Frazier_CaseStudy1

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Tennessee Technological University *

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Apr 29, 2024

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1 Analysis & Case Study 1: Ethics of Self Robert M Frazier College of Graduate Studies, Tennessee Technological University PRST-6100-500 Professional Issues/Environmental Ethics Dr. William Cox Spring, 2024

2 Analysis & Case Study 1: Ethics of Self 1.1 Analysis Leading an ethical life is a relative concept, so to ask the question, “What does it mean to lead an ethical life” would be largely dependent on who you choose to ask and would differ between groups and even individuals. I would submit to you that were you to select a sample of 10 random people, it is very likely that you would receive a different answer from each one when asking this question. You see, ethics are largely a relative concept. Let’s begin by building a basic framework that will help us to understand. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ethics as “a set of moral principles: a theory or system of moral values” (Merriam-Webster, 1828). Ethics are largely cultural and refer to “defined norms of conduct regarding what are acceptable and unacceptable behaviors within a society or community” (UNESCO, 2005). To live an ethical life means to model one’s behavior in such a way as to live within the defined norms of conduct that are deemed acceptable to avoid behaviors deemed unacceptable and to do so continually. Already in this first paragraph, we can see that our answer to the question is not so cut and dry. Therefore, we cannot just jump into this. Several dimensions must be considered to effectively answer the question. I feel that these dimensions are best explained through the use of a personal example in my own life. As a lead pastor with the Assemblies of God, I do not feel that drinking alcohol is morally sound or ethical in any situation regardless of consequences. However, another person may not see an issue with it. It is this relative nature surrounding what is ethical

3 that must be investigated to properly answer the question, “What does it mean to lead an ethical life?” One of the videos we watched this week, What is Ethics, and What is an Ethical Life , made a great point that leading an ethical life is really a function of the intention or motivation driving our behavior to live ethically (Walsh, 2011). As a pastor, the Bible serves as my code of ethics in all matters of conduct and conscience, but even further, my interpretation of my Bible as my code of ethics serves as the motivating factor behind my decisions regarding how to behave and how not to behave. The intentionality motivating my behavior or decision to not consume alcohol under any circumstance rests in my obedience to my accepted interpretation of 1 Thessalonians 5:22 which says, “abstain from all appearance of evil” (King James Bible, 2008) and other key scriptures. Therefore, I have chosen not to engage in the consumption of alcohol on the merit of this interpretation alone regardless of the consequence or proposed benefit of doing so. This view of ethics is deontological. The moral principle of deontology states that “the morality of an action depends on the intrinsic nature of that action (e.g. harming others is wrong regardless of its consequences)” (Conway, 2013) meaning that my consideration of the consumption of alcohol as being unethical or immoral is on the grounds that my interpretation of Scripture or my code of ethics is rule-based and that no consequence resulting from the consumption of alcohol can justify its use under my view of morality. However, as I said before, the matter is not cut and dry. My opinion and interpretation of what is ethical is not the only one, nor is the deontological principle the only moral principle to be considered. Even among people within a culture, what is

4 considered acceptable and unacceptable can differ drastically. To continue with my personal example, even among Christian protestant pastors as a group or a collective subject to the same Bible or code of ethics, there are certain denominations such as the Evangelical Lutheran church which have no problem with the consumption of alcohol in what they refer to as reasonable quantities (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 2019). Their approach to such a matter is more utilitarian than deontological meaning that their consideration of the matter considers consequence as they hold the argument which looks past the deontological perspective of rule-based morality begging the question of what constitutes the “appearance of evil,” choosing to define further what consequence of alcohol can be considered evil, in which case they tout drunkenness or unacceptable and then reasoning what consumption would be considered acceptable. The deontological view of alcohol consumption within my own personal framework would not go so far as to even consider the consequence of alcohol even in light of research (now disproven) that alcohol in moderate volume could somehow increase heart health. I suppose the question is, did I bring this issue up to argue the morality of believers consuming alcohol? Not necessarily, in fact, not at all. The reason I brought it up was to build on my argument for my answer to this assignment’s question by adding a new dimension to our understanding that must be considered in order to fully answer said question. At its most intrinsic nature, what is considered ethical and unethical by a person or even a group (as we saw with the example of the Lutheran Evangelical Church) rests in the interpretation of the moral code by the individual and that individual’s motivation to follow it under their particular moral principle. The nature of this ethical relativism

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