John Q Questions_

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University of Calgary *

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35

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Philosophy

Date

Dec 6, 2023

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pdf

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2

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RS 35: Unit A Summative Assignment Mrs. J. Shiels John Q Questions: Ethical and Moral Dilemma /50 marks Overview: An ethical dilemma is a situation that involves a conflict between two moral choices. An example would be wanting to feed your starving family, but in order to do so you need to steal some food. Should your family starve, or should you steal some bread? The ethical questions arising from John Q are pertinent. John Q is a story about being pushed to the brink with no options left. It’s a story about how far a person will go for the people they love the most. Each question response should be at least a paragraph in length for full marks! Please divide group members to share an equal workload. Questions: 1. What was the ethical dilemma that John Q faced in this movie? John Q encountered a moral dilemma in the film, where he had to decide between saving his son's life or allowing his son to suffer due to the unaffordable heart transplant. 2. What was the ethical dilemma that the cardiac surgeon could have been faced with if John Q took his own life? What commandment would John Q be breaking? If John Q had taken his own life to provide his heart for his son's transplant, the heart surgeon, Dr. Turner, would have faced an ethical issue concerning potentially assisting in suicide and possibly losing his job because of it. 3. Which of the FOUR Ethical Experiences explains why John Q chose the actions he did? And why? John Q's choices can be understood through the lens of "experience of the other." His decisions were shaped by his love, courage, and a deep sense of parental responsibility. 4. Using one of the philosophers from Chapter One defend John Q’s actions. Defending John Q's actions based on a philosopher from Chapter One, his actions resonate with the idea of acting out of duty, much like Emmanuel Kant's philosophy. He believed it was his duty as a father to save his son, even though taking hostages wouldn't possibly align with Kant's principles. 5. At the end of the movie, John has a chan ce to give his son some advice. Which of the Six Aspects of the Human Person does John touch on? Pick one to elaborate on. When John advises his son, he is focusing on the concept of "Character." He encourages his son to be a good person, and make something out of his second chance at life. 6. Using the Conceptual Framework of Action complete the following table: Who is the Agent? John Q What does the agent intend to do? John intended to do everything in his power to secure a heart transplant for his son.
RS 35: Unit A Summative Assignment Mrs. J. Shiels What sort of commitments are made? He was committed to using any means to save his son's life. Why - what is the motivation for the action? His motivation was caused the concern for his son. How is the action done? Is harm done so that the good can be accomplished? John had to resort to holding hospital staff hostage to apply pressure. Although harm was done, he believed it was necessary for him to save his son. Under what circumstances? He took extreme measures because all his other options had been exhausted. 7. In your personal opinion, do you believe that John Q made the right decision? Why or why not? In my view, John Q's decision, driven by his concern for his son, was understandable, but taking hostages was not the best decision. In desperate situations, seeking a solution through legal and ethical means was more reasonable or appropriate. 8. In your personal opinion, do you believe that John Q should have served time in prison for his actions? Why or why not? Whether John Q should have faced legal consequences is a matter for the justice system to make. While I relate with his desperation, it’s unlawful and put innocent lives at risk, but maybe justified to some due to his situation.
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