C206_Task1_KW

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Western Governors University *

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C206

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Philosophy

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Dec 6, 2023

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1 C206 Task 1 Khai Waterman Western Governors University Steven Argiento February 16, 2023

2 C206_Task1_Introduction For Task 1, I have chosen Nelson Mandela as my non-fictional leader that has exhibited great leadership based off of equality and justice for everyone. He remained committed to nonviolence and reconciliation, working tirelessly to bring an end to apartheid and to promote democracy and human rights in South Africa and around the world. A1:Two Ethical Traits Nelson Mandela was widely recognized as a moral and ethical leader who demonstrated numerous ethical traits throughout his life, but two of the most prominent ones are: Honesty and Integrity: Mandela was known for his unwavering commitment to honesty and integrity. He wrote in his autobiography, "I have always believed that honesty is the best policy and that a man's word is his bond" (Mandela, 1995, p. 38). His commitment to honesty was demonstrated throughout his life, from his early activism against apartheid to his leadership as the first democratically elected president of South Africa. Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Mandela's commitment to forgiveness and reconciliation is perhaps his most notable ethical trait. He famously said, "As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison" (Mandela, 1994). This commitment to forgiveness was crucial in South Africa's peaceful transition to democracy and its efforts to reconcile its racially divided past. Courage and Moral Conviction: Throughout his life, Mandela exhibited great courage and moral conviction in the face of enormous pressure and adversity. For example, during his imprisonment on Robben Island, he was offered early release on several occasions in exchange for renouncing his political beliefs. He refused every time, saying, "Only free men can negotiate;

3 prisoners cannot enter into contracts" (Mandela, 1995, p. 535). This unwavering commitment to his principles made him a beloved and respected leader not just in South Africa, but around the world. Forgiveness: One of the most remarkable things about Mandela's ethical conduct was his commitment to forgiveness. After spending 27 years in prison for his opposition to apartheid, he could have easily harbored bitterness and resentment towards his oppressors. However, he chose to forgive them and to work towards reconciliation and unity in South Africa. He believed that forgiveness was essential for healing and for building a new and better society. This commitment to forgiveness was evident in his decision to work with former apartheid leaders to establish a new democratic government in South Africa, and in his efforts to promote reconciliation and understanding between different racial and ethnic groups in the country. Courage: Another ethical trait that Mandela demonstrated throughout his life was courage. He was a fearless leader who was willing to speak out against injustice and oppression, even when it meant putting his own life at risk. He was not afraid to challenge the status quo and to fight for what he believed was right, even in the face of overwhelming opposition. He showed courage during his time in prison, where he endured harsh conditions and continued to advocate for human rights and justice. He also showed courage during his presidency, where he made difficult decisions that were necessary for building a more inclusive and democratic society in South Africa. His courage inspired many people around the world and continues to be a source of inspiration for future generations. A2:Explain how Nelson Mandela has exhibited ethical conduct

4 Nelson Mandela exhibited ethical conduct in many ways throughout his life. Some of the key examples of his ethical conduct include: Commitment to nonviolence: Mandela was a strong advocate for nonviolence and used peaceful means to fight against apartheid in South Africa. He believed that violence would only lead to more violence and that nonviolence was the best way to achieve lasting change. This commitment to nonviolence was evident in his involvement in the African National Congress, where he led peaceful protests and civil disobedience campaigns against apartheid. He also continued to advocate for nonviolence during his presidency, where he worked to promote reconciliation and healing between different racial and ethnic groups in South Africa. Emphasis on forgiveness and reconciliation: Mandela was a strong proponent of forgiveness and reconciliation, and he believed that these were essential for healing the wounds of apartheid in South Africa. After his release from prison, he worked tirelessly to promote forgiveness and reconciliation between different racial and ethnic groups in the country. He even reached out to his former oppressors and worked with them to establish a new democratic government in South Africa. His commitment to forgiveness and reconciliation helped to heal the wounds of apartheid and to build a more inclusive and democratic society in South Africa. Advocacy for human rights: Throughout his life, Mandela was a fierce advocate for human rights and worked to promote social justice and equality for all people. He fought against the discriminatory laws of apartheid, which denied basic rights and freedoms to black South Africans. He also worked to promote gender equality and to fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa. His advocacy for human rights helped to raise awareness about important social issues and to promote positive change in South Africa and around the world.

5 Overall, Mandela's ethical conduct was marked by a commitment to nonviolence, forgiveness, reconciliation, and human rights. His leadership and example continue to inspire people around the world to work towards a more just and equitable society. B:Compare the deontological and consequentialist perspectives For this exercise, we will be discussing the Deontological and Consequentialist perspectives with this scenario: You are a sales representative for a medical device company that manufactures artificial joints. Your company has developed an artificial knee joint that is less expensive than the competition and will dramatically reduce healing time for patients. However, it is also known to produce a serious and potentially lethal infection in a small percentage of patients. The company refuses to disclose this potential side effect. You feel you have a duty to divulge this issue, but you signed a nondisclosure agreement when you were hired and worry about possible repercussions. Deontological ethics and consequentialist ethics are two different ethical perspectives that can be used to approach ethical dilemmas. Deontological ethics is an ethical theory that emphasizes the inherent rightness or wrongness of actions, rather than the consequences that result from those actions. This perspective holds that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of the consequences that result. Deontologists believe that moral principles are absolute and universal, and that they should be followed regardless of the consequences that may result. Consequentialist ethics, on the other hand, is an ethical theory that emphasizes the consequences of actions, rather than the inherent rightness or wrongness of those actions. This perspective holds that the moral value of an action is determined by the outcomes or

6 consequences that result from that action. Consequentialists believe that the goal of ethics is to maximize the overall good, and that moral principles should be evaluated based on their ability to achieve that goal. In the scenario provided, a deontologist might argue that the sales representative has a duty to divulge the potential side effect of the artificial knee joint, even if it violates the nondisclosure agreement. The deontologist would argue that there is an inherent moral obligation to tell the truth and to act in the best interest of the patients. The sales representative has a duty to uphold this moral principle, regardless of the consequences that may result from divulging the information. A consequentialist, on the other hand, might argue that the moral value of the action depends on the consequences that result from it. In this case, the consequentialist would evaluate the potential outcomes of both divulging and not divulging the potential side effect and would choose the action that maximizes the overall good. If the consequentialist believes that divulging the potential side effect would prevent harm and maximize the overall good, then they might argue that it is the right thing to do. However, if the consequentialist believes that divulging the potential side effect would lead to significant negative consequences, such as patients avoiding the use of the artificial knee joint altogether, then they might argue that it is not the right thing to do. In summary, deontological ethics and consequentialist ethics are two different ethical perspectives that approach ethical dilemmas in different ways. While a deontologist would argue that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of the consequences, a consequentialist would evaluate the moral value of an action based on the outcomes or consequences that result from it. In the scenario provided, a deontologist would argue for

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