The Good Man Must Choose Virtuous Action For Its Own Sake

Potter Stewart once quoted, “Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.” In every decision we make, we are faced with what is ethically correct as dictated by different factors such as laws and religion versus what your desired outcome is. This ethical battle transpires throughout the novel, “A Few Good Men”. Throughout this play, the characters partake in scenes, which the reader may view as either ethical or unethical. Depending on each character’s morals and intentions, one will be able to determine whether or not a particular action is ethical or unethical. Although one may view it from a variety of perspectives, it should be, for the most part, favoring one side. In my opinion, Colonel Nathan Jessop’s decision to train Santiago to respect the Code of the Marines and the chain in command was ethical while Lieutenant Kendrick’s decision to assault Santiago was unethical. Although his

First, it is important to define ethics and how its components play an extensive role in our society. The term ethics is defined as “Moral principles that govern a person 's behaviour or the conducting of an activity.” (Oxford); ethical decisions are the ones that per se determine whether or not murder is wrong. Likewise, ethics consists of different ramifications and perspectives from many philosophers. Moreover,

“‘And that,’ put in the Director sententiously, ‘that is the secret of happiness and virtue – liking what you’ve got to do. All conditioning aims at that: making people like their inescapable social destiny.’” Ch. 1 pg. 16

The idea of striving for goodness has always been something that has been instilled in our minds since birth. We were always taught to the do the right thing. But why? What are the benefits of being a good person versus being bad? This is question that Colin Mcginn tackles in his article, “Why Not Be a Bad Person?” In it, he explains why he think virtue is the more intriguing moral standard, and explores why some people may disagree with him.

The importance of taking steps in life betterment can be seen in Ethan Frome. Although one may lack a history of “making moral decisions,” the human instinct to do so is always there (from Morality

The film, A Few Good Men, showcases military lawyer, Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee, defending two United States Marines, Lance Corporal Harold Dawson and Private Louden Downey, who were accused of murdering a fellow Marine Corps member, Private William Santiago. The obedience of the Marines was assessed when Colonel Jessup ordered Lance Corporal Dawson and Private Downey to perform a “code red,” a brutal punishment made illegal by the government, on Private Santiago in order to coerce him into becoming an improved Marine. Similarly, in the article “The Perils of Obedience,” Stanley Milgram conducted a psychological experiment that observed the extent at which an individual will obey orders. The experiment created a scenario where an unknowing member

“But virtue, like Nature itself, is more accurate and better than any art; virtue therefore will aim at the mean; - I speak of moral virtue, as it’s moral virtue which is concerned with emotions and actions, and it is these which admit of excess and deficiency and the mean. Thus it is possible to go too far, or not go far enough, in respect of fear, courage, desire, anger, pity and pleasure and pain generally, and the excess and the deficiency are alike wrong; but to experience these emotions at the right times and on the right occasions and towards the right person and for the right causes and in the right manner is the mean of the supreme good, which is characteristic of virtue.” (Aristotle)

“A Good Man is Hard to Find” is written by Flannery O’Connor. O’Connor was known to be a religious man, and many of his works surrounded his beliefs. Because of his faith, the theme of morality in his short story is very prominent. The theme of morality in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is found through the symbolism of the grandmother’s hat, the sky, the old house, and the dirt road.

First and foremost, a moral individual will not be influenced by evil but rather strive for virtuous. One with

Ethics are constantly regarded as the moral principles that influence a person’s behavior. Ethics are concerned with distinguishing between good and evil and is a concept that persuades people to act in the most positive way. Each society has created their own ethics where everyone is expected to follow certain values. Deviance from each established ethics system is met with social cost that regards deviating from the established norms as morally corrupt and potentially can be justified actions that will have them return to the system or leave society. Ethics can be societally agreed upon, to the point in which all individuals that belong to that society agree that such values are true. Part of our innate urge to be accepted by society not

Mankind must by this time have acquired positive beliefs as to the effects of some actions on their happiness; and the beliefs which have thus come down are the rules of morality for the multitude, and for the philosopher until he has succeeded in finding better. That philosophers might easily do this, even now, on many subjects; that the received code of ethics is by no means of divine right;

Within philosophy, ethics is the division that focuses on morality, which defines behavior as right and wrong. Ethical principles represent standard guidelines for behavior, while also justifying a person’s given course of action. Society defines what moral values and behaviors are held and legislated (DeNisco & Barker, 2016). Further, ethical principles include the concepts of autonomy, freedom, beneficence, fidelity. Autonomy entails a person’s desire to direct themselves, while freedom is the person’s right to do as they please. However, this right is contingent on members of a society agreeing, whether explicitly or not, to abide by behaviors that do not deceive or force others–behaviors that lead to peaceful interpersonal relationships. Beneficence is the person’s motivation to do good, and fidelity is the individual’s

In this sense, a person can do the “right” thing, but if it is not done by his own will or choice, it is not morally virtuous. The claims of Books II and III directly contradict each other. The former argues that force must play a part in the development of moral virtue, while the latter explicitly states that what is done by force is not at all morally virtuous.

We are born with faculties like we are with passions. “We are not made up of good or bad nature; we are not praised nor blamed”(page 225, Mayfield). This quote is explaining with passions and faculties are how we feel and desire which is neither right nor wrong, good or bad. Since passions and faculties are not defined, state of character is virtue. State of character is our actions and our habits. “The virtue of man also will be the state of character which makes a man good and which makes him do his own work well” (page 225, Mayfield). In order to have true virtue you need to act to “accordance with a golden mean of moderation” (page 78, Palmer). This means that you need to find an intermediate so you will be praised and succeed. You can’t take too much or too little. Too much for someone could be too little for someone else, therefore each person needs to find their own individual mean.

In Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, every point, every major idea, and every argument made, is all connected back to the concept that every action seeks an ultimate good. Aristotle felt that there is an intrinsic good that humans aim for and that there is this "good life" we all mean to have. However, what does it mean to be good? That means something different to everyone; we all inhabit many different roles in our day to day lives, whether we strive to be a good parent, a good sibling, a good student, a good citizen, or a good leader. All emphasize the importance of our own well-being, as well as that of others, and the greater community as a whole. For the purpose of this paper, the focus will