Discussion 1
The Three Ethical Perspectives
Identify the basic themes, topics, and concepts that make up the discipline of ethics. Explain the themes or ideas that unite the different ethical theories.
Describe how you might apply one of the ethical theories or perspectives we have discussed in this class to one of the following social issues
The basic themes, topics, and concepts that make up the discipline of ethics are philosophical ethics, ethical theory, moral theory, and moral philosophy relativism, emotivism, and ethical egoism. Relativism are the themes or ideas that unite the different ethical theories. Moral relativism may be any of several philosophical positions concerned with the differences in moral judgments across different people and cultures.
Discussion 2
Utilitarianism evaluates the morality of an act in terms of its consequences.
Deontology theories focus on duty, and the rules one is required to follow to be moral.
Virtue Ethics emphasizes the moral character-the virtue-of the agent in evaluating its morality.
Limiting smoking in public places, such as public buildings, restaurants, or city parks.
The research that I found, showed that the tobacco industry uses a method that recruits restaurants to help them by fighting against smoke-free environments (Glantz, 1987). The Accommodation Program served as a link between Phillip Morris (PM) tried to claim that their finances would suffer if the smoking bans continued by Billons.
Even thought there is proof that smoking and second hand smoke caused cancer and child defects in embryos, bronchitis and asthma in young children. The tobacco industry and PM has tried to fight smoke-free proposal and tried to develop their on hospitality organization to meet its legislative and strategic needs (Glantz, 1987).
The industry knows that this is wrong and their willingness not to care about the people that are affected by smoking and second hand smoke, they have no moral character or virtue, they are found lying and hiding the facts on the issues of clean air and mostly interested in their financial aspect of this issue of public safety.
References
Stanton A. Glantz, PH.D.Achieving a smoke-free society. Cirulation 1987;76:746-52 circ.ahajournals.org
Mosser, K. (2013). Ethics and social responsibility(2nd ed.) [Electronic version].
Utilitarianism is a natural way to see whether an act is the right (or wrong thing to do) is to look at its results, or consequences. Utilitarianism argues that given a set of choices the act we should chose is that which produces the best results for the greatest number affected by that choice. (Mosser 2013)
Deontology- Coming from the Greek Deon, which means "duty", deontology 9somtimes referred to as duty ethics) focuses on what we are obligated to do as rational moral agents. (Mosser,2013)
As being a correction officer I have been in a lot of situation with one of the three classical Ethical Theories. Just this past weekend doing visitation our computers when down at work. We using these computers to submit people in to see there family members (inmates) that's lock up, I knew that she wanted to see her son bad so I took it upon myself to go out my way so that she could see her son after getting confirmation from my supervisor. What I chose to do was good because I could have told her that she couldn't visit her son today try back another day.
Ethical Perspective
1. Define and contrast the three ethical perspectives
Relativism: is the idea that one's beliefs and values are understood in terms of one's society, culture, or even one's own individual values. You may disagree with someone and believe your view is superior, relative to you as an individual; more often, relativism is described in terms of the values of the community in which one lives.
Emotivism: is a noncognitive theory of ethics because it denies, among other things, that moral claims can appeal to "facts." Rather, emotivism, as the name indicates, simply says that moral claims express an emotional response, or an attitude, we may have toward a given kind of behavior.
Ethical egoism: The literal meaning of "ego" comes from the Greek word for "self," or "I," and that notion is at the center of egoism: I do what I want to do in order to increase my own happiness, my own pleasure. Simply put, I know what I want, and something is good, or right, if it helps me to obtain that desire (and bad, or wrong, if it interferes with my doing so). If doing something promotes my own happiness or helps me reach my desired goals, I should do it.
2. How do the perspectives differ from the ethical theories?
Ethical egoism is very distinct that all of the Ethical Theories, this one seem to defies them all. Instead of acting for the greater good, or building a good character egoism is all about it self. As seem in last weeks discussion these ethical perspective are all base on the individual and how the propose claims effect his beliefs, what will he gain, and how can he gain them with little to no actions. As with the Ethical Theories they are more base on how we can promote a better society.
3. What does each ethical perspective tell us about morality and virtue?
- Morality: Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior (google search, 2017)
- Virtue: a trait or quality that is deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principles and good moral being. (google search, 2017)
After understanding the meaning of morality and virtue we can fully understand that these Ethical perspectives are not in line with those values stated in the definitions. The only Ethical perspective that could be inline with morality and virtue is the Relativism perspective, only because it's based of that individuals culture or society.
The Three Ethical Perspectives
Identify the basic themes, topics, and concepts that make up the discipline of ethics. Explain the themes or ideas that unite the different ethical theories.
The basic themes, topics, and concepts that make up the discipline of ethics are morality and virtue. Morality is "a particular system of values and principles of conduct, especially one held by a specified person or society" (Merriam-Webster). Virtue is a behavior showing high moral standards. A virtuous person will have the golden mean.
The golden mean is "The middle, or mean, between two extremes" (Mosser, 2013). It is a choice in any ethical dilemma that every person needs to chose what is morally right from morally wrong. Every moral dilemma has a standard of value, which starts the process of evaluation.
A themes or idea that unites the different ethical theories is relativism.
Limiting smoking in public places, such as public buildings, restaurants, or city parks
"Public health officials have long argued the bans are meant to eliminate dangers from secondhand, or "sidestream smoke," reduce the environmental impact of cigarette butts and to keep young, impressionable children from picking up on bad habits" (Clune, 2013). Health is the number one reason why smoking has been banned in public places.
The utilitarianism premise of promoting the greatest good for greatest amount of people goes hand in hand with the smoking ban in public areas. Tobacco use in public affects everybody's health that is in the area which goes completely against the greater good and utilitarianism.