Intro+Ethics
.docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Kennesaw State University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
2200
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
3
Uploaded by AdmiralResolve5716
Developing Ethical Beliefs
The following passage by the writer M. Scott Peck:
A century ago, the greatest dangers we faced arose from agents outside ourselves: microbes, flood and famine, wolves in
the forest at night. Today the greatest dangers war, pollution, starvation--have their source in our own motives and
sentiments: greed and hostility, carelessness and arrogance, narcissism and nationalism. The study of values might once
have been a matter of primarily individual concern and deliberation as to how best to lead the "good life." Today it is a
matter of collective human survival. If we identify the study of values as a branch of philosophy, then the time has
arrived for all women and men to become philosophers or else.
Agree or disagree? Explain why?
I agree up to a certain point. I do believe that issues before surfaced from more natural agents that we cannot control,
and that they have become more about ourselves, which is a bad thing. However, I do not believe that everyone should
BECOME philosophers, but maybe look into philosophy a little bit to have an understanding of this.
WHAT ARE YOUR MORAL VALUES?
You have many values - the guiding principles that you consider to be most important -that you have acquired over the
course of your life. Your values deal with every aspect of your experience.
The following questions are designed to elicit some of your values. Think carefully about each of the questions and
record your responses along with the reasons you have adopted that value.
In addition, describe several of your moral values that are not addressed in these questions. After you have completed
this activity, examine your responses as a whole. Do they express a general, coherent, well-supported value system, or do
they seem more like an unrelated collection of beliefs of varying degrees of clarity? This activity is a valuable investment
of your time because you are creating a record of beliefs that you can return to and refine as you deepen your
understanding of moral values.
o
Do we have a moral responsibility toward less fortunate people?
I feel that it is not our responsibility, or our duty
to help them. It is simply an act of kindness. You CAN do it, but you shouldn’t be obligated to.
o
Is it wrong to divulge a secret someone has confided in you?
I believe it is, especially if they don’t want other
people to know. They had trust in you, and told you with the idea that you wouldn’t tell anybody else.
o
Should we eat meat? Should we wear animal skins?
If we want to eat meat or not should be a concept of choice.
You should have the choice to follow what diet you believe is most beneficial or what attire is most appealing or
appropriate.
o
Should we try to keep people alive at all costs, no matter what their physical or mental condition?
If someone is
only to live in pain and suffering, in that case it is best for their life not to be preserved. It should be the person, or the
person’s family’s decision.
o
Is it wrong to kill someone in self-defense?
No. If your life is put at risk then you should defend yourself.
o
Should people be given equal opportunities, regardless of race, religion, or gender?
Yes, equal opportunity
should be provided regardless of these things.
o
Is it wrong to ridicule someone even if you believe it's in"good fun"?
Yes, it is wrong to ridicule one just because
you find it fun. People should treat others with respect.
o
Should you "bend the rules" to advance your career?
As long as it does not harm another, I feel like it should be
allowed, but small scale.
o
Is it all right to manipulate people into doing what you want if you believe it's for their own good?
If it’s for their
own good, in some cases, yes.
o
Is there anything wrong with pornography?
Yes, especially if you are part of a relationship.
o
Should we always try to take other people's needs into consideration when we act or should we first make sure
that our own needs are taken care of?
Your own needs before another’s, unless it is large-scale.
o
Should we experiment with animals to improve the quality of our lives?
As long as it follows PETA, or is ethical,
yes. If they are treated unethically, no.
The Lifeboat: In 1842 a ship struck an iceberg and sank. There were thirty survivors. crowded into a lifeboat designed to
hold just eight. With the weather stormy and getting worse, it was obvious that many of the passengers would have to
be thrown overboard or the boat would sink and everyone would drown. Imagine that you were the captain of the boat.
Would you have people thrown over the side? If so, on what basis would you decide who would go? Age? Health?
Strength? Gender? Size? Survival skills? Friendships? Family?
I would go on the basis of Age, Health, Strength, and
survival skills.
The Whistleblower: Imagine that you are employed by a large corporation that manufactures baby formula. You suspect
that a flaw in the manufacturing process results in contamination of the formula in a small number of cases and that this
contamination can result in serious illness and even death. You have been told by your supervisor that "everything is
under control," and you have been warned that if you "blow the whistle" by going public, you will be putting the entire
company in jeopardy from multimillion-dollar lawsuits. You will naturally be fired and blackballed in the industry, and, as
the sole provider in your household, your family is depending on you. What do you do? Why?
If my family depends on
me, then I need to keep quiet, because I need to provide for myself as well as my family.
The Patient: As a clinical psychologist, you are committed to protecting the privacy of your patients. One afternoon a
patient tells you that her husband, a person who has been abusing her physically and mentally for years, has threatened
to kill her, and she believes him. You try to convince her to leave him and seek professional help, but she tells you that
she has decided to kill him. She is certain that he will find her wherever she goes and feels that she will be safe only
when he is dead. What do you do?
Let authorities know so that they can handle the situation and take one or both of
them into custody, or to a mental institution or therapy.
The Friend: As the director of your department, you are in charge of filling an important vacancy. Many people have
applied, including your best friend, who has been out of work for over a year and needs a job desperately. Although your
friend would likely perform satisfactorily, there are several more experienced and talented candidates who would
undoubtedly perform better. You have always prided yourself in hiring the best people, and you have earned a reputation
as someone with high standards who will not compromise your striving for excellence. Whom do you hire?
You should
hire the person best suited for the job, or someone who is willing to learn and grow in such an areas as to perform with
excellence.
What makes each of these scenarios dilemmas is that both of the moral principles that you are appealing to seem
ethically sound and appropriate: The problem is that they contradict each other. "The Lifeboat" involves a conflict
between the moral beliefs
o
It is wrong to take any innocent life.
o
It is right to save some lives rather than threaten all the lives on board.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help