Explain Kant's ethical theory with particular reference to the categorical imperative and how it can be applied.
Explain Kant's ethical theory with particular reference to the categorical imperative and how it can be applied. A deontological theory of ethics is based on the idea that an acts claim to being right or wrong is independent of the consequences of that action. This view stands in opposition to teleological views such as utilitarianism, which if something is right or wrong is dependant on consequences of the action. Kant's theory is deontological because it is based on duty. To act morally is to do ones duty , and ones duty is to obey the moral law. Kant said "two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe the oftener and more steadily we reflect on them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me." Kant claimed that moral language was unique because moral statements were both synthetic and a priori. This means that a statement is knowable without before experiencing from pure reason, but needs experience for verification. Kant felt that he had to act in a certain way. He was aware of the is/ought, the difference between something being a matter of fact, and something that is regarded as an obligation. He therefore concluded that what is good and what is bad should begin with good will. In his book, Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals (1785), he argues the highest form of good is goodwill. To have a good will is to do ones duty.
Explain Anselm ontological argument
One argument used to rationally support the existence of God is the ontological argument. There are many forms of ontological arguments, but I'll only use a few different versions here, each one mainly derived from Anselm's approach. St Anslem was said to be the most influential thinker of the medieval Europe. Anselm's argument for the existence of God and is said to be a classic ontological argument. An ontological argument is a priori argument as it attempts to gather that God exists only by the use of intellectual insight and reasons. Anslem starts his argument b saying God 'that than which noting greater can be conceived.' According to this definition God, is the greatest, most perfect being possible. Then Anslem goes on further to argue that God must exist or it would not be 'that then which noting greater can be conceived. Anslem's has two arguments written in his book Proslogion. In his first argument he says that god exist, both in understanding and in reality. According to Anslem, everyone has some idea of God in their understanding. He says that God has to exist in both reality and in the idea in the mind. For example like a unicorn, we have a picture in our mind but they don't really exist, and if God is 'that then which nothing greater can be conceived' unime the unicorn, it has to exist in reality or there would be a disagreement. In the second argument
Should welfare payments be stopped for problem gamblers?
An addiction is just like any other mental disorder. It slowly starts to consume your life and you can do nothing but be a slave to it; just like any other mental disorder it needs to be treated with care from a professional who is willing to council and guide the sufferer out of the addiction. We shouldn’t sacrifice a person’s welfare just because they have a mental disorder such as a gambling addiction. This essay will be addressing the psychological reasons on why Welfare Payments should not be suspended for problem gamblers. The main arguments to support this case is that Gambling is an ongoing psychological problem and that it is immoral suspending welfare payments and will not stop the problem and that suspending welfare payments will lead to negative consequences for families involved. Instead of stopping welfare payments, they should still be given out as they are needed for necessities but an additional counselling program should be put into place by the government, as they have the resources to do so; so that people who are addicted can find a way out and still live comfortably. Stopping welfare payments to a person just because they have a mental disorder such as a gambling addiction can be seen as inhumane as it decreases their quality of their life. Gambling addiction is a symptom of psychological ill-health. If we treated any other mentally ill
Consider the application of Situation Ethics to a moral dilemma related to sexual ethics
Consider the application of Situation Ethics to a moral dilemma related to sexual ethics. (6) There are many situations related to sexual ethics that I could choose to discuss but I shall choose that of homosexuality. Conventional Christian and Jewish teaching prohibits homosexual sex on the grounds that it is "unnatural" and does not allow the possibility for fertilisation to take place because the two partners are of the same gender. This controversial issue is often to be found on the front pages of newspapers. Today in Britain many members of the gay and lesbian community are campaigning for their relationships to be formally recognised under law in the same way that heterosexual couples may marry. This would allow homosexuals who are of the Christian faith to enjoy a sexual relationship with their partner without feeling that they are doing wrong because it is outside of marriage. If Situation Ethics were applied to this problem, homosexuals would be able to marry. The government and church would be forced to recognise that this is the most loving thing to do. Supporters of Situation Ethics believe that love is paramount, it is the most important consideration. If only love is intrinsically good it is impossible to argue that homosexual marriage and sex is immoral because the only absolute thing is that love is good. The Church and the government would also have
Briefly outline Plato's definition of justice and morality and compare it to Thrasymachus and conventional ideas of this concept.
Briefly outline Plato's definition of justice and morality and compare it to Thrasymachus and conventional ideas of this concept. Plato's definition of justice in society is when everyone is doing their own tasks, mind own business to witch they are naturally suited to, when injustice is person's trying to do others job. He is explaining how exactly society is structured and how people could now what their best place and job in society is in his "magnificent myth". Basic idea is that people born with bronze, silver or gold in their soul and each of them defines wether this person is a producer, auxiliary or ruler. Therefore doing your own job right and being in the right class of the society is a justice for Plato. Similar definition for justice and morality is for individuals. Plato assume that our soul has 3 parts (reason, spirit and desire) in witch reason is in control of two others. All 3 parts should work together without interfering with each other and if they all do their own "job" well person will be just, moral and with balanced soul. So, if the reason should be in control it is not justice if one of the other parts of soul tries to do reason's job and starts controlling person's life. For Plato justice obviously is a good thing, when in Trasymachus theory justice is for the naive people who are controlled by the stronger,
"Moral absolutes are unhelpful when making decisions about medical ethics."
"Moral absolutes are unhelpful when making decisions about medical ethics." Some doctors would reject this claim, arguing that moral absolutes help decision making in medical ethics. For example, the rule 'Do not kill' is part of the oath taken by doctors. Some doctors would agonise over a decision whether to kill a terminally ill patient who has asked to die. These doctors might then feel guilty if the family turned out to have different wishes, or if a cure was later found for the illness. Having absolute moral rules helps doctors, because they don't have to think about the individual circumstances or worry about possible consequences that are impossible to calculate or predict. Others claim that this oversimplifies modern medicine. It is not clear, they may say, what would count as killing someone. Doctors disagree about the definition of death as 'brain-stem death'. Some doctors would consider withholding food as killing a patient, while others would disagree. Doctors may say that, rather than trying to apply inflexible moral absolutes, it is better to focus on the well-being of the patient. If giving a high dose of painkillers prevented a patient from dying in agony, doctors might say it doesn't matter what rules were or weren't broken. Others would disagree, saying that clear rules are essential to protect patients and doctors. Doctors who had to kill Mary
Kants Theory cannot be used to make decisions about abortion. Discuss.
Kant’s Theory cannot be used to make decisions about abortion I will be discussing the above statement by discussing the reasons in support of the statement and reasons that are not in support of the statement Firstly some may say that Kant’s theory cannot be used to make decisions about abortion as Kant does not recognise moral dilemmas. A dictionary definition of a moral dilemma is this - ‘A moral dilemma is a complex situation that often involves an apparent mental conflict between moral imperatives, in which to obey one would result in transgressing another’. Abortion can be categorised as a moral dilemma as it involves the individual making the decision to be involved in some sort of mental conflict between what is morally correct in that situation and what is not. Kant believes that when making a moral decision you should not let your emotions contribute to the decision. When looking at something such as abortion, which solely is based on the factor of emotions, it is virtually impossible to not let it interfere when making such decisions. By contrast others may disagree with the above statement as they believe that by using Kant’s theory they will be able to make a straight forward decision which does not involve emotions and confusion to contribute to the decision made. Kant believed that all moral decisions could be made from his ideas about categorical
Outsourcing Ethics.
Outsourcing Ethics What are the Outsourcing Ethics financial benefits to the organization and, ultimately, to the customer regarding the benefits of outsourcing in private industry? Does outsourcing improve responsiveness, quality, flexibility, and even provide a better focus on core business functions? For managers in private industry considering the benefits of in-house vs. outsourcing, the answers to these questions weigh heavily when making a decision on whether to outsource and that too with highest Outsourcing Ethics. Within government, the guidebook to federal outsourcing is Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76, Performance of Commercial Activities, Aug. 4, 1983, which are in close agreement with these precepts of business and speaks specifically of achieving economy and enhancing the productivity of non-core functions. Why Outsourcing Ethics? All of these considerations are wonder-fully objective metrics in the world of business and government and greatly facilitate the decision on whether to out-source or not with full Outsourcing Ethics. However, these considerations are also somewhat cold and lack a humanistic element, especially for those employees who are being outsourced. The plight of the people being laid off are cause to wonder whether other considerations of Outsourcing Ethics, traditionally omitted from the balance sheet, should be examined
Explain how Natural Law is both teleological and deontological.
Explain how Natural Law is both teleological and deontological. Natural Law, according to Cicero is, “right reason in agreement with nature.” In other words, Natural Law is a set of five distinct principles which every human being is naturally inclined to live their life by. These five principles are known as the primary precepts. It is said by many that Natural Law is purely deontological considering the fact that you have a duty not to go against the primary precepts. However, if one delves deeper into the origins of Natural Law they will find that in fact, it comes from an Aristotelean teleological worldview and therefore, Natural Law is both teleological and deontological. Deontological ethics is a normative, ethical position which judges morality on one’s adherence to the rules. Deontological ethics in most cases are not interested in the consequence of obeying the rules but instead on one’s duty to the rules themselves. According to Aquinas, Natural Law is the divine will of God and thus, one is sinning if they do something which goes against Natural Law. For example, Aquinas would say that contraception is intrinsically wrong and is an apparent good instead of a real good due to the fact that it goes against the primary precept of reproduction. The fact that Natural Law focuses much on the ethicalness on an action and on the duty to a set of rules shows that
What is it meant by 'moral relativism?'
Situation Ethics 'What is it meant by 'moral relativism?' Moral relativism is the view that there are no objective ethical truths, that moral facts only hold relative to a given individual or society. According to this ethical theory, what is morally good for one person or culture might be morally bad for another, and vice versa, there are no moral absolutes. The individual form of moral relativism is called subjectivism; this is where each individual has his or her own moral principles. An idea or opinion is limited by own experience, that opinion is true to the person even though another person may not agree. Conventionalism is an observable fact that moral values differ from society to society, for example, in the United Kingdom we believe that hanging is wrong, where as in China they do. The dependency thesis, moral values are created by society, they are a product of culture. The young experience and internalize values, they then conform to society; stick to the values and in the end everyone is conventionalist. Situation ethics deals with the situation. It's the action that brings the greatest number of love (agape) to the greatest number of people, which is good. With situation ethics you cannot prescribe rules but must make decisions to deal with the situations. It is a way of imitating Jesus or Gods love. The strengths of moral