too absolute to be of any ultimate value, whereas virtue ethics cannot be applied universally. Van Staveren draws the only logical conclusion: that both virtue ethics...
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