Ethics In Everyday Life
Questions
What connections can be made between the real-life examples that you found, and the rules from any of the five moral systems we explored in this activity? Demonstrate the connection by attaching one or two specific rules that are illustrated by the example. Connections that can be made between real-life examples is that depending on the situation, a different ethical theory could be applied. Our true actions, will be revealed if there's no one to judge us for it. On the other hand, if we have a higher being or society telling us it's wrong to do something, we most likely will switch gears due to the fact we don't want to be the outcast, or be considered morally wrong.
If you have examples that illustrate ‘immoral behaviour’ or any other behaviour that society would deem unacceptable, hypothesize why someone chose an action that was detrimental to society and possibly to herself or himself. For example, is it because the difference between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ was ambivalent? Were the punishments too lenient or the possibility of reward too high? Was the rule that was broken, only a rule specifically to one moral system or social context? One of the examples I choose, which would be considered to be morally wrong in the eyes of society is arguing with our parents. To society, parents are considered to have authority over us and because of this, we are bound to listen to them. However, it's very easy for a child to disobey them, since they haven't had enough life experiences to apply ethical theories, or determine if what they are doing is wrong. For example, getting into an argument with your parents, even though you know you won't win, you still feel the need to hold your ground.
In a brief paragraph, summarize your research by presenting your assessment of ethics - does understanding the theories and roots of ethics make it easier to choose the ‘good’ and the ‘right’ when faced with ethical dilemmas? If rules are universal, or if rules are not universal - does that make you feel more secure in making a decision? When it comes do determining what's right from wrong, depending on the situation, I would apply a different ethics. Understanding the theories and roots of ethics, it makes my decision making. Before I make a decision, I obtain information that is needed, all the perspectives. From that, is where I would make a decision. I don't believe anyone is morally good enough to determine right from wrong, because answers may vary with provided reasoning. Something I might perceive as immoral might be moral for someone else.
Applied Ethics
Applied Ethics is The most down-to-earth area of moral philosophy is Applied Ethics. Applied Ethics helps us resolve real-world, everyday dilemmas and issues
Sharing other's personal information - If your friend was doing something reckless and stupid, would you call the police even they told you not to? The image above shows a person holding a cell phone, ready to dial 911. For this theory, it represents a persons decision to stay loyal to their friend, or report your friends actions to the police. Depending on the situation, you might lead toward the answer that would benefit your friend the most. During this situation you are applying applied ethics to solve everyday issues. With the provided information and appealing to ethics, it might help you make the morally right decision. Even there is a change where someone else might make a different decision based on there morals.
Do we have moral obligations to the environment? - The earth we live in is not just ours, it belongs to numerous species all over the planet. However, humans have made a big impact on the earth, causing harm to animals habitats and environments. One known issue is that the usage of plastic straws. The plastic can be broken down, making its way into oceans. Aquatic animals don't know any better, and might think it's food. What they don't know eating that costs them their life. Before this issue became popular, animals were still being affected by it. Now, due to exposure in the media, what society decided is that it's morally wrong to use plastic straws. Even though society says it's wrong, there's a vast number of people who still do it. You cannot change others morals, that's something they have to change themselves. Until they have seen the animals dying due to consumption of plastics first hand, the decision of society is meaningless to them. It's not directly affecting there life, so they could care less.
Normative Ethics
Normative Ethics looks at how to assemble a set of rules, or moral principles, that determine what kinds of actions are good and bad, right and wrong.
Utilitarianism - The example above represents Utilitarianism. The person in the yellow is put in a position where they need to think of themselves before the benefit of other people. Yes, donating organs is good because you save a lot of lives, but would you sacrifice your life for others? You would view this act as morally right, because the person in the yellow is thinking about others. However, in the last block, it represents the struggle they are having. When facing these sorts of scenarios, it's easy to just say the right thing, but actually doing it is harder than it seems. Determining what to do and how to act is much more complex, because we wouldn't know what we would do unless we are in the moment.
What is a good person? - If we are looking at the point of view from a law stand point, we would define this answer as someone who follows the laws and doesn't commit immoral acts such as stealing, cheating or murder. In the image above, the sign attached to the pencil says "That does NOT belong to me!" When you ask your teacher to borrow a pencil, sometimes students don't return it back. This is considered stealing and stealing is morally wrong. However, does this make the student a bad person? Everything depends on the situation or how severe the action is. If you ask a group of people, it's guaranteed most of them would say that the student is not a bad person, simply because it's not a big problem. But, if someone were to steal from a store, they would be seen as a bad person.
Metaethics
Metaethics is the most abstract area of moral philosophy as ultimately, it is the study of where ethical principles come from. In particular, Metaethics asks: Did we just make up moral principles on our own, or did a Divine Being, or beings of some kind, give them to us?
The Ten Commandments - One of the main guidelines for Christianity are these commandments. To achieve salvation, followers of this religion must abide by these rules, given by the divine being (God). The image above shows a couple laying in bed, and someone in the closet, hiding from the husband. Viewing this image, it's obvious that the person in the closet is the one the wife cheated on the husband on. Cheating happens a lot in the world, and is viewed as wrong. One of the rules in the ten commandments is "Do not commit adultery." Yet, people still do it.
The Ten Commandments: The Qur’an (Islam) - People who follow the Qur'an, are required to follow the guidelines that the divine being put in place for their people to follow. The image above represents kids not listening. One of the commandments, be kind to your parents. Often, this rule is forgotten and is easy to clash with your parents. According to the commandments, this would be seen as morally wrong. But depending on the situation, it's difficult to be kind to them.