Capitalism, Consequentialism, Ethics of Character

Consequentialism can be contrasted with what might be called the Ethics of Character.  The latter includes what are better known as the Ethics of Virtue, the Morality of Intention, and Deontic Morality, in which the bearer of evaluation is how one conducts oneself, independent of the consequences of one's conduct.  One graphic example of the contrast is the respective diagnoses of Greed--an internal loss of control vs. harming others.  So, what differentiates them is the case of an attempt to steal from another that fails.  For, according to the Consequentialist, no harm was actually done, so there is no disapproval of the attempt in itself.  But, according to the Ethics of Character, even a failed attempt consists in a loss of control, and, thus, meets disapproval on those grounds alone.  Now, one significant application of the distinction is to the Marxist critique of Capitalist Exploitation--an ill simply because of the harm done to its victim vs. that ill plus that of the character of the exploiter.  In other words, according to the Ethics of Character, Capitalism harms all, with different types of ill corresponding to the difference between Exploiter and Exploited.  Thus, Marxism tends to undermine the scope of its doctrine when it focuses on championing the victims of Capitalism.